Time Warner Cable NYC pricing for cablecards?

[ddjackson99]

I am about to buy a Series 3. But before I do, can anyone who has TMC-NYC tell me how much they paid for the installation of their two cablecards? I called yesterday and was told it would $1.79 total/month for the two cards, plus $30.30 "installation". But when I called back today to go ahead and set up an appointment I was suddenly told $4.25 PER CARD, and $49.30 installation (since they're "installing" two cards). Feels monopolisitic, but I'm curious what others experienced (I'd also be curious about your overall cable bill!)
Much thanks for any insight!
- robjohn

[minckster]

Their website says $1.75/mo per card. I got different quotes on the prices for the cards and their installation from every person that I spoke to at TWCNYC. If you complain, they'll cut something from the installation fee. I'd jump at $30.30, if you can get that again.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/nynj/products/cable/cablecard.html

ETA: I got a better package price by adding the cableCARDs to my double-play package, keeping the unwanted and unused cable box, than by replacing the cable box with the cards. They'll split the signal, one-half to the cable box, one-half to the S3.

[minckster]

I found their rate card. Here's what it says:Cable and VCR Connections & Installations
New installation (unwired) $43.00
Installation to Prewired home/reconnect $30.30
Each additional set $19.00
Trip charge (after initial install) $30.30
Transaction fee (no home trip required) $1.99
Installation charges for custom installations will be billed at the rate of $37.62 per hour. Sales tax will be added where applicable. Emphasis added to the description of the $19 charge.

[jayladdin]

I called TWC in NYC yesterday to arrange an install of cablecards, and was told I would just be charged $1.75 per card, with NO installation fee of $30.30.

[jayladdin]

I'm going to add an update to this thread since I just received my new TWC bill. I am furious.

I have a plain old digital cable box in one room, subscribed to a digital cable/internet package, and the Tivo HD with 2 CableCARDS in another room. As it turns out, what Time Warner DOESN'T tell you is that if you get more than one CableCARD, and you already have a plain digital cable box elsewhere, you have to pay a "mirroring charge" of $4.25 per card. The initial rep I talked to never mentioned it, it's not on their website, and yet I'm stuck paying it.

Anybody using Time Warner in the NYC area - be very careful. Get everything in writing and if you think you're getting a sweet deal, better get someone to actually write it to you in an e-mail. Because I kept the name of my rep, the date we talked, the whole thing, and they don't care.

Oh, and they also did wind up charging me the $30.30 installation fee, which they did reverse after I screamed bloody murder at them for 25 minutes.

[minckster]

New York City Cable Complaint Form: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/html/consumer/consumer_cable_service_form.shtml

[pashasurf7873]

PLEASE GIVE ME ADVISE!!

I live in Hawaii, am with Time Warner Cable and was wondering if any Time Warner Cable customers have heard of this in the Mainland?

Here is a breakdown of the CableCard charges:

>Duplicate Service Charge: $8.00 a month per card
>HD Entertainment Package: $6.95 a month per card
>Total: $14.95 for each CableCard!!!!!

The CableCards are $3.10 each with no premium programming on them. To
receive the Digital Cable Service on the cards, the Duplicate Service
Fee of $8.00 would apply instead of the $3.10 card charge. The HD package is not included in the duplicate service fee. It is charged per card.
So in Hawaii it costs $29.90 per month just to enable the use of my beloved TIVO S3.
When I called and then emailed to complain this is the response I got:


Aloha!

1. as I stated previously, the Duplicate service charge does not include
the HD Entertainment Package. The Duplicate service charge only includes
the equipment rental fee, digital cable service, and any premium movie
channels in your subscription. Each device that is receiving the HD
Entertainment Package is billed for that package.

2. Yes, we are aware of the current limitations of the technology. You
can install a single CableCard in your Tivo and only record one channel
at a time.

3. The CableCards are billed for each device, each CableCard is a
separate device. You could obtain the HD DVR without the duplicate
service charge, however you would still be billed for the HD
Entertainment package which is required to have any HD cable box.

You could also rent the CableCards for $3.10 each, however they would
only be able to receive the Standard Cable Service. They would not
receive the authorization to receive the HD Entertainment Package, the
Digital Cable Package, nor the HBO or Showtime.

4. Because that is how the company decided to do the billing.

5. Everything is NOT going HD. That is a common misconception. HD and
Digital are two very different things. The FCC is only requiring a
change to Digital, not HD.

6. I am sorry, but it does not appear the same from our point of view.
We bill per device that receives premium programming in the home. If you
TiVo requires 2 of those devices then the account should be charged for
each one.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail us again
or contact our Customer Care Department at the appropriate number below.
When replying to this e-mail, please include this message as well as all
previous correspondence regarding this issue.


Cable TV or Internet:
Billing: 643-2100
Sales: 643-2337
Repair: 643-2300


Thank you,
Nick S.
Oceanic Time Warner Cable

[jrm01]

New York - Hawaii??

Either my geography is screwed up or this thread has been hijacked.

This is the third place I have seen this post now!

[pashasurf7873]

wasn't trying to hijack, just losing my mind trying to find an anwer to my TWC CableCard issue. my apologies.

[jrm01]

wasn't trying to hijack, just losing my mind trying to find an anwer to my TWC CableCard issue. my apologies.
I provided some thoughts to this over on the other thread.