Comcast Sucks

NJStealth · 02-05-2005, 08:40 PM

I must say this was a horrible experience. Comcast came out to install my cable. They were 3 hours late, The guy brought the wrong cable boxes. Needless to say he had an HD box with him so I was gonna temporarily take that one. He couldn't even figure out how to install it. I kicked him out of my house and called up comcast customer service and told them to never contact me even if they want to offer me free cable. They then gave me HSI for 19.99 a month for a year which I will keep. I should of never considered leaving DIRECTV. Then again lately Directvs customer service has not been too pleasant. The best retention would offer me to stay is 6 months of showtime and I would have to sign another one year contract. I guess nothing is perfect.

dbronstein · 02-05-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NJStealth
Then again lately Directvs customer service has not been too pleasant. The best retention would offer me to stay is 6 months of showtime and I would have to sign another one year contract. I guess nothing is perfect.

I don't understand this mentality that some peole seem to have that DirecTV (or Dish or whoever else) should give you free programming or equipment if you threaten to leave.

Oknarf · 02-05-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dbronstein
I don't understand this mentality that some peole seem to have that DirecTV (or Dish or whoever else) should give you free programming or equipment if you threaten to leave.

And I don't understand why directv would prefer to make us all buy new equipment to get a feature that could be downloaded to our Tivo's today.

Let's just say different people have different perspectives, and that the only one looking out for you, is you.

Rax · 02-05-2005, 10:10 PM

Funny, nobody told me I have to buy all new stuff.

mattg · 02-05-2005, 10:10 PM

I had a comcast guy come to my house when I had a non-DTV capable apt.

So he wouldn't screw up anything with my setup if he installed it when just my wife was home, I ran all the wires, and taped them to the location I wanted the digital box to be.

I ended up being home...

He hooked up the coax from the wall, the 2 audio cables, and the s-video. He then got this blank look on his face and asked me how the video got to the TV without a piece of coax connecting the TV and the cable box.

dtivofan23 · 02-05-2005, 10:33 PM

lmao.....what cable company was this?

njstealth i would have kept that bad experience to my self. after that long thread about switching you know you gonna get alot of people saying "i told you so".

so you gonna stick with directv?

Matt9876 · 02-05-2005, 10:37 PM

LOL ....MattG thats a good one !

NJStealth · 02-05-2005, 10:56 PM

I dont know maybe I should try dish network. See if they are competent.

dtivofan23 · 02-05-2005, 11:18 PM

from what i have heard you dont wanna do that

NJStealth · 02-05-2005, 11:25 PM

why are there receiver fees if we pay for the receivers on dtv?

Stanley Rohner · 02-06-2005, 12:10 AM

This person won't be happy no matter what.

ADent · 02-06-2005, 12:15 AM

Comcast can be tempting though.

I just got an offer for Digital Silver with HD DVR (6412 I think) for $39/month for a year.

Still sticking with DTiVo for now.

Jasonp55 · 02-06-2005, 12:31 AM

Not to threadjack, but this reminds me of something that I got in the mail today...

I guess that when I canceled Charter, I probably shouldn't have told them that I was switching to DirecTV, because now they send me mail about once a week trying to convert me back over.

Anyway, today I got some flyer telling me that I would 'save over $400 a year' if I switched back to Charter from D*. The front was advertising their premium digital package, and it had the HBO logos all over it. Looking on the back, it had HBO and Shotime checked for Charter (under the $30/month plan 'premium' plan) but not checked for D*. Turns out, that it comes with a 1 month PREVIEW of HBO and Shotime. And that $30/month price? It's introductory! After a few months, it shoots up to around $60/month. Just briefly going over the math in my head, it was clear that switching back would likely cost me money. D*'s not prefect, but at least they've never flat out lied to me.

But really, what should I expect? This sums the situation up nicely: When I moved into my current house, Charter was over a week late installing my cable (claimed that all their installers were booked, and that my order had gotten 'lost'), about three weeks later, DirecTV was a day early.

Mark W · 02-06-2005, 07:34 AM

Well, if I used the OP's logic, I never would have gotten DirecTV. Installers didn't show up or call for 3 appointments in a row, and when he did show up, the guy didn't know how to read a compass correctly. If you read this forum for more than a day or two, you'll realize that one thing the cable company doesn't have a monopoly on is crappy installers.

JimSpence · 02-06-2005, 10:03 AM

Back in '96 I installed my own equipment. With no problems. Then about 15 months ago I got HD. DirecTV sent me the receiver and Phase III dish. I set up and activated the receiver using my round dish, just for SD of course. I mounted the Ph III on my deck railing and plumbed the mast. Then the installer came at the time indicated and I helped him run the two dual RG-6 cables (I had the hole in the house and conduit run to my equipment closet in the cellar. He then tweaked the dish and that was it.

About two years ago a TWC tech came to the house and offered my their latest deal at the time. I took him over to where the dish was mounted and said I have DirecTV. We then shot the breeeze for a few minutes because he was a former co-worker and I knew him. He indicated to me he would probably have DirecTV if he didn't get TWC as an employee.

ThomasDrew · 02-06-2005, 10:29 AM

At times, yes, but there's some things to like about Comcast....

1) 24-7 tech support and customer service. I once had an issue on Saturday night and had a tech in my home the following morning (that's a SUNDAY, mind you).

2) Want to pay your bill at 4am? Go right ahead!

3) Blazing fast internet connection that frankly, DSL can't touch...not by a longshot. (I reliaze that this is somewhat subjective)

...now granted, all of this comes with a price, which I consider almost exorbitant, but you do receive fair value in return.

I'm a former dish owner and I loved every minute that I was with DTV. Now, however, logistics make it impossible for me to go with their service so I am "stuck" with Comcast. I must say though, that as a whole, they have improved dramatically over the years....at least in the Richmond, VA market.

Joedog · 02-06-2005, 10:50 AM

Well Comcast in our area does not even offer cable modem service due to our old cable infrastructer.

Quote> Ridiculous, lightning, blazing fast internet connection that frankly, DSL can't touch...not by a longshot. > Quote
Well my DSL is 6 mbps download and 608 kbps upload on a static ip address.
So I think it compares well to cable internet. at about $50 a month.

ThomasDrew · 02-06-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joedog
Well Comcast in our area does not even offer cable modem service due to our old cable infrastructer.

Quote> Ridiculous, lightning, blazing fast internet connection that frankly, DSL can't touch...not by a longshot. > Quote
Well my DSL is 6 mbps download and 608 kbps upload on a static ip address.
So I think it compares well to cable internet. at about $50 a month.

I pay 42.95 for service. and those specs are right in my ballpark. DSL, at least in my neighborhood, can't touch those speeds.

I will say though, that for as happy as I am with Comcast's internet service, there is no comparison when it comes to cable programming, options and pricing. DTV wins, hands down. (IMHO)

NJStealth · 02-06-2005, 11:23 AM

Fortunately my company pays for my high speed internet so I dont really care what the price is. Has anyone in NJ noticed a speed increase. My HSI seems quite a bit faster as of recently.

Joedog · 02-06-2005, 11:46 AM

Well plus my wife demands NFL Sunday Ticket.
So there is no way I could drop Directv.

super dave · 02-06-2005, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NJStealth
Fortunately my company pays for my high speed internet so I dont really care what the price is. Has anyone in NJ noticed a speed increase. My HSI seems quite a bit faster as of recently.

Did you not get the email from CC over a week ago? Here's the text:

Just when you thought the Internet couldn't get any faster, Comcast has increased speeds by 33%,* with no extra charge or equipment necessary. Now all your favorite Comcast features are faster than ever before!

To take advantage of the speed increase, simply unplug your modem, wait 60 seconds and plug your modem back in again.

They changed it to 4000/384

GaryGnu · 02-06-2005, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dbronstein
I don't understand this mentality that some peole seem to have that DirecTV (or Dish or whoever else) should give you free programming or equipment if you threaten to leave.

Depends on how you look at it. These companies are making money from us, no matter what they give away, or they wouldn't do it. Honestly, I had a bit of a problem calling and asking for the free tivo from a company that gives me such good service. In the end, I did it. Other people go farther. I don't fault them for it. How many times in our lives have we paid a fee, a tax, or an extra charge? How many times are "rates raised"? It just seems that no matter what I do, or where I go, someone is trying to take my money for some reason or the other, and many times it seems they do it "just because they can." So I don't fault people for trying to get as much free stuff as they can. It helps balance things out a bit.

dbronstein · 02-06-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryGnu
Depends on how you look at it. These companies are making money from us, no matter what they give away, or they wouldn't do it. Honestly, I had a bit of a problem calling and asking for the free tivo from a company that gives me such good service. In the end, I did it. Other people go farther. I don't fault them for it. How many times in our lives have we paid a fee, a tax, or an extra charge? How many times are "rates raised"? It just seems that no matter what I do, or where I go, someone is trying to take my money for some reason or the other, and many times it seems they do it "just because they can." So I don't fault people for trying to get as much free stuff as they can. It helps balance things out a bit.

There's nothing wrong with asking, and nothing wrong if they do it. But some people seem to have this sense of entitlement that "I've been a customer for 2 years so they should give me free stuff" and then get all pissy when they don't get it. The original poster even said that they offered him free programming but it wasn't enough. What did he want - three years of every premium channel for free?

spinelli009 · 02-06-2005, 04:52 PM

just to add my two cents worth about Comcast...
as one member said earlier in the thread about them being late...not once...not twice but three times.to add the that i got there blazing speed internet which i was contacted one month later from corp. saying i am in the top 1% downloading (440 GB) a month and if i dont cut down my downloading i will be cancelled...so i went the next month trying to cut the downloading off and BLAM! they cut me off...i called the office and they gave me a number to call and i said forget it...there was more junk i went through about my bill and contract and this special offer only applied to my old address and and not this one since i moved to another address...JUNK!so i went back to directv which i had all along...actually had both and back to verizon DSL which i already had also...stay far far away from Comcast...they are no good...you will go in circles for hours like i did for two weeks straight...
hope this helps add the mess

dtivofan23 · 02-06-2005, 04:56 PM

440 gb a month!!! dyam, thats alot

spinelli009 · 02-06-2005, 05:01 PM

with the speed they offer 500 kb/s is very very nice and took advantage of it and they did to me also...

Tivolino · 02-06-2005, 08:30 PM

Yes it does. I left Comcast and will never go back...EVER

dswallow · 02-06-2005, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasDrew
1) 24-7 tech support and customer service. I once had an issue on Saturday night and had a tech in my home the following morning (that's a SUNDAY, mind you).

I know some people rely on installers for satellite services, but you are in control of satellite equipment; as long as stores are open you can service things as needed.

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasDrew
2) Want to pay your bill at 4am? Go right ahead!

DirecTV doesn't do this? I'd expect they do... but I don't do it this way; my bill is paid automatically.

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasDrew
3) Blazing fast internet connection that frankly, DSL can't touch...not by a longshot. (I reliaze that this is somewhat subjective)

Unfortunately it's a great concept that in practice usually pans out poorly. DSL offers reliability, although often at lower speeds. Cable can offer higher speeds, most of the time, though often not reliably. I recently decided to give Comcast a shot again at providing internet service. It worked fine for about 3 weeks. Then went to total crap. 2 weeks of service call attempts and the best I got out of Comcast was a technician visit who screwed up the follow up, claiming I changed my mind about the service call rather than forwarding it on to the central office to be dealt with where the problem existed. Total frustration exists with Comcast support. I claimed I'd never deal with them again some 3 years ago when I left, and last year I went back on my word and regretted it. Now when I say never again, I truly mean it. Comcast sucks... sure things CAN go right, but when they get screwed up, they usually stay screwed up for some time.

mattg · 02-07-2005, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jasonp55
D*'s not prefect, but at least they've never flat out lied to me.

I used to get advertisements from Comcast when I had a dish in a previous apt. I think it was just a generic "Current Resident" advertisement for digital cable. This advertisement said that with Comcast cable, you could get the "exclusive" Comcast Sports Net. CSN is the local DC "fox Sports" type channel which shows the local hockey, basketball, etc. This was a flat out lie. I had DTV, and had always been able to watch CSN - not that I wanted to though.

Comcast had recently bought the rights to the channel, and I remember telling my wife when they changed the name that they'll probably start claiming that Dish doesn't have it because it has Comcast in the name.

Quite a few of the people I talk to about DTV tell me that they'd consider it, but they don't want to lose their Comcast Sports Net channel.

mattg · 02-07-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasDrew
At times, yes, but there's some things to like about Comcast....

1) 24-7 tech support and customer service. I once had an issue on Saturday night and had a tech in my home the following morning (that's a SUNDAY, mind you).

2) Want to pay your bill at 4am? Go right ahead!

3) Blazing fast internet connection that frankly, DSL can't touch...not by a longshot. (I reliaze that this is somewhat subjective)

...now granted, all of this comes with a price, which I consider almost exorbitant, but you do receive fair value in return.

I'm a former dish owner and I loved every minute that I was with DTV. Now, however, logistics make it impossible for me to go with their service so I am "stuck" with Comcast. I must say though, that as a whole, they have improved dramatically over the years....at least in the Richmond, VA market.

1. 24/7 tech support? You mean Comcast will come out at 4am to fix your cable service? Wow.

2. Want to change your programming and pay your bill at 4am? You can do that with DTV, but not Comcast.

3. It is not subjective, but does have quite a bit to do with where you live, and what you consider to be "speed". My Comcast HSI line in woodbridge va got so bad over the couple years I had it that I switched to DSL. DSL was always more, but with the fees they had just tacked onto non TV HSI, it was the same price. I was lucky to get dial up bandwidth and pings on the weekends, so a 1500/128 DSL line was much faster.

Within a month of so of getting DSL, Verizon slashed the price in half to $30. Not only that, but I was getting every bit of the advertised speeds and had a ping of 10-15ms to most websites. Then, they increased the upload to 384, which I got all of.

Changed apts, and could no longer get DTV, but kept DSL because of price and performance. It was rock solid when it came to reliability... never once went down in 18 months. After Isabel came through Va, power was out for about a day. As soon as it came back, I was online. Cable TV was out for days.

Right now, I have an Adelphia cable modem which at first was horribly unreliable. After an area upgrade, it has been great, but still not matching the 10-15ms pings I had with Verizon. Of course, the $55 price is quite a bit different than $30 too. I'd switch to DSL in a heartbeat if I could.