[IraF]

Just got off the phone with Comcast. I'm trying to make some changes I really wanted to do 4 years ago but for various reasons delayed. My delays may have been fatal.

In addition to changing my package, my intention was to turn in my ancient non-X1 Comcast dual-tuner DVR. I have barely used it in years, and after it started making a grinding noise, disconnected it entirely several months ago. The TiVo, as an additional outlet, has continued just fine.

That Comcast DVR was originally included in my package, but as happened with probably all Comcast customers, it was moved out of the package and into the Equipment section of the bill last summer. As Equipment, it has been incurring a $5 "TV Box" charge, accompanied by an offsetting $5 equipment discount credit (so, "free" for now). That $5.00 credit is scheduled to end on June 21 -- whereupon, as the Comcast bills say, "you will be charged for your TV equipment." Note that they don't and have carefully never said HOW MUCH - hopefully it will still be $5.00, but I think some people on this forum are being charged $7.50 for it.

Comcast has always charged me for the TiVo via the $9.95 "Additional outlet" charge. I was originally getting the $2.50 customer-owned equipment credit, but back in early 2020, they inexplicably replaced it for a few months with a $5.00 credit, and then starting in July 2020 (the same month they moved "TV Box" into equipment, and it's probably not a coincidence), I have been given no credit at all. Perhaps that is because they are no longer required by law to credit customer owned equipment.

My hope was to dump the Comcast DVR and get rid of the additional outlet fee. And, maybe, avoid some or all of the TV Box fee too.

I did not know how Comcast would bill for a TiVo as the sole device, but assumed it would be one of:

1) Bill it as the "TV Box"
2) Bill it as the TV Box but with a $2.50 COE credit
3) Or not bill for it at all -- maybe it would simply be free

But I was told today that it wasn't even possible to make TiVo the primary TV device. Seriously?

They said there was no way for Comcast to activate TV service without an Xfinity X1 device as the primary device, and that the TiVo can ONLY be used as an additional outlet.

Is that true? It seems to me that countless members here don't have Xfinity equipment and only have TiVo(s) connected.

(While at the moment, my service is "active" and has been active even with the Comcast DVR disconnected, I am sure there are cases where they need to reactivate service - for instance, when a plan is changed. When channels are added or removed. Etc.)

Is this a change in policy? Does it mean that a TiVo user has to rent an Xfinity X1 box, no matter what it's current monthly cost is - AND pay $9.95 more for an additional outlet?

Parenthetically, I asked a bit about X1 and hard drive vs. Xfinity Cloud DVR, was told that anyone who has an older Xfinity DVR with a hard drive - the older non-X1 models or even the early X1 models - has to turn that in for a driveless X1 model if they make any change to their plan. They would get a 5 day grace period, and then their service would be cut off. Then they would only be able to use the Cloud DVR going forward.

Everything I "learned" today seemed improbable. All of it was troubling.

Can anyone confirm which parts of this information are true and which are false? I know there are some experts here!

 

[kpeters59]

I've got quite a few installations around town that have no boxes other than the single CableCard in a TiVo.

-KP

 

[kpeters59]

There is a possibility that one of the more recent installations Comcast insisted on an X-1 Box, which I promptly returned after getting the TiVo going.

-KP

 

[dbpaddler]

I've got quite a few installations around town that have no boxes other than the single CableCard in a TiVo.

-KP

Which are all existing, correct? Sounds like he's trying to do something new. Maybe they're not allowing new cable card activations anymore which is probable.

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk

 

[kpeters59]

As I mentioned, take the X-1. Acquire a CableCard. Activate the CableCard. Return the X-1.

-KP

 

[IraF]

Yes, I fear it's something new. It's what they might think they can now get away with now that the cableCARD mandate was eliminated.

If I can get away with it, I'd certainly take an X1, then return it. Maybe even right at the store in the same transaction, or walk out the door then walk back in - unless it had to be connected at home briefly in order to get it all going.

I've had my cableCARD in my TiVo since activating it in 2017, so I wouldn't need a new one.

It sounds like the consensus so far is that the agent was misinformed.

I do wonder if I am better trying to get results at the local Comcast store (we have 2 stores in my city), or via the Retention group ("disconnect"). The people at the store are friendly, and are local people with far more knowledge than most first-line phone agents. The Retention people probably have the most discretion and knowledge of all, but their job is literally psychological manipulation, and dealing with them is a battle of wills and almost a gladiator sport.

Are most cities now employing what was or is called "Simple and Easy"? If so, I would get a multi-product discount even if I didn't take a promotional package and contract.

 

[dbpaddler]

What do you mean "get away with"? It's not a scam. There is no rule they have to support it. They're not trying to get one over on you. They're just going to get to a point where they're done. And when that time comes, you move on. Plain and simple. I don't get why people think they have rights in this.

Old technology comes to an end. New technology emerges. It's fine if you want to fight it until day zero, but don't kid yourself about having some right to keep your cable card tivo going if they don't want to support it any longer.

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk

 

[NorthAlabama]

comcast has agreed to support cablecards until 2031. if the rep didn't know how to set the primary as a cablecard, request to disconnect, so you'll be transferred to the retention department, and they'll help you - they may even have access to grandfathered plans to better meet your needs.

the equipment credit it gone (in our market), due to recent price changes which unbundled x1 equipment from the new channel packages, but there's no additional charge for the tivo as the primary receiver on the account (again, in our market, there are differences around the country, though fewer than ever).

 

[dbpaddler]

Initial cable cards were always free with Comcast so if tivo was your only device you had no equipment fees, unlike Verizon.

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk

 

[IraF]

What do you mean "get away with"? It's not a scam. There is no rule they have to support it. They're not trying to get one over on you. They're just going to get to a point where they're done. And when that time comes, you move on. Plain and simple. I don't get why people think they have rights in this,

Bad choice of words on my part. I did mean that I think they are now encouraged to continue supporting COE well, but aren't mandated to. If I'm required to take and pay for their equipment for $5, and BECAUSE I have their obligatory equipment then pay $9.95 for a TiVo on an additional outlet, then it means I have to pay triple their TV Box price just to have a TiVo. That would be a massive shift from supporting customer equipment remotely fairly.

So it's their choice, and if what I was told is true then they are electing to take the less generous path. You're right they wouldn't be breaking the letter of the law, but given the encouragement in the change, the spirit of it.

I don't have any rights if they are within the law. I only have disappointment if this has happened, and higher costs than I can afford. Having tried the "big 3" streaming services extensively for weeks, I wouldn't call YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV and Sling TV improved technology. They are new tech but all kind of stink in their unique ways. Cable TV is still a better experience, but the Broadcast and Regional Sports fees, along with other taxes and fees, alone cost more than steaming TV services.

 

[southerndoc]

comcast has agreed to support cablecards until 2031. if the rep didn't know how to set the primary as a cablecard, request to disconnect, so you'll be transferred to the retention department, and they'll help you - they may even have access to grandfathered plans to better meet your needs.

the equipment credit it gone (in our market), due to recent price changes which unbundled x1 equipment from the new channel packages, but there's no additional charge for the tivo as the primary receiver on the account (again, in our market, there are differences around the country, though fewer than ever).

They've agreed to support it, but curious how do you get new CableCARDs?

 

[NorthAlabama]

They've agreed to support it, but curious how do you get new CableCARDs?

here? have them drop shipped for self-install, or make a trip to the local office, they have a large number on hand.

 

[jjd416]

I've been having signal problems with my HD channels for weeks now, and have yet to get it resolved. Now Comcast believes it's my cablecard and want to replace it. The only problem is that there are no cablecards to be found in the Danbury CT market. I was told the regional service manager is now trying to locate a cablecard for me and I should hear something in the next few days. It appears to me that cablecards are not readily available, at least in my area.

 

[eherberg]

They've agreed to support it, but curious how do you get new CableCARDs?

It's only in this forum that it has been stated they've agreed to support it -- and that was only because a cable tech said so during a pairing problem. Outside of this forum - the actual reports were that Comcast gets the use of the Xperi/TiVo patents and licenses until 2031. That's a far stretch to making CableCard support leaps of assumption.

 

[snerd]

I updated my Xfinity plan last August (2020). I have only TiVo boxes and two CableCards. One is treated as the primary, and I'm charged a $9.95 additional outlet fee, which was not imposed prior to my August update.

Note that the rules vary from region to region. In my experience, going to a local store allowed access to people who can approve variations from the "standard" Comcast rules.

The first rule of Comcast is that Comcast sucks. Since we are hopelessly addicted to our TiVos, we have no other viable option.

 

[NorthAlabama]

It's only in this forum that it has been stated they've agreed to support it -- and that was only because a cable tech said so during a pairing problem. Outside of this forum - the actual reports were that Comcast gets the use of the Xperi/TiVo patents and licenses until 2031. That's a far stretch to making CableCard support leaps of assumption.

not true - comcast confirmed the continued support directly to me, over the phone, when i last negotiated my rates and term.

 

[mrsean]

you can use a Tivo with cablecard but you will probably be missing several channels because Comcast moved them over to IP. My mother just gave me back her Roamio and Mini because she could longer get some of her favorite channels through it. She using an X1 box now.

 

[NorthAlabama]

so...she's a newsmax fan?

 

[dbpaddler]

not true - comcast confirmed the continued support directly to me, over the phone, when i last negotiated my rates and term.

Well that's binding...

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk

 

[NorthAlabama]

Well that's binding...

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk

what's binding with streaming services?

nothing with comcast is binding, as their customer agreement says they can change anything with notice - but, it is directly from the service provider, so there's that.

i for one hope comcast honors the support, i can't afford to subscribe to 10 different streaming services for $150 commercial-free tv bill each month, or waste an hour each day switching back and forth between them just to find one show - i'm happy with tivo and cable, and the convenience.