OT: Comcast

Just an FYI, I recently called Comcast to see if I could save some cash on my monthly bill. Currently I have Cable TV and Internet through them, along with and HD-DVR and HD programing. Back when I upgraded to get the DVR, they told me I had to sign up for the "digital classic" service or above, the basic anaolog cable didn't work with their DVR's or something I guess. Well anyways now that Comcast has switched everyone over to digital programing I thought there might be a cheaper package available, and I was right.

"Digital Classic" is basically what they are now calling the "digital starter" from what I can tell on their website, (linked above in the title). It gives you about 100 channels of stuff, but most of it beyond channel 71 is junk. So I asked the rep if there was anything cheaper now that they had gone all digital and he said there was a digital package that was just channels 1-71 and it was about $10 cheaper than what i was currently paying, (I am not on any promo deals). I said great sign me up, and he said, "but wait theres more!" This package also included the Starz channels at no additinal cost! I asked if it was some promo that was fall off after 6 months or a year and he said no, no promo, it is just part of the package, but they don't advertise it.

So now I got digital cable, with and HD-DVR, channels 1-71, plus the HD channels in the 700's, plus all of the Starz channels, all while still getting the ondemand programing, and my high-speed internet. And I am paying $10 less per month to get it, not a bad days work imo. :)

over 2 years ago usmcr3049 14 comments 0 recs |

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Thanks for the head's up

I’m planning on dropping Comcast after the playoffs end but maybe if i can get the price down, my wife will let me keep the basic stuff. $90 is too much for basic digital cable (channels 1-71) and internet.

by NWfan on Jun 1, 2009 3:49 PM PDT reply actions

here is another tip

If you can get it, Verizon Fios is doing a really great deal right now, $99.95 for HD TV, Internet, and Home Phone service, guarenteed at that price for 2 years. And the best thing is that Verizon broadcasts Comcast Sports Net. Their internet is just as fast, if not faster depending on the plan you pick, and their home phone service is excellent, I have not used their Fios TV though, maybe some other BE user would be kind enough to give us a review on it. Because with that deal, even if it is only for 2 years, i would save about $50-70 per year.

by usmcr3049 on Jun 1, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

yes please someone

I would jump on Fios is a heart beat if I knew what more people thought of it. I’m completely over the Dish (no Comcast AND no ABC?!?! really?!) and will either go Clear or Verizon for internet. The home phone thing feels moot; who uses a home phone?

"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum

by idoltime on Jun 1, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I found two reviews on Verizon Fios

Here they are, one is execellent, the other gives a few drawbacks. One reviewer switched from Cable, the other switched from Dish it seems.

http://www.epinions.com/content_404023905924

http://forums.digitaltrends.com/showthread.php?p=72697

Good luck!

by usmcr3049 on Jun 1, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions

My Review of Fios

I live out Gresham way and have Fios for both internet and home phone service. I got installed last Sept. At the time, they didn’t have Fios tv available in Gresham. I can’t speak to the TV service.

Overall, the internet service is excellent..fantastic. I consistently get 10.5 Mbits per sec, slightly above the 10Mbit I am contracted for. I’ve never had an outage, and despite initial concern, the Adaptec router they gave me is pretty reliable. I had a cable cut next to my house, compliments of a carpenter who was putting in a fence. They fixed it for free within a couple days. They never reburied the cable though, which I’ve had to do myself, mainly because I don’t want to navigate the stormy waters of Verizon customer service.

I am thinking of dumping the phone service. After taxes, for very, very basic phone service (no voicemail, no other ‘features’), we still pay $27 a month. I pay about $15 or so in taxes on top of the basic rate, which sucks. 90% of my phone calls are telemarketers or auto-dialled “car warranty” or other spam phone calls.

My BIGGEST compliant with Verizon is dealing with their customer service. I’ve had to deal with them regarding multiple billing errors, which I eventually got sorted out but took several phone calls. CSRs entering information in wrong, or transferred me to the wrong people..hassle city.

Getting them to fix my cut fiber took about 3 long phone calls, to different people, which was frustrating..but once I talked to the right person, they were quick about dispatching a crew to fix the cable.

To give you an example of Verizon’s customer service FROM THE INSIDE, when I asked a Verizon billing customer service agent about merging my cell phone bill (I use Verizon for them) with my other Verizon services, he FLATLY told me “No, I wouldn’t do that..they will probably screw up your bill for the first month or two.” I appreciated the honesty!

by SloppyJoe on Jun 2, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

It is funny you mention the "merge" billing

I had Verizon home phone, and Verizon Cell phone for a while when I lived in Wilsonville, The first couple of months was no issue, because I got both services at the same time, but when I moved to Vancouver, I got rid of the home phone service, and when they split the billings I had a hassle because when I sent the payment into Verizon, their home phone service, their cell phone service and their, “one bill” service all have different account numbers. So even though I sent in the payment to the “one Bill” account, they didn’t transferr the money to my other accounts. So I had to make individual payments to pay the final bill on the home phone, and the current bill on the cell phone, while they issued me a check from the one-bill account and mailed it back to me.

So ya, that might be a draw back, but comcast hasn’t been much better in my experience.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jun 2, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

VZ billing

Your experience sound pretty typical; there isn’t a situation that they can’t screw up. It’s as if Larry, Moe and Curly are running the different billing depts..all while in different cities and without communicating with each other. I LOATHE contacting them about anything.

Ya, I have my complaints about Comcast as well..but that’s a whole other post.

Even my beloved DirecTV, which I never had any issues with, billing or otherwise, have screwed things up for me recently (incorrectly billing me for an extra receiver, screwing up the "movers special "by failing to actually ‘move my account’, not sending a shipping box so I can send my old receiver back). Thankfully, I got a free HD DVR for a year and 6 free months of Showtime for my trouble.

by SloppyJoe on Jun 2, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

sounds good

but I gotta have my NBA-TV channel on 416… I have them for phone also, I wonder how that works in?

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

Best draft of all time: "1942, right after Pearl Harbor….everyone got drafted" --- 92wastheyear

by johnv59 on Jun 1, 2009 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

NBATV on comcast

is in the Sports package, which is an addon to any normal package, so you can get the NBATV with this lower priced package if you wanted.

by usmcr3049 on Jun 1, 2009 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions

The Sports package

is a no-brainer for me! :-) Thanks for the info.

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

Best draft of all time: "1942, right after Pearl Harbor….everyone got drafted" --- 92wastheyear

by johnv59 on Jun 1, 2009 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Just emailed this info

to my wife – first time I’ve ever used the Email icon above, actually didn’t even know it was there until now.

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

Best draft of all time: "1942, right after Pearl Harbor….everyone got drafted" --- 92wastheyear

by johnv59 on Jun 1, 2009 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Does no one have Verizon Fios?

We need a 1st person review!

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jun 2, 2009 8:28 AM PDT reply actions

This was a good reminder!

I just called Comcast and had my service dropped down to the bare minimum (channels 2-30) for the next few months. We don’t really watch TV except for basketball and it’s nice to cut the cable bill to about $12 for a while. The guy I spoke with mentioned that he’d had quite a few phone calls like mine. I wonder how many “basketball only” customers Comcast has.

by Corvid on Jun 2, 2009 1:03 PM PDT reply actions