God damn cable company!

[macabeee]

I got my Comcast cable bill this month and the damn thing TRIPLED from last month!

Grant it, I was getting a deal through a buddy who works for the company. I've got HD Digital Classic, Dual channel DVR, HBO & Starz and HS internet and I was only paying $60.00 a month.

Now that I am back to paying what everybody else does, what does everybody else do?

Are the satellite companies really all that much cheaper like they advertise? My area doesn't have any other cable providers so satellite would be my only option.

[grail25]

Tripled? Wow...

How come the deal you had isn't good anymore?

[macabeee]

It was a deal that new subscribers get for the first X number of months of their plan, then they get hit with the regular rates.

What I'd do is just call my buddy when the bill went up and he'd adjust it back to the new subscriber rate.

I guess that was being done by too many becuase they put in checks that won't allow them to give this deal to a exsisting subscriber.

[Moviemaniac4]

That's too much for cable.....

[grail25]

Oh, I get it. I had a buddy of mine who was working for the satellite company. He used to give me free extra channel. That was 'till he changed jobs...

But I agree with MM4, that's too much.

[Andyman]

More often then not, you can call Comcast and threaten to disconnect. Chances are they'll offer you a lower rate (but not what you were paying). They hate to lose a subscriber.

Here's another insider scoop. If you have digital basic, Comcast will wheel & deal to keep you on a digital box. They're hoping you'll order some "In Demand" pay-per-view movies. Without a digital box, that's not an option.

Satellite ads are a bit misleading. They offer comparable rates, even lower rates than cable for the same amount of channels. HOWEVER...that's only for one TV. Sure they'll throw in the extra satellite receivers for free...BUT...you'll pay an extra $5 a month per extra TV for service.

[macabeee]

Thanks for the scoop Andyman, I had you in mind when I was writing this vent!

I've got to call my buddy tonight to see if there's anything else he can do for me, but if it comes down to it my wife and I order between $20 and $40 a month of pay-per-view (we're too lazy to go to the video store) so maybe that will factor in when I call and tell them I'm turning everything off (if it comes to that)

My original thought is to cancel my service on my home phone number and get new service using my wife's name and her cell number, wonder if that'll work or if they'll figure out the same last name.....

I'll keep y'all posted

[Andyman]

They keep track of addresses so that idea won't work.

[Andyman]

BTW-don't just threaten to disconnect. You gotta mention that you're considering satellite TV. If they think that you're dropping TV altogether they'll consider you a lost cause and may not work with you.

[Dajistano]

It's $50 a month for just basic cable here...