Opie, any advice regarding cutting the cord?

[mneilmont]

TWC is about to kick me for non-payment of increased billing last year. I objected at the time and told them to discontinue service if they were going to increase bill by > $40 per month. They continued service and higher monthly bill for 5 months before they reduced billing to lower and prior amount that I agreed to pay. A year later and they demand I pay the accumulated balance from the 5 months that I refused to pay last January. They have continued to provide service and billed me $8.50 monthly for late fee. Now the added late fee has accumulated a past due amount that finally hit an amount that called for me to be denied service per company policy. They have the audacity to say it is my fault for not requesting they discontinue when I realized there was a past due amount and a late fee was legitimately being added each month. I wished them good ***** luck in collecting any past due amount.

Didn't mean to bore you with my story of woe, but would appreciate any advise in choosing an alternate service.

 

[op2]

I have no idea about the legalities of fighting bills. But I did ditch cable a few years ago. Here's what I did after that.

For one, I got a digital antenna. This is the equivalent of the antenna people had on their roof in the old days before cable except you just stick it to your wall (and of course attached it to your TV). I think you have to live in the general vicinity of the antenna towers to get reception. But if so then voila, you permanently get about 20 channels (or I do), including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and Fox.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ital+tv+antenna&rh=i:aps,k:digital+tv+antenna

So you can get those without Internet or cable. I don't have cable TV but I do have Internet and in addition to using it for my computer I have a Roku that uses the Internet. A Roku is a device similar to Apple TV or Google Chromecast. It's basically TV over the Internet. There are a jillion channels, most free but some you have to pay for. Unsurprisingly you have to pay for the better ones like Netflix or Hulu but even those are only $8 per month. I just recently got Netflix for the first time so I'm trying it out now.

You can get Sling TV via your Roku too. With it, for $20 per month you get about 20 cable channels, including ESPN and ESPN2. (And for $5 or $10 more per month you can get channels beyond those 20). I typically get Sling TV during football season and then cancel it afterwards.

A potential problem with all this for you though is that you need Internet and thus an Internet provider. And in some places those are one and the same. If TWC is about to kick you off for non-payment, is that just your cable TV or is it your Internet too? If it's Internet too and you have an alternative then fine, just switch, but if TWC is the only game in town for Internet then they have the dreaded monopoly and you might have to say "Uncle" to them.

Here is a clip from SNL in the 70s when the phone company had a monopoly. This pretty much sums it up with a monopoly.

 

[Mntneer]

Sony also has a service like Sling TV as well called Vue. Neil where do you live? Are over-the-air broadcasts feasible for you?

 

[dave]

Sony also has a service like Sling TV as well called Vue. Neil where do you live? Are over-the-air broadcasts feasible for you?

Playstation vue is also a good option. About the channels of basic directv for about 35 a month.

 

[bornaneer]

TWC is about to kick me for non-payment of increased billing last year. I objected at the time and told them to discontinue service if they were going to increase bill by > $40 per month. They continued service and higher monthly bill for 5 months before they reduced billing to lower and prior amount that I agreed to pay. A year later and they demand I pay the accumulated balance from the 5 months that I refused to pay last January. They have continued to provide service and billed me $8.50 monthly for late fee. Now the added late fee has accumulated a past due amount that finally hit an amount that called for me to be denied service per company policy. They have the audacity to say it is my fault for not requesting they discontinue when I realized there was a past due amount and a late fee was legitimately being added each month. I wished them good ***** luck in collecting any past due amount.

Didn't mean to bore you with my story of woe, but would appreciate any advise in choosing an alternate service.

Went with PS Vue using 6 Rokus and use antenna for locals. PS Vue has all of what we watch plus 2 locals. I got the 45.00 per month channel lineup....it has a lot of Big 12 stuff Have seen WVU baseball and womens bb on it. Use Comcast only for internet. You must have a router and modem that can handle high speed. Initially had problems with my old router......changed to a better one and have had zero issues. Love it and no regrets.

 

[dave]

Went with PS Vue using 6 Rokus and use antenna for locals. PS Vue has all of what we watch plus 2 locals. I got the 45.00 per month channel lineup....it has a lot of Big 12 stuff Have seen WVU baseball and womens bb on it. Use Comcast only for internet. You must have a router and modem that can handle high speed. Initially had problems with my old router......changed to a better one and have had zero issues. Love it and no regrets.

This is where I am headed. Now have have comcast for a modem and it gives me about 30 channels and I have directv. If I get rid of directv and go to 45 a month with vue I save about 80 a month and get almost everything I have now.

 

[op2]

Went with PS Vue using 6 Rokus and use antenna for locals. PS Vue has all of what we watch plus has 2 locals. Use Comcast only for internet. You must have a router and modem that can handle high speed. Initially had problems with my old router......changed to a better one and have had zero issues. Love it and no regrets.

I should have mentioned that. You need a modem and a router (or I think they rent a 2-in-1 version of those). Of course the cable company will rent you a modem (or maybe a router too) but they'll charge you. And it adds up.

It took me a long time to realize this, although now it seems blindingly obvious, but the cable company counts on you not taking action or spending money in the short run to make money off you in the long run.

They give you the intro rate for a year or two knowing that when it runs out they'll jack up your rate and you won't do anything.

They rent you a modem knowing that you'll balk at the cost and installation hassle of buying one knowing that they'll make money off you forever from it.

They act like giving you local TV is such a good deal because they know you won't go through the cost and hassle of getting a digital antenna. And if you don't have a digital antenna they know you're less likely to ditch them for TV.

They know you're gonna save time and money and hassle in the short term and they take advantage and make a lot of money off you in the long term.

Bite the bullet and spend some time and money on these things and although it will be short term money and hassle pain, it will be long term money and hassle gain.

 

[bornaneer]

This is where I am headed. Now have have comcast for a modem and it gives me about 30 channels and I have directv. If I get rid of directv and go to 45 a month with vue I save about 80 a month and get almost everything I have now.

Got tired of all the Comcast billing and charges ******** . They make a killing charging rental fees on all their $10.00 boxes that you must have for every TV and that I have paid for many times over. All my rokus and upgraded router will have paid for themselves in 3 months. It was not about the money.....it was about principle and how Comcast goes about their business.

 

[bornaneer]

I should have mentioned that. You need a modem and a router (or I think they rent a 2-in-1 version of those). Of course the cable company will rent you a modem (or maybe a router too) but they'll charge you. And it adds up.

It took me a long time to realize this, although now it seems blindingly obvious, but the cable company counts on you not taking action or spending money in the short run to make money off you in the long run.

They give you the intro rate for a year or two knowing that when it runs out they'll jack up your rate and you won't do anything.

They rent you a modem knowing that you'll balk at the cost and installation hassle of buying one knowing that they'll make money off you forever from it.

They act like giving you local TV is such a good deal because they know you won't go through the cost and hassle of getting a digital antenna. And if you don't have a digital antenna they know you're less likely to ditch them for TV.

They know you're gonna save time and money and hassle in the short term and they take advantage and make a lot of money off you in the long term.

Bite the bullet and spend some time and money on these things and although it will be short term money and hassle pain, it will be long term money and hassle gain.

I have always used my own modem. If Comcast had the same policy on all their other devices that you must rent, I probably would not have changed. My antenna is digital and I get plenty of DC and Baltimore stations plus several others as well as WV,MD and VA Pbs stations.

 

[dave]

Got tired of all the Comcast billing and charges ******** . They make a killing charging rental fees on all their $10.00 boxes that you must have for every TV and that I have paid for many times over. All my rokus and upgraded router will have paid for themselves in 3 months. It was not about the money.....it was about principle and how Comcast goes about their business.

Yeah. I pay for the modem rent and the mbs. Everything else right now is a promo rate so I will deal with directv first and then deal with comcast. I have 2 chromecast and a roku plus three xbox devices that all stream so I have something for all my rooms. If I need more I will pick it up.

 

[dave]

I have always used my own modem. If Comcast had the same policy on all their other devices that you must rent, I probably would not have changed. My antenna is digital and I get plenty of DC and Baltimore stations plus several others as well as WV,MD and VA Pbs stations.

This is my downside. I bought an antannae and it wouldnt work where I am so I took it back.

 

[bornaneer]

Yeah. I pay for the modem rent and the mbs. Everything else right now is a promo rate so I will deal with directv first and then deal with comcast. I have 2 chromecast and a roku plus three xbox devices that all stream so I have something for all my rooms. If I need more I will pick it up.

This one works very well for me.....got it at Best Buy.
Antennas Direct - ClearStream 4V Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna - Black/Silver Model: C4-V-CJM

Tried this one from Best Buy. Terrible....took it back.
Antennas Direct - Multidirectional Outdoor HDTV Antenna - Black/Silver Model: DB8-E SKU: 7511001

 

[Brushy Bill]

I'm looking to make the plunge and try the Vue. I have heard good things and I like it's assortment of channel options for where I live.

 

[mneilmont]

Thanks everyone for responding and info. When TWC gave me a date of termination, I got a digital antenna and son-in-law brought a booster to try. I live in Hartsville, SC in Darlington county. Basically farming country. 100 miles to beach, 80 to Columbia, 45 to Florence, and 75 to Charlotte.

Currently, I have TWC package - telephone, tv and internet since '93. Cost is now at $147 for basic + ESPN and CSPAN. I got all WVU games except the early ones on ROOT - Pitt. So, I have everything I use. I went to hell last Jan when they raised me to $180 for same service, so I told them to disconnect. They continued their rate for 5 months, and I remained at my rate. In July they lowered their rate to $147 in agreement with what I was paying. When they changed to Spectrum, they demanded back-pay plus $8.50 per month since Jan 2016. I told a supervisor to disconnect service when she notified me that the 21st would be cut off. WOULD YOU BELIEVE I GOT A CALL SATURDAY REGARDING PENDING CUT-OFF. THEN SHE SAID IF I WOULD PAY THEM $147 , I DID, THEY WOULD NOT TERMINATE ME AND I WOULD BE IN GOOD STANDING.

At risk of sounding really arrogant, I will still work toward my own system if I can figure out the internet problem - initial cost be damned. No WVU games at this time, and I have time on my side. If it were mid season, they would have me by the balls and free to extort me. Thanks for your input and I will use some version if I get by internet problem.

 

[op2]

Thanks everyone for responding and info. When TWC gave me a date of termination, I got a digital antenna and son-in-law brought a booster to try. I live in Hartsville, SC in Darlington county. Basically farming country. 100 miles to beach, 80 to Columbia, 45 to Florence, and 75 to Charlotte.

Currently, I have TWC package - telephone, tv and internet since '93. Cost is now at $147 for basic + ESPN and CSPAN. I got all WVU games except the early ones on ROOT - Pitt. So, I have everything I use. I went to hell last Jan when they raised me to $180 for same service, so I told them to disconnect. They continued their rate for 5 months, and I remained at my rate. In July they lowered their rate to $147 in agreement with what I was paying. When they changed to Spectrum, they demanded back-pay plus $8.50 per month since Jan 2016. I told a supervisor to disconnect service when she notified me that the 21st would be cut off. WOULD YOU BELIEVE I GOT A CALL SATURDAY REGARDING PENDING CUT-OFF. THEN SHE SAID IF I WOULD PAY THEM $147 , I DID, THEY WOULD NOT TERMINATE ME AND I WOULD BE IN GOOD STANDING.

At risk of sounding really arrogant, I will still work toward my own system if I can figure out the internet problem - initial cost be damned. No WVU games at this time, and I have time on my side. If it were mid season, they would have me by the balls and free to extort me. Thanks for your input and I will use some version if I get by internet problem.

You see, that's the thing, if you have no current alternative your options are (a) do what they say or (b) lose your TV. They've got you by the you know whats. But now that you've got a reprieve start making plans and get to the point where you have realistic options and can ditch them without extreme penalty. Then if they won't give you a good deal or you feel like leaving, you just leave and shift to your alternative and all is good.

I don't know if you rent a modem and a router from them or if you have your own but if you're renting then not only is it money per month but you may not know how it works and how things connect because they come and do it for you. Thus you're (a) paying them each month and (b) dependent on them if you want to change.

So to remedy that do some research and figure out what you need and how it works. Since your current connection works there's no rush but just figure it out at your own pace. Then when you do you can get your own equipment and use it to replace theirs and after it's up and working you can take their junk back to them and tell them to shove it up their a##. At that point you're no longer paying them to rent their stuff and plus you've figured out how things work so you don't have to rely on them to do stuff for you.

 

[mneilmont]

You see, that's the thing, if you have no current alternative your options are (a) do what they say or (b) lose your TV. They've got you by the you know whats. But now that you've got a reprieve start making plans and get to the point where you have realistic options and can ditch them without extreme penalty. Then if they won't give you a good deal or you feel like leaving, you just leave and shift to your alternative and all is good.

I don't know if you rent a modem and a router from them or if you have your own but if you're renting then not only is it money per month but you may not know how it works and how things connect because they come and do it for you. Thus you're (a) paying them each month and (b) dependent on them if you want to change.

So to remedy that do some research and figure out what you need and how it works. Since your current connection works there's no rush but just figure it out at your own pace. Then when you do you can get your own equipment and use it to replace theirs and after it's up and working you can take their junk back to them and tell them to shove it up their a##. At that point you're no longer paying them to rent their stuff and plus you've figured out how things work so you don't have to rely on them to do stuff for you.

That is about the way I view it too. But of course I got the order changed around a bit. I have already told them to shove it as far up their *** as they can possibly get it. Also shared a few other words of wit. I would prefer an antenna with local service than to knuckle down to those people. Obviously, the words exchanged did not affect the nice lady who called Saturday and did everything she could to get me to extend. Even her boss tried to accommodate me. May get severed on the 21st, but today, I am a member in good standing. Thanks again for help.