OT: Any Comcast customers out there?

[Seinfeld]

I had been with Direct for 5+ years, and I recently decided to go in another direction because they told me that there was nothing they could do to lower my bill this year. I've been calling them every 12 months for the last 5 years, and they had always taken care of me before. This time, they refused to lift a finger other than offering a few months of free movie channels.

Anyway, U-verse is still not offered in Olive Branch, and I'll be honest... the only reason that I even considered Comcast over Dish is due to the fact that we already have Comcast home phone and internet. I really didn't want to go through the trouble of switching everything. Well, X1 was installed about a week ago, and I gotta say... it's a damn good system. The internet is blazing with a very strong WIFI signal, the DVR allows for recording 4 shows at once while watching another, and the tv interface is pretty dang cool. I flipped to a horror movie the other night and while doing so, I noticed that it suggests about a half dozen similar movies at the bottom that you may want to watch too.

Now, Comcast customer service may still be as bad as it's always been, but I've gotta give them credit for their product right now. I'm not sure that it isn't one of the best out there

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

I have Comcast internet with DirecTV and I am in the same boat. My bill has gone up almost 50 percent in 2 years. I live in the Memphis area and Comcast here is pretty reliable from what everyone has told me so I may be making the change. However they will jack up the prices after you have been with them for a while too

 

[XBLDawg]

Now that you are an "existing" customer, don't look for Comcast to work with you much to lower your bill.

I switched my TV to DirecTV at the beginning of the summer because my bill was getting out of hand. It was around $230 a month and they weren't willing to do much to lower it. Also, since I was an existing customer, they kept giving me the runaround saying I didn't qualify for X1. I said enough with it and moved on. Sure enough, an month later I get a flyer in the mail offering X1 and a much lower price.

They also did something similar to my elderly parents. Weren't willing to lower the price, told them if they dropped premiums the price would go UP, etc. Comcast is notorious for stuff like that. Call 5 times and you'll get 5 different answers.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

I finally decided that paying as little as possible and expecting the best service was a fool's errand. I have Uverse now and really like most of it, just a few features I had with cable are missing. DirectTV and Dish both had salespeople that just blatantly lied to me. That plus having a contract kept me from trying them, I will not sign a contract with zero grace period.

 

[dawgatUSM]

I got X1 a couple of years ago and it had some kinks to get worked out. But that thing is awesome now that they have worked on that. I switched from direct too and I had been a Comcast customer before and I told the installer that the only thing I would miss about direct was the ease of use of their guide and Dvr and such. He told me I would be pleased with X1 and I have been.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

The Uverse guide search function blows goats. And you can't pause one channel, watch something else, then go back to the paused channel, which my previous providers could do. Other than that, it's slick, fast and responsive. I do get internet elsewhere because for now they only have DSL, which is not fast.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I hate Comcast. I have no other option where I live. My bill has been wrong every month since May. I have to call and go through their run around every month. I have spent 6 hours on the phone with them over the last two weeks. Whenever someone finally admits they see the error, the same error every month, and it is their fault, I get put on hold to be transferred to the department to fix the issue and mysteriously the call drops 80% of the time, even from a land line. I then have to start the whole thing over again with a new call. I got so sick of it I quit paying the minimum amount to keep my service on while arguing every month and just let them shut everything off. The wife could only take that for a couple weeks. So I'm back to paying a small portion of an incorrect bill every month and spending one night every other week on the phone with them. I will gladdly pay any other company triple what comcast costs if I get the opportunity.

 

[Seinfeld]

I have Comcast internet with DirecTV and I am in the same boat. My bill has gone up almost 50 percent in 2 years. I live in the Memphis area and Comcast here is pretty reliable from what everyone has told me so I may be making the change. However they will jack up the prices after you have been with them for a while too

Yeah, don't get me wrong... the pricing that I'm getting now is just for 12 months, and I know that there will be a point where I'll have to make some changes due to not being able to afford what I'm getting now, but with Comcast, I'm happy that I'll have the option to do that without having to worry about any kind of contract or commitment. With Direct, it was always... well, we'll send you this new fancy DVR, but you'll have to sign another 2-year commitment.

I'm also glad to know that I'll finally be able to use 100% of the WatchESPN app

 

[coach66]

Just went thru Comcast Customer Service Hell yesterday with their damn IVR

system. They have to be one of the worst customer service companies in the world. They now automatically charge you $40 every time a truck is dispatched to your home whether it is their problem or your problem and you have to fight them to get your bill straight. They had to make a second trip to my house to straighten out a problem that was caused by their first tech and they charged me for it. They now tell me my complaint has to go to a committee for review and they will let me know if I am going to get a credit but don't count on it.

 

[PBRME]

Been a Comcast customer for 10 years. Had both dish and direct before that. I've complained about comcast recently here. They've changed my mind and am now pleased with my service, their customer service and the tech they sent to correct my issues. After months of bitching about a tiling TV, sluggish phone line and weak Internet signal they corrected the issue for me. And it turned out to be a wiring issue in my attic. No charge even though I'm supposed to be responsible for it.

 

[fishwater99]

Which is better Comcast X-1 or U-verse ??

 

[dawgstudent]

X1 is awesome. If you don't have it - upgrade to it if you are on Comcast. It was the same price for me to switch to X1 from the old system.

 

[dawgstudent]

X1 is great. And I will also say their home security system is nice as well.

I am paying $165 for 4 services through comcast (phone, internet, tv, and home security)

 

[dawgstudent]

It's worth it to pay the $3/month service fee where you don't have to pay the $40.

 

[lazlow]

I had been with Direct for 5+ years, and I recently decided to go in another direction because they told me that there was nothing they could do to lower my bill this year. I've been calling them every 12 months for the last 5 years, and they had always taken care of me before. This time, they refused to lift a finger other than offering a few months of free movie channels.

Anyway, U-verse is still not offered in Olive Branch, and I'll be honest... the only reason that I even considered Comcast over Dish is due to the fact that we already have Comcast home phone and internet. I really didn't want to go through the trouble of switching everything. Well, X1 was installed about a week ago, and I gotta say... it's a damn good system. The internet is blazing with a very strong WIFI signal, the DVR allows for recording 4 shows at once while watching another, and the tv interface is pretty dang cool. I flipped to a horror movie the other night and while doing so, I noticed that it suggests about a half dozen similar movies at the bottom that you may want to watch too.

Now, Comcast customer service may still be as bad as it's always been, but I've gotta give them credit for their product right now. I'm not sure that it isn't one of the best out there

I was with CC for ~ 10 years in Nashville....they've basically increased my bill $100/mo in < than a year. I dropped em like 2nd period french a month ago and will never look back. AT&T is certainly no worse for internet and HDTV. But w/ AT&T I have more flexibility with the DVR.... on 2nd thought when AT&T starts to 17 w/ me on $ in a year CC or whoever they are in a year will get another shot just like everyone else.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

A local tech, after hearing my similar story, told me that the best way to get through is to start a customer service chat online (works on phone too he said). Then, after starting the conversation, stop and say "is there a number I can call you at, or can you call me?"

At that point, a local person will contact you, because the online customer service is done in the US. Also if you have a place near you, go into the service center.

I have dropped to Internet only, and directv for tv, which I LOVE. Genie has been very good to me.

 

[SHTRSFUL]

i have had Comcast for the last 10 years and they suck, but they have me locked in with this bundling crap and they are pretty much the only people in the Memphis area that offer really good internet. I tried upgrading my system to the X1 just this week and got to talk to someone in India for about an hour and they kept trying to force this triple play BS with the phone service on me. I kept telling them I wanted the double play without the phone service. For some reason that is only offered to new customers and not 10 year existing customers. I called BS on that, got pissed off, fired off an email to the guy whose picture is on their home page describing my experience (only email address I could find to get in touch with them). About 2 hours later they called me and put in contact with an English speaking individual in Indianapolis who hooked me up in about 10 minutes with exactly what I wanted, the double play. I will give this a whirl and see how it works out, coming out to install Monday morning. I have been debating the Comcast vs Direct vs Uverse for years. don't bother with Uverse, it is horrible here, Direct TV is supposedly really good but in the end you end up paying the same amount as Comcast.

 

[coackjek]

I've been with them for 6 yrs. no issues with anything for that time. On the bill raising, the month they go up, I call and get the latest deal and get a credit on my next bill.

 

[8dog]

I havent had to have a comcast service call in a long time. Its not the worlds greatest but its worth it for the price. The most annoying thing is the sound going out randomly. You just have to change the channel.

 

[johnson86-1]

DirectTV and Dish both had salespeople that just blatantly lied to me. That plus having a contract kept me from trying them, I will not sign a contract with zero grace period.

The no grace period is a huge pain. Had them come out and had issues, and had hell getting them to fix them. Part of it was my fault for not making the Service Tech demonstrate everything. That said, the actual product has been awesome; much better than cable in our area.

 

[Sutterkane]

I have a real love/hate relationship with Comcast.

I've used them here in the Nashville area for 14 years. I went through all the growing pains with them and their internet and "recycling the power", "refresh connection" etc. They still piss me off occasionally, and I hate their prices, but they are the best provider for television and internet in the area if you can't get UVerse.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

If you are renting your cable modem from comcast for $7-8 per month, you can a purchase a refurbished one off Amazon (that supports voice, internet and cable) for $85.99.

If you live in Flowood, and need a cable modem for cable and internet only, I can hook you up with a good deal.

 

[yjnkdawg]

I have been with Directv for 15+ years and the same here. For being such a loyal customer , we are going to give you $10 off for 12 months. Does anybody know how the picure quality compares with Xfinity and Directv in the Brandon area? I have heard that pq depends on location with Comcast.