 LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5
1 edit | I returned mine and and had $2 pulled from the bill It used to be free and I had mine for a few years without charges. But then they started charging for it. I no longer used it so I returned mine and had the $2 pulled from the bill. And then I got pissed & complained about it to the local Comcast rep and he sent me to the retention dept where I got a $15/mo credit applied for a year. So in the end it is saving me $17/mo. Comcast should have left well enough alone.
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A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury. |
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 tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3
 ·Comcast
| Mine are going back tomorrow, was being charged for both and HD fee on both despite repeated assurances to just hold on to them (neither has ever been used, one is still sealed in the shipping box.)
My "Guaranteed" sub $85 blast plus HD hit $97 for 2 months now, which is NOT what we ( Me and the desk guy at the service center) talked about. |
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BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Nasty This is a pretty slimy tactic, considering a lot of people grabbed ones they didn't really need when they rolled them out. |
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 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to Linklist
Re: I returned mine and and had $2 pulled from the bill Wonder how many people who always are resigned to cable bill increases won't notice and just be paying from now until __________ for something they are not using.
Trust me, it will happen. Then will come the lawsuit(s)....
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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cdbma
join:2003-01-19
Bolton, MA | got me by the... I have two analog TVs. I was thrilled when Comcast gave me two DAs for no charge. Well done...or so I thought. Now I'm being charged $2/month for each. If I ditch the DAs, I have to ditch the TVs (I tried a D/A adapter and a DTV antenna - not great). So, I can send a message by returning, but then I'd have to get new DTVs, which would require two STBs - at additional cost.
I'm hosed!
I like the idea of taking them back and seeing if they blink. |
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LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5 | reply to KrK
Re: I returned mine and and had $2 pulled from the bill said by KrK:Wonder how many people who always are resigned to cable bill increases won't notice and just be paying from now until __________ for something they are not using.
Trust me, it will happen. Then will come the lawsuit(s)....
Before I retired and was working 60 hr weeks and on call 24 x 7 I probably wouldn't have taken the time and energy to correct this. But now that I have free time, I follow up on these small ripoffs and fight them.
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A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury. |
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Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL
1 edit | reply to BiggA
Re: Nasty There's several issues I brought up in the Comcast forum when this first surfaced.
With all of the DTAs purchased, Comcast saved billions of dollars by going the digital migration route instead of upgrading all plants to 1 ghz or more. They also saved money by getting the FCC to give a waiver on the separable security mandate for the DTAs.
Now that they have a huge install base hooked on them, they go for an easy profit stream. After the year or so it will take to break even on the wholesale cost, Comcast will be making 100% on the millions of these deployed in the field every single month.
The worst part is they are so cheap but we have no way to purchase them out right. Customers are going to be paying for them many times over through a DTAs lifetime.
Then they could allow customers who have QAM tuners in their tvs to watch the channels a DTA decrypts without a box but they are eliminating Clear QAM to keep from having to install filters and cut down on theft of service. Another money saving tactic that they are making the customer pay for by having to rent a DTA instead of letting their TV do the work.
Also, Comcast has stated the charge consists of 50 cents for the DTA and $1.49 for a digital outlet. This shows perfectly how much of a scam the whole "digital outlet" charge is. It's clearly been designed as a system to work around the FCC's customer owned equipment rule. Since Comcast has to issue a credit for the equipment part of the charge for these customers.
Oh no customer, we're only charging you $2.50 for the equipment. It doesn't matter if it's an SD, HD or DVR box. The equipment is just $2.50. It's the "outlet" that you are paying $7+ for.
Yet here we see the outlet charge is only $1.49. It's the same outlet and if you have digital starter, the same channels.
Since the difference in price is so minimal between renting an STB and the credit you get for owning, this also incentivises customers to stick with the Comcast leased equipment vs buying their own and using a cablecard. This is certainly not what the FCC intended. |
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kaila
join:2000-10-11
Lincolnshire, IL | reply to cdbma
Re: got me by the... Hopefully you're close enough to the Boston market when Aereo comes to town. Aereo's service connected through a Roku box for each set gives 1hr day for free, or unlimited w/20hrs DVR storage for $8mo. |
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 graysonfPremium,MVM
join:1999-07-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL | Returned to Sender I took the two free adapters as soon as they announced them several years ago. All I did was activate them and made sure they worked. I never watched TV on them again.
When I saw the upcharge on my last bill, I took them back and got full credit of $3.98 (2@ $1.99 each).
If I have company coming in from out of town I'll just go down to the local service center and pick up a converter and take it back when my guests leave. |
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 MoracCat god
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
kudos:1 | reply to Linklist
Re: I returned mine and and had $2 pulled from the bill I returned mine last month. Comcast charged me a $2 service change fee to do so. Can't win either way. |
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cdbma
join:2003-01-19
Bolton, MA | reply to kaila
Re: got me by the... You hit the nail on the head. I need competition. Comcast is the only game in town, other than satellite. I will not put a dish on my roof! I can't get FIOS, and Comcast knows that I'm bluffing if I threaten to pull the plug, because I have limited choices for video and internet. I am a pure capitalist. In general, I really don't have a problem with what Comcast charges. I am upset that I don't have other viable choices if I want to go elsewhere.
I will pursue Aereo and other alternatives. Thanks for the tip. |
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 jmn1207Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA
kudos:1 | Is this Still Applicable? »digitalnow.comcast.com/About_Dig···ate.aspx
What will it cost?
Limited Basic only customers are eligible to receive digital adapter service (and digital adapters) for three (3) outlets without additional charge. A digital adapter service charge of $0.50 will apply to each additional outlet for those customers. All other customers are eligible to receive a digital set-top box and service included at no additional charge with their primary outlet, and the digital adapter service charge of $1.99 will apply to each additional digital adapter service outlet (such charges are not applicable for digital adapter service outlets existing on accounts prior to July 1, 2012). Certain markets may have alternative pricing. Enter your unique ID or account number in the Equipment Center log in on the previous page for pricing of your service.
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·CenturyLink
·Comcast
·Embarq Now Centu..
| reply to Zoder
Re: Nasty I am particularly irritated because I replaced two televisions in 2011 in guest bedrooms so visitors could watch TV without interfering with our viewing. At that time it was not necessary to use a STB to receive 70 extended basic channels. Then Comcast cut it down to 21 limited basic channels. Now it is 0 channels. In view of the fact that our lawmakers are corrupt do not expect to see any action to resolve this gouging. I am sure that Comcast will continue to raise prices on the DTA's until consumers are paying $5.00 or more per month without being able to view all programming that they are paying for. I cannot justify paying $9.95 plus tax per month for an HD STB that is only used a couple of weeks per year. |
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| Big deal Everyone and his mother knew that they wouldn't be free forever. It had been stated you get it for 2 years free then you pay $2 a month. So why get mad now? You had 2 years warning. It's kind of like a kid that acts up and the parent tells them if they do it again they'll get spanked and they act up again but are yet somehow totally shocked when they get their ass beat. |
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 backfeedis giving feedback
join:2002-12-16
Peru, IN
·Comcast
| cost here is what the website states now...
Well mine are going back.....
What will it cost?
Limited Basic only customers are eligible to receive digital adapter service (and digital adapters) for three (3) outlets without additional charge. A digital adapter service charge of $0.50 will apply to each additional outlet for those customers. All other customers are eligible to receive a digital set-top box and service included at no additional charge with their primary outlet, and the digital adapter service charge of $1.99 will apply to each additional digital adapter service outlet (such charges are not applicable for digital adapter service outlets existing on accounts prior to July 1, 2012). Certain markets may have alternative pricing. Enter your unique ID or account number in the Equipment Center log in on the previous page for pricing of your service.
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There are 10 types of people. Those who can read Binary and those who cannot. |
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 swintecPremium,VIP
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME
kudos:4
 ·RapidVPS
 ·Sprint Mobile Br..
 ·VoicePulse
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to Mr Matt
Re: Nasty said by Mr Matt:I am particularly irritated because I replaced two televisions in 2011 in guest bedrooms so visitors could watch TV without interfering with our viewing. At that time it was not necessary to use a STB to receive 70 extended basic channels. Then Comcast cut it down to 21 limited basic channels. Now it is 0 channels....
Well, you could always switch to that service that doesnt use boxes like satellite telco tv..oh wait none do anymore. Not sure why someone would really be upset over this. I look at TV without a box / dta (analog channels) as maybe a little benefit they extended to customers but it is time to move on and free up the bandwidth for more services.
Do you get disgruntled that DirectTV or Dish do not allow you to watch TV without a box or have you just always accepted it?
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Usenet Block Accounts | Unlimited Accounts |
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swintecPremium,VIP
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME
kudos:4 Reviews:
·RapidVPS
·Sprint Mobile Br..
·VoicePulse
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to cdbma
Re: got me by the... said by cdbma: other than satellite. I will not put a dish on my roof!
You dont want comcast because of the box / DTA charges and also dont really want the converter box but the reason you wont use DirectTV is because you dont want a dish on your roof? Do you know that satellite uses boxes to?
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Usenet Block Accounts | Unlimited Accounts |
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Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL | reply to anon anon
Re: Big deal Maybe Charter said that. Comcast said they would be free peiod. No timetable. |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 Reviews:
·CenturyLink
·Comcast
·Embarq Now Centu..
| reply to swintec
Re: Nasty I did not just accept the fact that the DBS providers required customers to rent a Satellite Receiver for each television. I did not switch to satellite for just that reason. Back in the 90's consumers went to their local electronics store and purchased as many satellite receivers as they needed. The DBS provider arranged for installation. The customer did not rent their DBS receivers. At one time some television manufactures included satellite receivers in their high end projection television sets.
Then the DBS providers decided to price their service more like digital cable so they rented their DBS receivers. That was the excuse that some cable companies used to justify charging per outlet so they would have parity with the DBS providers.
Since the cable pigs are requiring a DTA for every television, customers no longer have the advantage of installing televisions capable of receiving extended basic cable without a STB at no charge. Before the DTA requirement a customer could receive extended basic channels on infrequently used cable ready television sets at no additional monthly charge. One of the reasons I stuck with cable was that ability. Anyone that is pissed off at their cable service provider should switch to DBS just so the cable pigs can no longer get their money. I am considering switching to DBS even if the cost is a little higher to stop feeding the cable pig. |
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 insomniacOh YeahPremium
join:2002-09-22
Naperville, IL | reply to Morac
Re: I returned mine and and had $2 pulled from the bill I returned one of mine in December, but I continued to get billed for it. Got that fixed... and then I got charged the $1.99 service change fee. You're right, can't win.
The other one is going back shortly. I've decided I just don't need cable on every TV if I'm going to be charged for every damn outlet.
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If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something. |
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