Craig8 join:2006-01-22 Lexington Park, MD |
Craig8
Member
2008-Jan-23 12:02 am
Modem Maintenance FeeAnybody else get one of these added to their bill this month? I own my modem. Always have. I did not see anything about them charging for your own modem in the new rate structure stuff we received. I'm calling tomorrow to get it taken off. |
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I am not 100% up to speed on the new pricing structure, but from how it used to be in CT, was that you could opt out if you owned the modem.
I know that you are unable to opt out if you got the modem from MetroCast, and it used to be included in the 4mbit (now 6mbit) package. |
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Craig8 join:2006-01-22 Lexington Park, MD |
Craig8
Member
2008-Jan-23 9:54 am
According to the Customer Service Rep I just spoke with, all Metrocast customers got hit with the modem maint fee. Whether they have internet service or not! |
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tenpin784I Went To The Dark Side? join:2001-03-30 Brierfield, AL |
said by Craig8:According to the Customer Service Rep I just spoke with, all Metrocast customers got hit with the modem maint fee. Whether they have internet service or not! Do you mean whether they have a rented modem or their own modem? |
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Craig8 join:2006-01-22 Lexington Park, MD |
Craig8
Member
2008-Jan-24 9:26 pm
No, I mean if they had Metrocast Cable, they got a modem maintenance fee.
All customers could be an exaggeration (hers, not mine). It could be people only in this area (Maryland). |
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to Craig8
Logistically, it makes no sense for a video-only customer to be charged a modem maintenance fee, but that's just me. |
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said by booticon:Logistically, it makes no sense for a video-only customer to be charged a modem maintenance fee, but that's just me. No it's not. |
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comp Premium Member join:2001-08-16 Evans City, PA ·Armstrong
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to booticon
said by booticon:Logistically, it makes no sense for a video-only customer to be charged a modem maintenance fee, but that's just me. if it just was a system/billing error it makes sense |
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to Craig8
Yeah, definitely get a second opinion. I looked through a few random video-only accounts in CT, and they aren't being hit with that fee. |
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odogMinister of internet doohickies Premium Member join:2001-08-05 Atlanta, GA Nokia BGW320-505
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odog to Craig8
Premium Member
2008-Jan-25 10:30 am
to Craig8
The fee should ONLY apply to customers using the two lowest tiers of service.(basic and access)
If you have one of those levels and own your own modem, as in you purchased it from a retail store or from us then you should not be charged. However if you got the modem from us "for free" when signing up for a higher level of service and churned down to a lower level you don't own the modem and will incur the charge. |
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Craig8 join:2006-01-22 Lexington Park, MD |
Craig8
Member
2008-Jan-29 11:57 pm
Well, looking at the Metrocast site i noticed this:
Internet Modem Maintenance Fee Whether utilizing your own DOCSIS modem or using a MetroCast authorized DOCSIS modem, MetroCast will ensure that your internet service is operating at top capacity and MetroCast will take full responsibility in servicing this modem.
$2.95 of course.
So what's this? We'll add a "feature" without saying anything and charge you for it? Total crap.
Does this mean if I call tech support they are going to charge me $2.95 that month? I could see them trying to get away with that.
I'll see if it shows up on next month's bill. |
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to Craig8
Craig, what level of internet service do you have?
Also, did you speak to someone who said that the charge would be removed? If not, do not assume that it will not show up next month. |
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Craig8 join:2006-01-22 Lexington Park, MD |
Craig8
Member
2008-Jan-30 9:10 am
Seems I have been pretty obtuse.
I have 6.0Mbps service.
I have the digital cable package.
I bought my own modem, I did not get one "free" from Metrocast. I have had cable internet since I moved here in 2002. I have used my own modem since they switched to DOCSIS modems from whatever the old standard was. |
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ptrowskiGot Helix? Premium Member join:2005-03-14 Woodstock, CT |
to Craig8
said by Craig8:According to the Customer Service Rep I just spoke with, all Metrocast customers got hit with the modem maint fee. Whether they have internet service or not! Please tell me this is a joke. |
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icedcornIcedCorn Premium Member join:2007-07-08 Rochester, NH |
icedcorn
Premium Member
2008-Feb-1 8:05 pm
In the NH system, you were charged modem maint if you had the 128K down or the 1mpbs down, but not if you had 6 down.
I think they phased out that "light" service anyway, and if you have digital phone, it's now called an EMTA fee, but there is something of value in there -- there's a battery backup, which is nice and my understanding is that it will be replaced if defective. |
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tenpin784I Went To The Dark Side? join:2001-03-30 Brierfield, AL 1 edit |
to Craig8
In NH (for some reason, I don't know how the others are doing it, but it *should* be the same), only the 2 slower packages get charged the fee, as icedcorn said. On the 6mbit package, it is included/free. This covers both modems from Metrocast (but no more modem rental fee of 5 bucks) and customer owned modems. The upside is, before that fee was put in place, if a customer had his own modem and there was a problem with it, it was their (customers) responsibility to replace it. Now, even if it is a customer owned modem, and it is having problems, we will replace it with one of ours free of charge.
That is what we were told before they started putting that in place. |
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rhfritz to Craig8
Anon
2008-Feb-17 6:55 pm
to Craig8
I just noticed this fee -- I'm in Lexington Park as well. What did they tell you? I've owned my modem since the beginning as well. |
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rhfritz_at to Craig8
Anon
2008-Feb-24 2:41 pm
to Craig8
I called Metrocast billing. They had no explanation for why after 8 years I suddenly "became" a rental modem customer. I do know that they cheerfully changed my customer record to reflect my status as a modem "owner" and issued me a credit. They did this without requiring me to "prove" in any way that I did in fact own my modem. |
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to Craig8
starting next month.........There will be an "Ethernet Cable Maintenance Fee."
Metrocast will assume responsibility for maintaining the connection between your computer (or router) and your cable modem. |
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odogMinister of internet doohickies Premium Member join:2001-08-05 Atlanta, GA 1 edit |
odog
Premium Member
2008-Feb-24 11:39 pm
honestly.... i think some people need that. |
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Craig8 join:2006-01-22 Lexington Park, MD |
Craig8
Member
2008-Feb-26 12:17 am
Re: Modem Maintenance FeeHave not been around for a while. Like rhfritz said, I just called and they took the charge off. However I did notice on their web site that they have a modem maintenance fee they will charge YOU for YOUR modem, but they will troubleshoot and service like it was theirs. Text from the site:
Internet Modem Maintenance Fee Whether utilizing your own DOCSIS modem or using a MetroCast authorized DOCSIS modem, MetroCast will ensure that your internet service is operating at top capacity and MetroCast will take full responsibility in servicing this modem. $2.95
Still can't decide if this was a programming oops!, or just put the fee on and see what happens, knowing some people won't say anything.
I tend to think the former. As many service problems as I have had, they do generally try to help and are nice, even when I get a little perturbed. |
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to Craig8
I believe I heard that it was no longer included, like it used to be.. it is not a rental fee, but a maintenance fee. by opting out of it, metrocast will not replace your modem, regardless of where you purchased it from. |
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