THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to Dutchman
Re: New Twist to Discounts
'They wanted $9.00 more, so I downgraded the cable and internet so now I'm saving $50.00 a month, so how far did they get with the price increase.'
An excellent way to respond when you are in a position where you can not just terminate them. I had considered taking similar action when I received their 'ultimatum' about signing a 2 year contract or losing the bundle discount I had. I eventually determined that I'd have more peace of mind and get a great deal of satisfaction if I dropped Robbers cable TV service entirely, even if in meant I had to pay a bit of a premium to another service provider. (As it turned out I am paying a bit more, but that's because I opted for a programming package I did not have previously.) I would have dispensed with the internet service at the same time but out here in the 'boonies' there's no alternative if one wants high speed of any sort and degrading that service further is not an option at this time.
Now, if EVERYBODY responded as you did and Robbers were aware a financial backlash awaited them when they bugger about with their pricing and/or services (reasonable price and service adjustments over time we all understand and accept)to the detriment of their customers they just might think twice before knocking the hornet's nest out of the tree. (On second thought.........)
Unfortunately the sort of action that requires average Canadians to band together and act as a unit is just not, and never really has been, the Canadian way. Seems by nature we'd just as soon jump on the internet and come here and bitch. |
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Dutchman
@rogers.com | reply to THE Fatman
They wanted $9.00 more, so I downgraded the cable and internet so now I'm saving $50.00 a month, so how far did they get with the price increase. |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON | reply to Robrr
i am pretty sure, but don't quote me just in case. |
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Robrr
join:2008-04-19
Toronto, ON | reply to dirtyjeffer
Are you sure on that. The only services I currently have with Rogers is the TV and cell phone. |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON | reply to Robrr
it doesn't affect your cell phone...only your internet, TV and phone. |
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THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to Robrr
I'd say just hang in there and once all your service contracts epire, which I assume will be at the same time, dump them and take your business elsewhere. In the event the contracts expire at different times remember not to renew any of them and don't change any of the present services features which in turn would then give them the opportunity to modify your contract end date, a practice which I believe their Terms of Service gives them the right to do.
Remember in selecting your new service providers it might be that you don't get the price benefits of a bundled deal. In my instance, on chucking Robbers cable TV, I saw my internet cost jump a bit but that's life in the fast lane. |
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Robrr
join:2008-04-19
Toronto, ON
 ·TekSavvy Solutions..
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to dirtyjeffer
said by dirtyjeffer  :for those who don't want to sign the 2 year contract to keep the 15% discount, just sign it...the "penalty" to break it is only the discount you were given anyway, so you aren't really out anything. I thought about it but according to the Rogers Rep it is going to screw up my cell phone contract end date. I don't want them extending that at all |
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THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to dirtyjeffer
"not sure what package you had that was $85 with Rogers and didn't have TMN...we pay about $85/month and have the TMN package as well as the extra HD channels."
We did have some movie channels and TMN was one of them, but not HBO East and West and about a half dozen others that we now have with the *Choice movies bundle.
"for those who don't want to sign the 2 year contract to keep the 15% discount, just sign it...the "penalty" to break it is only the discount you were given anyway, so you aren't really out anything."
You might have a point there but I try never to sign any contracts I don't intend to honor. But then, each to his own. |
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dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to THE Fatman
not sure what package you had that was $85 with Rogers and didn't have TMN...we pay about $85/month and have the TMN package as well as the extra HD channels.
for those who don't want to sign the 2 year contract to keep the 15% discount, just sign it...the "penalty" to break it is only the discount you were given anyway, so you aren't really out anything.
--
Today's motto: Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to bid farewell to personal responsibility and accountability. |
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THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to boink9999
'no TV with thunderstorm?
wait till wintertime...'
Had a satellite system for about 7 years, in the '80's to early '90's, was installed long before there was cable 'strung' out this way, 12' dish, Uniden receiver and positioner. Also have had a Bell ExpressVu system for a year or two a couple of years back. True, a good snowstorm would pooch reception, as apparently would sunspot activity, but where we live the interference and loss of signal, with the snowstorms anyway, was not any worse than what we have experienced with the thunderstorms with any of the systems. Hope it stays that way....time will tell. |
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boink9999
@rogers.com | reply to THE Fatman
no TV with thunderstorm?
wait till wintertime... |
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THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to THE Fatman
Just a quick update....
*Choice installed for 6 weeks or so now, installer arrived on schedule and bing, bang, boom all in and up and running in about an hour.
With all channel packs we want selected, monthly bill for programming is now in the $85. area per month (includes GST + PST), roughly $6. per month more than Robbers was (including taxes). HOWEVER, we have included the MOVIES channels (HBO East and West plus a batch of others) a $15. package that we did not have with Robbers.
I have had to call in for service a couple of times, (no fault of *Choice) and what a difference when compared to Robbers. Informed, pleasant people a real pleasure to talk with. They also have a call back feature that lets you leave your name and number and they call you back so you don't have to hang on the line listening to elevator music for extended periods.
Only drawback to date is signal loss when thunderstorms roll through (has happened twice) and has never lasted any more than 5 minutes, for us a small price to pay to get out from under Robbers.
Summary - NO REGRETS (Yet!) |
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Robrr
join:2008-04-19
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to Sunfox
Luckily I am not not getting that much of a discount from them but they did call me recently to try and get me to lock in on the new BCB.
I politely refused even after being offered a 20% discount for the first year  |
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Sunfox
join:2003-12-14
Markham, ON
1 edit | reply to THE Fatman
Well, as of my last invoice in late June I still had the 15% discount, but after checking an unused Rogers master email account tonight, I discovered a notice telling me that my 15% discount is coming to end - to be replaced by a new and improved 5% discount. This must be the "new math".
I am NOT pleased. Even taking into consideration the new paltry 5% discount, this would raise my bill by $15 per month with NO added benefit to me. That's $22 per month higher than what Rogers cost me back in March, again with the exact same service level.
I'm sorry, but Rogers does not deserve $264 more per year from me FOR PROVIDING THE EXACT SAME SERVICE. I unhappily accepted the $90 per year increase they tacked on back in March, but bumping that up to $264? They've gone too far - especially in this economy where everyone is already tightening their belts. If I wanted to spend that kind of money I would subscribe to the movie networks, but I don't.
And of course if I don't agree to a 2-year contact (my 15% discount had NO contract terms) they would want to bill me over $29 more per month - $350 per year.
[seriously ticked off] |
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Robrr
join:2008-04-19
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to THE Fatman
Just wanted to mention that my notice for this showed up. I was speaking to the Customer Relations the other day when they screwed up my bill (Putting me on contract when I was not).
Anyways he mentioned that Rogers has been slowly combing all the accounts and notifying the people on the grandfathered BCB discounts about the changes.
So now that my notice has arrived I think I might be switching. |
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cpsycho
join:2008-06-03
Orangeville, ON | reply to THE Fatman
Robbers was just arguing with the crtc that a price increase would be frowned upon by their customers, then the raise the rates again.
Wow, just wow.
These guys have gone from robbers to extortion artists. |
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THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to Robrr
Robrr.....
Just looking at my last bill from Robbers. Here's a list of charges/savings for the Cable TV part....
Digital VIP Cable = $63.47
VIP Digital Terminal = $24.95
SAVINGS Free Terminal = -$24.95 *
Digital Services Fee = $2.99
SAVINGS Winback - Free Terminal Offer = -$2.99
HDTV Chanel Pack = $8.95
Customer Choice Package = $15.95
SAVINGS VIP Discount = -$5.98
SAVINGS Better Choice Bundle = -$12.36
TOTAL Less Taxes = $70.03
GST = $3.50
PST = $5.60
TOTAL FOR CABLE TV = $79.13
* There's another whole story behind this credit I won't get into details here. Had to do with me giving them my Bell dish and receiver and in return getting a free Rogers receiver. At the time they conveniently 'forgot' to tell me it was a time limited promotion for 2 years. I had been under the impression it was for as long as I subscribed to Rogers cable! Caught this a year ago, just a month before the discount was to expire and with forceful complaint was given additional 2 years for free, which means in another year I'd be haggling over this charge again. Now, I've defected to *Choice I don't have that to look forward to!
From the above it is cleat to me that the Better Choice Bundle Discount was not deducted from my bill, so, what discount was deducted or service added for the bill to increase? (God only knows!) I can't now remember exactly the amount of the increase, my wife told me at the time, but whatever, I'm history now and the way I see it they won't have a chance to stick-it-to-me one more time when the Better Choice Bundle Discount is finally discontinued (unless one accepts their contract offer). |
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Robrr
join:2008-04-19
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Rogers Hi-Speed
2 edits | reply to Robrr
I should add to my previous post that that cost is for SD programming.
As soon as I start looking at HD, a gap starts to develop between Rogers and *Choice in terms of costs.
With Rogers, I would need to add their HD speciality pack which would add an extra $2/month to the bill as well as the cost of the STB is more as well. (I would buy the STB) I may also have to look at getting the NASCAR Hot Pass as well which would cost me a bit more yet.
Comparatively speaking with *Choice, I could get the same programming as I can from Rogers with my bill coming in at $70/month. |
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THE Fatman
@rogers.com
| reply to jyeung
Although I had chucked Rogers Cable TV last week, (or was it the week before?) they called yesterday (it was a prerecorded canvasing call) to advise me that if I didn't phone them at a number provided I would be losing my bundles discount!! (NOTE: they had already advised me this was going to happen in a letter dated 6 April, the letter that started this thread). No mention in the telephone spiel of having to agree to a two year contract in order to retain the discount though, (Why am I not surprised? I'll bet the contract requirement is still there, as it was in the letter, but just not mentioned 'till after you're biting on their hook at the other end of the line.) So now I'm left thinking, if they hadn't yet yanked the discount on me, which seems to be indicated by the phone call, then why did my bill increase last time around? I know there was an increase the month before, their annual rip, but now I don't know why I was clipped extra last month if in fact the bundle discount hadn't yet been removed? Think maybe they were gonna try to get away with removing it twice? I just don't know and now it doesn't really matter.....
And oh, as an after thought, last night I received a letter promoting Rogers Home Phone! Like I'm gonna run right out and sign up!! NO THANKS fellas, not a chance, for my land line I'll stay with the devil I know.....Bell! It's taken time but I've learned my lesson, one "service" from Rogers is definitely enough..... |
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Robrr
join:2008-04-19
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Rogers Hi-Speed
2 edits | reply to sbrook
Well I am up for doing some comparisons of what people are subscribing too:
I currently have the Rogers VIP package with the Sports Pack added onto it. My bill is approx $75/month. This also includes a 12 month VIP discount as I upgraded my cable back in the winter. Without the discount I would be looking at about $81/month.
edit: incorrect prices given |
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