andunn
join:2001-09-06
Linn Creek, MO
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Got my own cable modem
I just bought my own cable modem. I bought the Motoroal SB5101. I currently have the 5100. I have had it for almost 5 years. I have never had a problem with it, but I wanted to avoid the $3 rental charge that Charter charges in my area
A few questions:
1. After calling Charter and having them swap their modem with my modem in their system will they automatically deduct $3 from my bill from that point on each month or will I have to remind them?
2. Can I just drop their cable modem off at my local office?
3. I am considering taking Charter's 2 year agreement of 20meg for $57.99 (normally $84.99 a month after my 6 promotion is up where I live) a month. Will this bring the price down to $54.99 since I am providing my own modem? |
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fooo
join:2007-06-28
Spring Hill, TN | 3$??!?! Those knuckleheads charge me $5!  |
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hootabius
join:2009-02-12
| reply to andunn
1. It SHOULD be deducted but you may want to politely remind whoever you talk to to make sure the charge is removed.
2. Typically yes.
3. Check the fine-print to see if the price includes cable modem rental. Regular price doesn't last time I check, but if the promotional price does, then you are correct. |
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fooo
join:2007-06-28
Spring Hill, TN | reply to andunn
So, how much does everyone get charged for their cable modem rentals with Charter? I'm curious as to why I pay 5$/month.. |
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cork1958
Cork
join:2000-02-26
Fruitport, MI
·Verizon Online DSL
·Charter Pipeline
1 edit | said by fooo  :So, how much does everyone get charged for their cable modem rentals with Charter? I'm curious as to why I pay 5$/month.. Prices are all different according to area. Same with the regular rates you pay for everything with Charter. Just depends on your market.
Used to be $5 here. $3 now.
hootabius' answers are correct.
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The Firefox alternative.
»www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/ |
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fooo
join:2007-06-28
Spring Hill, TN
1 edit | Am I the only one that says "wtf" to that? Why the hell should the modem rental be different depending on your area??!? |
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Flibbetigibbet
@bellsouth.net
| reply to andunn
Good luck. I had my own modem from day one with Charter, and while they never charged me a rental fee, when I dropped them, it took three months and escalating it to Eric Ketzer before the idiots in their billing department would stop threatening to sue me for not returning the modem! Mind you, this is for a modem that I bought myself at Circuit City. My advice is to email Ketzer directly (Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com) and save yourself the hassle of dealing with their moron phone reps.
Charter suck-diddley-ucks, Flanders. |
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charlie376
@charter.com
| reply to andunn
I called my local office and complained that I had been renting it for 7 years at $5 a month and could have already purchased 3 of them with how much they have charged me. They sent a tech by my house who picked up the sb3100 and gave me a sb 5101 and they stopped billing me the $5 per month. My last bill with expanded basic tv,dvr and internet was $67. gotta love the 6 month promotions. I have to call every 6 months and get put back on it.
When are they getting the DIY network? |
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CovMac
join:2000-11-06
Covington, LA | DIY channel: Here in South Louisiana it's on a digital channel, so you'll need a digital cable box to receive it.
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Mac |
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rd1144
join:2009-02-26
Denver, NC | reply to andunn
3. I have my own modem and the 2 year agreement price is $54.99/mo + any local taxes if you have any. |
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Varlik
Without Honor You Will Never Be Free
Premium
join:2002-01-06
Anderson, SC | reply to andunn
I can't stress this enough make sure that you get a receipt for the modem when you turn it in. (And yes they are supposed to do this.) They may be able to manually add your new one at your local office. |
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omnitachyon
join:2003-10-26
Decatur, AL
| reply to fooo
$5 here, too. Didn't know about the $3 rental price. I chose to rent the modem after having trouble with the one I bought (can't remember what, maybe it was the "one way" cable down/phone-line up??). 
Reminds me that I need to talk to Charter on behalf of my father because I gave my mother that modem years ago when she first got the Charter HSI and I found out he's been paying the rental fee after seeing his telephone install paperwork recently.
I guess there's no way of knowing what that adds up to... $60/year, possibly 6 years, so could be $360! Depends on how long that's been in effect, but I sure would like him to be compensated.
I probably should check into buying my own modem again, a few hundred could be saved.  |
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fooo
join:2007-06-28
Spring Hill, TN
| Definitely omnitachyon. I can get the exact one I have now (Motorola SB5101) for 50$ off newegg. I've already paid that in rental fees since I've had Charter. I just need to freakin order it already & stop complaining  |
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chaud
Serious Business
join:2004-07-09
Anderson, SC | reply to andunn
Slightly off topic question, how does the 2 year agreement work if you move away during that time? |
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omnitachyon
join:2003-10-26
Decatur, AL
| Ahh yes, fooo, been a long time since I've priced those so I was sure the approx. $90 I paid back then could be done for much less now.
chaud... it was explained to me that the 2 year "contract" meant any upgrade was okay but not a downgrade, and cutting it short would cause a fee. Can't recall that now, maybe about $25 per month subtracted from the 2 years?
Seems like (up to??) $250 was also mentioned as the "fee" for early termination of the TV/HSI/telephone bundle so probably less for just HSI. I'm only guessing, of course.
Not sure what was inferred by "move"... quitting Charter, or just picking it up again elsewhere and keeping the same thing. I've never done that and neither has anyone I know with Charter cable. |
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chaud
Serious Business
join:2004-07-09
Anderson, SC | Was thinking along the lines of moving to a different city/state where there is no Charter. |
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BlakePaulson
join:2008-08-06
Alexandria, MN
 ·AT&T Wireless Broa..
·Charter Pipeline
| said by chaud :Was thinking along the lines of moving to a different city/state where there is no Charter. I'm guessing there is a grace on situations such as that if they don't physically service an area you move to. |
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benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
·Charter Pipeline
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to andunn
I'm glad that you got your own modem. Everyone who expects to use cable Internet for any somewhat lengthy period of time should get their own.
Consider this:
A modem might cost what, $80? At $5/mo. rental, you'd pay $80 over 16 months. Even if the cost is $60, at $5/mo. you would have paid that much over a year.
In my opinion anyone who pays the modem rental fee is a sucker. The only exception to this rule is if you live in a particular place for say 6 mos., use cable Internet there, and never expect to use cable Internet again anywhere (not likely). |
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markopoleo
join:2003-04-02
Bonne Terre, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to fooo
said by fooo :Am I the only one that says "wtf" to that? Why the hell should the modem rental be different depending on your area??!? You should be saying "wtf" to why charter prices vary so much by area and why some people can jump promotions daily and others can't get a break for nothing.
Girl i know who lives a few blocks away pays $75 a month for just 20meg no contract, I pay $55 for same thing no promotion. My brother pays "no cable" $10 fee on top of his, i don't.
Charter prices varies by TOWN in missouri at least, i'm sure the same elsewhere.
To OP: Make SURE you tell them to remove cable rental fee. They will not if you don't. If you don't tell them they will keep it on, and If you let it slide for a long time, they will only give you 3 months credit for it. |
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andunn
join:2001-09-06
Linn Creek, MO
·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to benc
I have been extremely busy at work and haven't had an chance to swap modems yet. I did however, stop by my local office on the way home yesterday from work.
This is what they told me:
I'm on a promotion right now which ends next month. Will be $84.99 a month after promotion ends
Price would be $57.99 for 16 meg (still saying 16 even though I thought this was upgraded to 20meg) with 2 year agreement
If I used my own modem price would be $54.99
I can bring it to my local office and to the swap there. They encouraged me to do this rather than call Charter directly. So Monday on my lunch break I am headed to Charter. |
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