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ekinrock
join:2013-05-03

1 edit

ekinrock

Member

[Other] RCN rate increase with no notice - Chicago

I am a Chicago resident and receive "50 Mbps High-Speed Internet" from RCN. For more than a year I have been paying $64.99 per month. Yesterday (May 1st) I looked at my billing statement and noticed that the price jumped to $93.00 per month (a 30% increase).

I think it is important to mention that I was emailed my billing statement on April 10th which is listed as the "Statement Date" (I don't receive paper bills because RCN recommended that I go green to protect the environment). According to my billing statement the billing cycle started on April 6th and the payment is due May 4th.

I immediately called RCN and was told that the increase is real. According to the RCN representative, RCN is allowed to raise anybody's rate at any time even for a billing cycle that has already started.

I am set up for e-billing so I assume that on May 4th RCN will charge $93 to my credit card.

Has anybody else experienced a similar problem?
mlabate
join:2007-09-03
Bangor, PA

mlabate

Member

Re: RCN rate increase with no notice

I am surprised it happened like that - shouldn't this fall under RCN's '3-Year Price Assurance' ?
manshow
join:2013-01-23
Washington, DC

manshow to ekinrock

Member

to ekinrock
consider that bill your increase notice. comcast does the same thing after a promo period is over.
rody_44
Premium Member
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA

rody_44

Premium Member

If i get like lets say a twelve month promo, Should i not expect a increase after the twelve months.
ekinrock
join:2013-05-03

ekinrock

Member

Should you expect an increase? Maybe.

Regardless, shouldn't they have to tell you what the increase will be before the increase is in effect?

I knew the price was $64.99 per month when I agreed to it. I was not given an option to quit or pay $93 per month. I was just told $93 was due on May 4th and that was going to be the new rate.
ekinrock

ekinrock to mlabate

Member

to mlabate
Not sure, I know I have been with RCN for less than 3 years though.

Pacomartin
join:2013-03-18
Bethlehem, PA

1 edit

Pacomartin to ekinrock

Member

to ekinrock

Re: [Other] RCN rate increase with no notice - Chicago

My parents had something like that happen two years ago. They've had the same cable franchise since 1977, but RCN bought that franchise in 1997. The increase was 40%-50%. If you call and threaten to cancel service, a retention specialist will give you a lower rate. Unfortunately you still have to pay the one big bill.

After that incident I discovered that the company will tell you in advance when your promotional rate is due to expire if you call them, and you can negotiate in advance of the big rate increase. But if you don't do anything until you get the big bill, there is nothing you can do retroactively.

In a perfect world they should give you advance notice.

jsolo1
Premium Member
join:2001-07-01
PRIL

jsolo1 to ekinrock

Premium Member

to ekinrock
The last time my rate was due to increase, I received a letter from them about 60 days prior. I did as above, called retentions and renegotiated another discount for 12 months -- $40/12 months/25mbps package (own my own modem).

In my area, we have rcn, comcast, att, and one other provider I can't recall. For once a perk for living in a metro area.

astoundcares
Emilie
Premium Member
join:2012-01-04

astoundcares to ekinrock

Premium Member

to ekinrock
ekinrock - I would really like to look into this for you and see what the circumstances are. If you would be kind enough to private message the name on your account to me, I will take a look see.

Thanks
Emilie