PainGain
join:2005-04-18
Rockford, IL
1 edit | $17.95 Downgrade Fee? What a joke.
Alright, I understand they have to send someone out to do this...but what is my bill currently paying for? Any customer service at all?
Until now, my bill has been just over $90 a month for broadband, classic service, and the sports pack. I simply wanted to downgrade to broadband and basic cable to bring the price down to $53 and save a few bucks. But, apparently to save money, you have to give them MORE money?
Those install and upgrade fees from the beginning should cover termination or a downgrade down the road. It almost seems like a scam.
Also, after telling me that they were sending someone out to do that...she mentioned that I must take my cable box clear across town and return it. ....HELLO, you're sending someone to my house. Needless to say, after mentioning that to her, she agreed that they could pick up my box(after putting me on hold to figure it out, I guess).
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I'll be moving in a few months and am now wondering what they'll charge me to disconnect my service.  |
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Cable_man_can
@insightBB.com |  Because everyone at the company works for free, and it doesn't cost anything to send someone out to your house. And people wonder way companies file for bankruptcy or go out of business, it because everybody wants something for free......... |
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PainGain
join:2005-04-18
Rockford, IL
| I have no problem supporting the company and never complain that $90/month is too much for what they give.
The fact is that the customer gets initially charged a crazy amount to have cable "installed" in their building when it's actually just a quick service when the residence/apartment already has the hookup. ..then they want to turn around and charge that customer more when they want a more limited version of that service. |
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Cable_man_can
@insightBB.com | reply to PainGain
nine times out of ten the cable company has supplied the wore or did the wiring in the apartment building. its called supply and demand. |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to PainGain
Personally I feel such fees shouldn't be put into place unless a customer is known to abuse the system. Meaning they upgrade and downgrade constantly or only at certain times of the year etc. If a home service call is not needed to turn service off or to downgrade the services being offered. Then I personally feel a fee is a bit of a gouge.
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Test Your Security Cable DiagnosticsIggyz Blog ZoneAlarm Help |
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cwm1276
join:2004-01-16
Stillman Valley, IL | reply to PainGain
How were you getting the cost down to $53. I have classic Cable and broadband for $90. Are jetting just the local channel pack for the $8 or whatever it is currently. |
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SauceMaster
join:2004-08-01
Kokomo, IN
 ·Comcast
 ·AT&T Midwest
| said by cwm1276  :How were you getting the cost down to $53. I have classic Cable and broadband for $90. Are jetting just the local channel pack for the $8 or whatever it is currently. I would assume he is going with Basic Cable for 8.00 and Broadband for 44.95 which totals 52.95.
To comment on the topic
I don't think the fee's are good bussiness unless someone is abusing it like Iggy stated. I was paying my bill the other day and heard a guy wanted to remove his premium movie channels, the CSR said it would be a 27.00 fee to downgrade.
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Broadcasting The Classic Hits 24/7 SauceMaster Radio!!!! |
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PainGain
join:2005-04-18
Rockford, IL
| Yeah, I agree. It's a reasonable charge if the customer kept upgrading and downgrading (which I never have). ...and maybe that's why theres a charge for everyone now. ...It just "feels" like a gouge and I just needed to vent. 
And yeah, it comes to 52.95 from the 44.95 broadband and the 8.00 basic package.
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Shack
join:2002-01-17
Bloomington, IN
| I will sya if they ever tell me I have to pay a fee to downgrade they can wank off and I will switch to Satellite for tv service and go back to DSL for internet even at a loss of bandwidth ( though I would at least have a much better quality connection than I have right now.) , that is not right. I will concede that abusers of the system is one thing, but if at somepoint I chose to no longer have HBO, why should I pay a fee? |
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Klownin3468
Premium
join:2004-09-06
Cicero, IN
| reply to PainGain
you are only charged if you have to have a truck come to your house...(not to remove HBO, as that is done in office) Its the same with anyother company, Look at sprint and SBC, if they have to come to your house you are subject to an hourly fee, not to mention a plumber or electrician, |
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SauceMaster
join:2004-08-01
Kokomo, IN
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| said by Klownin3468 :you are only charged if you have to have a truck come to your house...(not to remove HBO, as that is done in office) Its the same with anyother company, Look at sprint and SBC, if they have to come to your house you are subject to an hourly fee, not to mention a plumber or electrician, That's funny cause like I said there was a guy at our local office. He was removing some premium channels and they said 27.95 cause they had to send a truck out to disconnect those. Personally that what keeps me from trying new services , if they told me that I would probably tell them to cancel it all.
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Broadcasting The Classic Hits 24/7 SauceMaster Radio!!!! |
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insightful-too
@insightBB.com
| It's ludicrous for them to charge outrageous downgrade fees.
Big Brother  must intervene and regulate more more more.
It's no wonder why you see more and more satellite dishes dotting the landscape. 
Go wireless!  |
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rkfdsam
join:2002-10-26
Rockford, IL
| reply to PainGain
I ran into a similar problem a several years ago. When I talked to Congressman Manzullo's about this I ended up with a letter from the FCC that said they could not charge me to downgrade after a rate hike. I had to go through several layers of Insight Administration and needed to fax the letter before they gave up and dropped me down in service for free.
So, unless the laws have changed, it sounds as if they are up to their old antics again. |
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Drew502
join:2005-05-19
Louisville, KY
| reply to PainGain
Actually that law does not apply in all situations "after a rate hike" which constitutes a time limit from the time they raise the costs of their services. In other words if it has been X amount of time since their last raise in charges for their packages (this would not include local tax changes that could influence a bill increase) they can charge as necessary to downgrade the services.
Also, they charge to downgrade because to block a customer to only basic cable or to prevent several premium channels particularly hbo and showtime they have to send a technician to the home to install service traps in the line. That is why you're charged the fee. |
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