MonkeyLicker
join:2004-02-03
Hixson, TN
| reply to pro7070
Re: [Services] My DSL going up $2.97
While it's true that cable companies have raised their rates faster than BS, they've also done their best to improve the service.
Comcast has more than doubled their DL speed since they bought @Home. Not only that, but they've also listened to costumer complaints and actually did something to improve.
They raised their caps from 1.5 to 1.8 after people complained about not getting their advertised speed.
They then raised their caps to 3.0 down, but made sure to set the cap at 3.3 so that people could yet again get their advertised speed.
If BS would have at least put a little effort forward to make sure people to get the impossible 1.5 they advertise then maybe people might be a little more forgiving.
They might not have raised rates before, but they haven't done much else either. |
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hailinfantry
Bizarro Quinn
Premium
join:2004-01-18
Brooklyn, NY
| Comcast has more than doubled their DL speed since they bought @Home
Actually...no. Initially @home was totally uncapped. In many areas it remained that way UNTIL Comcast took the systems over. As far as your argument that the internet has improved. Well, first for many people it has become a nightmare of wading through customer support, etc. Also, the rate increases have included Basic analog cable, which hasn't really improved since the implementation of HFC. It's still substandard in many areas and certainly not worth $40+/month. |
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clecrupt9
join:2002-01-22
GA
| reply to hailinfantry
said by hailinfantry  :
My basic residential line hasn't changed in price much since the divesture.
"The average household's bill for
local and long distance telephone service has fallen by about 23 percent and
American consumers are saving $11 billion a year since local phone competition
began to take hold in 1999, according to an analysis released by
CompTel/ASCENT and The PACE Coalition. "
»www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stori···09:45+AM |
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MonkeyLicker
join:2004-02-03
Hixson, TN
1 edit | reply to pro7070
I well aware that they capped it when they bought @Home, but that takes nothing away from the fact that BS is still far slower on average.
I've seen horror stories from people trying to get their DSL started as well, so lets not act as if it's been so one sided.
Most people on Comcast and BS get what they pay for. You rarely see a topic about how every thing's going well. It's sort of like plane crashes....you never hear about all the flights (most of them) that land safely, you only hear about those that had trouble.
Neither company is perfect, and Comcast might very well have had more costumer complaints, and while most are probably happy with both services, BS just seems lazy and unwilling to give an inch. |
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hailinfantry
Bizarro Quinn
Premium
join:2004-01-18
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to clecrupt9
Funny...since most CLEC's around here charge 10.00 more than complete choice with bellsouth. Plus the service is better with Bellsouth.
"I well aware that they capped it when they bought @Home, but that takes nothing away from the fact that BS is still far slower on average."
But you just said they increased their caps...hmm. Seems like bellbashing, pure and simple. |
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superht1
join:2001-02-22
Kennesaw, GA
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to hailinfantry
I don't mind the small fee but they should at least up our speed a little to say 2000/384 or 3000/256.. I would dump them asap if there was cable at 3000/256 in my area for the same price i'm paying  |
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raydog1
Feel Secure
Premium
join:2003-07-10
La Vergne, TN
| reply to pro7070
I just received my letter too and it also mentions "special pricing based on where you reside. . . only if you signed up between 9/1/03 and 3/26/04.
WTF is THAT about? 
So I'm not eligible because I've been a long time customer?
Does anyone know what these special rates are? |
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MonkeyLicker
join:2004-02-03
Hixson, TN
| reply to hailinfantry
I said "Comcast has more than doubled their DL speed since they bought @Home." I didn't mention anything about them doubling @Homes DL speed.
You better believe it's bell bashing. I've seen quite a few companies on these forums raise their caps while BS does nothing.
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Dan Koerner
join:2000-08-05
Clinton, TN
2 edits | I believe it will be a huge mistake to add a higher speed tier and also raise their price on it while others are pushing speeds up and/or lowering prices. This $2.97 appears to be, in effect, a price increase that is not reflected in the cost of service.
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Dan |
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Jon J
join:2000-06-12
Nashville, TN | reply to pro7070
Just had a short instant exchange with a BSCSR whose only response to my wanting to find out more about the price increase was, "Okay. Anything else?"
Buh bye BS. |
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nick s
join:2003-11-28
Marietta, GA | reply to Dan Koerner
Based on my source of the rumor, a friend in FL who asked a tech, they will be increasing speeds instead of simply coming up with new packages. |
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Drex
Beer..It's What's For Dinner
Premium
join:2000-02-24
La Place, LA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to pro7070
Just got my letter today as well.
Anyone know where I can go to complain? I'm already paying a "recovery cost" on my long distance with Bellsouth.
I wonder if I can start charging the water company a recovery fee for the water that I use on my lawn. I mean eventually they're going to get it back again anyway right? So why am I being double billed? 
--
If I got smart with you, how would you know? |
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Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL
1 edit | reply to hailinfantry
said by hailinfantry :
Keep in mind that Comcast customers recieve NO letters, yet their rates are increased around 2-3 times/year.
You shouldn't be comparing what Bellsouth charges for DSL to Comcast's cable rate increases. All cable companies have been increasing their cable tv prices the past few years. On the other hand, all of the RBOC's except Bellsouth have lowered the price they charge for DSL since the service was launched. The cost to provide DSL service has also gone down since Bellsouth intro'd Fastaccess in the 90s and that has never been reflected in a price reduction. The $2.97 in "regulatory fees" that Bellsouth says they incur have more than been made up for in what it cost's Bellsouth to provide DSL service. |
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superht1
join:2001-02-22
Kennesaw, GA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to nick s
said by nick s :
Based on my source of the rumor, a friend in FL who asked a tech, they will be increasing speeds instead of simply coming up with new packages.
Until it is official, it will remain as that and should be taken as a grain of salt. The need for higher speed is just not demanding enough, we could be crawling at 768/128 and theres not a damn anyone can do about it.
What we have here is a monopoly, there is no competition. so their are many folks still w/out dsl today in the south, most would kill for this kind of speed for 49.95 a month. |
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zno
join:2002-01-08
Atlanta, GA
| reply to Zoder
said by Zoder :
You shouldn't be comparing what Bellsouth charges for DSL to Comcast's cable rate increases. All cable companies have been increasing their cable tv prices the past few years. On the other hand, all of the ILEC's except Bellsouth have lowered the price they charge for DSL since the service was launched.
so it's fair to compare between ILEC's and RBOC's?
please name a few ILECs that have lowered their price in Atlanta so i can make a switch. because last time i checked everyone was charging the same.
quote:
The cost to provide DSL service has also gone down since Bellsouth intro'd Fastaccess in the 90s and that has never been reflected in a price reduction. The $2.97 in "regulatory fees" that Bellsouth says they incur have more than been made up for in what it cost's Bellsouth to provide DSL service.
can you please show me the figures actually support what you're saying?
maybe the cost of equipments have gone cheaper but like you said it's still a "service" which involves more labor than manufactured goods. when did cost of labor go down in this country?
after all, it's a fair market. you ultimately have a choice to go with the raise or not.
i do have to agree it's pretty lame they disguise the rate increase with some stupid recovery fee.
--
got anti-virus and firewall? |
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logic1977
Premium
join:2001-02-11
Tucker, GA
| reply to pro7070
And just how have the costs of supplying DSL gone down? It still costs money to deploy the network, and to date I don't think that any ILEC has actually turned a profit selling DSL.
Bellsouth is not and does not attempt to be the low cost provider. Their services usually cost more, but the desire is that you also get more for that premium.
Your mileage may vary, but that has been true for alot of people or Bellsouth would not be doing as well as they are.
True some people have no other broadband solution, but thats not really anything Bellsouth can control as they can't force their competitors to deploy independant facilties in their areas.
Bellsouth does not to come up with a higher speed package just to stay on par with cable, but don't be shocked and amazed when it costs more than what cable may be charging.
You get what you pay for, and for me Its money wellspent with bellsouth |
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hlross
join:2001-07-12
Shreveport, LA
| reply to pro7070
said by pro7070 :
I just received a letter from Bellsouth today notifying me that they will start charging me a $2.97 "regulatory cost recovery fee" What the hell is this?
I too received the letter and I called Bell South to cancel my service. They offered to take $20/month off of my bill for six months if I will stay. I accepted and put a flag in my date book to cancel the service 6 months from now. |
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Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL
| reply to zno
said by zno :
so it's fair to compare between ILEC's and RBOC's?
I meant RBOC. Thanks for pointing that out I'll correct it in my other post. I do know Bellsouth does not compete with SBC, Verizon, and Quest in the DSL market but it is telling that all of them have been able to offer lower prices for DSL service in their respective markets. |
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nick s
join:2003-11-28
Marietta, GA | reply to hlross
Yes that indeed is a nice strategy. Too bad (for them) that they don't even flag users who do so. |
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namsu22
join:2003-08-16
Snellville, GA |  still no letter  for me |
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