 vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
| NO that is NOT a discount that is EXTORTION They are raising the NORMAL PRICE to something high then calling the HIGHPRICE the NORMAL price and making an exscuse for a discount.
This is extortion. How can it be a discount, I had comcast for the last THREE YEARS and for the last THREE YEARDS its been like 37-39 dollars a month, now they merge with AT&T now this crap!!! I am pissed. I have no CHOICE but to use their service. WIthout broadband I am dead in the water. I DO NOT play video games I DO NOT download warez its for WORK and I have to pay almost double!!!
They are raising the normal price to something outrageous, and calling the highprice normal and the normal price a discount, its NOT a discout its a NORMAL fee.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!! | |
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bistro777
Donuts-Is There Anything They Can't Do?
Premium
join:2002-02-07
Englewood, CO
| Re: NO that is NOT a discount that is EXTORTION Just as, for example, voice providers have learned with bundled local and long distance, and insurance companies have found with bundled home/auto policies, cable operators have discovered an additional benefit to bundling their services – much lower churn rates (and attendant higher revenues).
From an article at Sounding Board - - “Cox remains a true believer in the benefits of bundles. The company's research shows, Cox customers that subscribe to two of its services have a 23 percent lower churn rate than single-service customers. Churn is reduced by 53 percent when people subscribe to three Cox products. In other words, notes Cox spokesman Bobby Amirshahi, the bundle "cuts churn in half for us."
Too bad that isn't reflected in our monthly bills, huh?
"Those who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do." - - Mark Twain | |
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jbgroup1
Dolemite
Premium
join:2000-05-04
Beltsville, MD | Upgrade! Upgrade, I say, to Pro. Then you won't have to worry about Bundling. | |
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trebzon
join:2001-09-03
Grandville, MI
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| You know about 2 years ago I jumped ship from Covad to ATTBI not wanting to get stuck with no service if Covad followed Northpoint and Rythms into the dustbin of broadband history. I even saved a few bucks per month.
Now after 3 rate hikes and the Comcas merger I am paying just under double what I was when I signed up for service 2 years ago. Top this off with ATTBI/Comcasts other bundle fiasco of "you only save $3 a month on your owned modem now buddy...sorry".
The time has come to jump back. Why oh why should I pay 50% more for cable internet then DSL just because I do not choose to have cable television? Covad has never tried to do this.....Dish Network, my provider of video service, doesn't make me get my ethernet through Earthlink there partner or face a rate increase.
Cable companies are doing all they can to keep there cash poor competitors in business by showing us what a tru'lly dangerous thing a near monopoly is. I shudder to think of what other favors Comcast would do me in the name of "better service and system upgrades" if I had NO other choices regardless of how inconvenient they may be.
My vote is more power to you Comcast. You are helping bring choice to the market place by showing you don't even rate being a choice regardless of your dominant market share.
Plunk! | |
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BK3
join:2001-04-10
Geneva, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
| In line with .... And, if the CEOs of the competition were to jump off a cliff, would Comcast's CEO jump also? In order to "stay in line with the competition?"
What happened to originality? What happened to independent thought? What happened to "doing it your way"?
I guess that just got too difficult, it's easier just to do it like everyone else.
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Intelligent discussion is invited and encouraged. | |
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| FauxReal
join:2001-12-11
00000 | Re: In line with .... I think doing it "your way" has changed to "The Corporate American Way". I learned a lot about that while working for the now dead DirecTV Broadband. | |
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| vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD | Re: This says it all Okay Saddam sorry for not using our free speech to your personal standards;). | |
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| | | vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
| Re: This says it all said by Nightfall  :
said by vic102482 :
Okay Saddam sorry for not using our free speech to your personal standards;).
]
What does beating a dead horse have to do with free speech?
I never said you can't talk about it, but merely that this has been discussed, and discussed, and discussed repeatedly. Which is why I used the beating the dead horse picture. Keep flogging the horse if you think it will make things better. 
We I pay and PAY and PAY so DOUBLING my bill affords me (no pun intended) the right to complain and damnit Im gonna complain and bitch untill my lungs bleed.
Well okay maybe not that, but I am going up to the FCC and dropping off a package along with these articles and rants to Micheal Powell personally(or his secretary). Gotta love these people and their open door policies.:)
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!! | |
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rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY
| Re: This says it all continuous discussion makes people aware of issues that affect them and society as a whole. Mr. My Goal you suggest we say nothing and allow corporations to screw us ? I think not. the biggest problem in American society the past 30 years is apathy and when people don't care enough to say anything, that's when corporations and Legislators feel they can get away with murder and screw their customers or constituents because we don't care or aren't listening. | |
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trebzon
join:2001-09-03
Grandville, MI
·AT&T Yahoo
| Re: This says it all Just because we are discussing this does not mean we are not doing much more to combat it. From changing providers, to writing letters, to making phone calls, to petitioning public officials to informing friends, family and co-workers.
Discussion here is important and keeps this issue hot and on the front burner.
Do you think after the tea was dumped in Boston Harbor that they all went to the bar that night and agreed that all that could be said about taxation without representation had been said and they should all shutup and find other people and avenues to express themselves? Nope. They did this but continued to rant and rave to each other in order to keep riled up and ready for action.
Like many others I feel violated and have no inclination to shut up anytime soon. | |
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| | | | medici
join:2001-02-22
Shohola, PA
| I pay and PAY and PAY so DOUBLING my bill affords me (no pun intended) the right to complain and damnit Im gonna complain and bitch untill my lungs bleed. And as long as you continue to pay and pay an pay, the price is only going to continue to go up and up and up. You just don't understand modern economics: keep increasing prices and/or reducing product volume until you reach the point when you're losing customers faster than you're building bottom-line, then back-off a notch. The ideal scenario is to make as much money or more than you make today with lower cost-of-goods-sold (which, for ISP's, means less customers to support and less back-end bandwidth to buy).
The nice thing about selling Internet access is you literally get to have your cake and eat it too: You have 45mbps of Internet pipe, and you sell 1mbps to 5,000 (or more!) people. And unlike the Real World™, you never have to refund a customer's money when you're caught overbooking. | |
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nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD | can you say "monopoly" (and I don't mean the game) "...their broadband service in the Oregon area was "undervalued"...."
that's what it's called when you have a monopoly; before the acquisition of AT&T by comcast, those rates were "competitive". | |
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somebodeez
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-24
here | Please explain to me - How can you call a raise in price a discount? | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| Slow News Day? So Comcast's raising of rates nationally for those who don't get their TV service is going to count as a separate news story for each state/city/municipality/floor tile involved now?
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Pissed off at traitorous, ungrateful musicians? Don't just boycott them! Trade their MP3s and really screw them over! | |
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J D McDorce
Premium
join:2001-12-29
Westland, MI
| Re: Slow News Day? Apparently. What will be interesting is the different spin espoused in each location. 
The one thing that I don't understand is why Comcast has not come forward and indicated that separate rates for CATV / non-CATV pre-date the completion of their acquisition of AT&T Broadband (Comcast customers in historic systems have already experienced this), instead of spinning it as discounts, competitive pricing, undervalued, etc. | |
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representing
5th Sniper
join:2001-01-20
Prince George, BC
·TELUS
|  Comcast & ATT & US coorporate giants.
Proof?? Microsoft idealogy - we can raise prices and tell everyone they need this and they will buy it cause they have no choice. alot of larger businesses are adopting this as the norm for doing business and increasing quarterly sales. The money they make justifies, at least in their mind, the suffering we must endure.
Whomever coined the phrase - a little suffering endured yeilds a larger return - obviously didn't live as a consumer to coorporate giants.
I agree totally and wholeheartedly that you should be complaining and as a result the lower prices should be reinstated. I feel this way because i have lived in 2 Provinces (canada for those who failed geo) ruled by monopolistic companies for phone, cable and internet. I also have lots of friends who are in the same boat as you people. Keep fighting something will eventually happen. i just wish the courts would do something instead of taking the payoff.
....
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but then again with dubya bush in power it could be another tinemin(again spelling ??) square incident.
My two cents | |
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J D McDorce
Premium
join:2001-12-29
Westland, MI
| Re: Comcast & ATT & US coorporate giants. When I was in Ontario over the weekend, the news was indicating that Ottawa is considering relaxing current Canadian law with respect to foreign ownership of cable companies. Maybe Comcast will buy Rogers, so some of our Canadian friends can share our experiences | |
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airhockey
Got Airhockey?
Premium
join:2001-03-01
San Jose, CA
| We had a discount and they took it away!!!!
[text was edited by author 2003-04-28 11:44:51] | |
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tazman69
Safety Guy
join:2000-12-22
Charles Town, WV | Expect a discount - Really.... Yeah, I have what was once att broadbands phone service. Why is it that I don't get a discount for "bundling" the internet and the phone? This guy is spewing a line of BS. | |
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stet
Volitar Prime
join:2002-03-08
Warren, MI
| It's one sided. quote:
"When people buy multiple services, argues the spokesman, "they expect a discount."
Then how come people don't get a discount on their TV service when they sign up for Internet service?
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Hey everyone! I'm a WEB HOG! | |
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Fangz
join:2000-10-11
Magna, UT
| an Oregonian speaks out As an Oregonian I’ve seen the many growth and take over of cable companies.
I’ve seen TCI merged with AT&T, now AT&T taken over by Comcast. Through all the merges, take over and upgrades I’m not impressed with any of it.
I lived in the major area of Portland called Sellwood for 9 years (1992-2001). All during that time I requested Broadband via Qwest or AT&T. At that time neither of them would be bringing Broadband to that side of Portland. Qwest wouldn’t/couldn’t do anything for me since the whole neighborhood was on a loadcoil and they refused to do anything about it. They only offered me ISDN for any attempt at broadband. With 3 times the cost at 128speeds no thanks.
Then AT&T purchased or merged with TCI and began offering cable internet access. I jumped on the bandwagon only to find out that they were years away from ever deploying it in my neighborhood.
Now Comcast deems that the Portland or Oregon market is undervalued? Who in their right mind came up with this decision? We have no major cable competitors in the Portland market. We only have Qwest or Verizon for major telephone service.
So where’s the competition? Where’s the deregulation? Where’s the open access due to the deregulation? Where are the rights of the people to choose what they want?
It just looks like the major players have you by the short hairs anymore. Our personal right to choose has been taken over by politics and greed. | |
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rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY | Re: an Oregonian speaks out it's coming..... the next Revolution.... hey Politicians and Corporations "Don't Tread on Me" | |
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Zorglub
join:2000-11-18
Fremont, CA | Your turn now guys!! They did it to us in California last month. I was lucky, I was able to ditch them for DSL. I advise anybody who can to do the same and keep your dish. | |
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RayW
Premium
join:2001-09-01
Layton, UT
clubs:
·XMission
| Go ahead and do that here No cable service at my house now, that would make it less attractive. No 'cable modem' yet (although the tech working on the lines said they were installing the infra-structure two years ago).
Think I will stick with DSL, may not be as fast, but it has less headaches.
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I am not lost, I find myself every time. | |
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WolfJaguar
join:2003-03-20
Portland, OR
| Another Portlandian Speaks Over in the Uptown NorthWest district of Portland, there have been many cable competitors merging and what not for the past ten years.
TCI/AT&T @home/AT&T finally AT&T/Comcast
Comcast's rate hikes for non catv subscribers is total BS. Though they plan on giving a 10 dollar 'loyal customer' discount to current bundlers.
My parents have DirecTV and Comcast HSI. They are planning on going WiFi after the rates change. See Comcast? We have choices here, my parents are out in a suburb and still have more choices than you can imagine. I think they are going with E-Link or somesuch, I wasn't listening that well.
My home has Comcast HSI and catv, so we're going to look over our options for a bit before we switch. I don't plan on supporting a company that uses these tactics.
I can get DSL just fine, or WiFi, or even another HSI method.
BITE ME Comcast! | |
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mattmk
@dslnorthwest.net
| Re: Another Portlandian Speaks Darn right we shouldnt have to stand for their across the board rate hikes and bundling junk! Down here in Eugene DSL still doesnt sound very appealing compared to Comcasts HSI even with the rate hike =/ There are like two CO's providing DSL in the whole city that I know of, not sure about RTs. The highest speeds that are avaliable to me are 256/256 from Qwest and 384/128 from Verizon. At around $45 a month for 256/256 I'd still rather pay Comcasts $57 a month for 1800/256. Higher price may be justified in certain situations where their competition is WEAK *cough* Qwest *cough* Comcast wants $53 a month for next-to-basic cable, a month after the rate hike, my cable was gone. Now if only I didnt need their internet service =)
Sorry about the anonymous, my ad-blocker doesnt like cookies and I dont feel like fiddling with it | |
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airhockey
Got Airhockey?
Premium
join:2001-03-01
San Jose, CA | that $10 goes away after one year | |
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Comcast CEO
@attbi.com | At What Point... At what point {$} will you actually cancel your service? Because you can rant all you want as long as you keep sending me money... I can't hear you nananana | |
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DerekB1
join:2001-06-23
Buford, GA
| Just ditch the bums Why does everyone complain about Comcast?
It isn't going to do any of you all a bit of good. They are useless and are not competitive in anything they do. Only fools continue to subscribe to their sub-standard services.
I used to subscribe to their Internet and their TV. I now get my TV from DiricTV and my Internet from Bellsouth DSL. Comcast can't compare to either in price or quality.
The only reason that a company like Comcast can get away with providing such poor service at such high prices is the people that continue to do business with them.
Everyone should just cancel their overpriced services.
Derek B | |
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jrlittlejr
join:2000-12-15
Wilson, WY
·Bresnan Online
| No whining!! File a formal complaint!! I've been a long time @Home, then attbi, and now Comcast customer in Portland. I've always been satisfied with their service, even with the technically difficult transition from @Home to ATT. This latest price hike from Comcast is deplorable... but don't just bitch about it online! Do something about it!
1) File a formal written complaint with the Mount Hood Cable Commission, that regulates cable services in Portland, Gresham, Troutdale and others! Their website is at:
»www.mhcrc.org/
They are asking people to email complaints to RGIBBONS@CI.PORTLAND.OR.US
You need to include your name, address, and phone number. I would suggest that you be polite, and express your displeasure at this MONOPOLY and unfair cost increase. I would suggest you also send a written copy of your letter to make sure it is included in the official complaint files of Comcast. The address is: 1120 SW Fifth Ave., #1305, Portland, OR 97204
The cable commission has gone to bat for subscribers before... remember when they sued @Home to allow access to for other ISP's?? Unfortunately, this lawsuit delayed @Homes initial installations in Portland for several months. On the brighter side, if the cable commission sues Comcast maybe they will delay the price increases!
2) Write a letter to Comcast! Letters get more attention than emails or angry phone calls (remember... the customer service phone operator answering your phone calls is making minimum wage... do you really think they can do anything to help you or deserve to hear you scream and yell??). Send your letters to: Brian Roberts, CEO and Michael Armstrong, Chairman. The address is: Comcast Corporation, 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Make frequent use of the words monopoly, unfair price increase,
3) File a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission. Enough complaints, and the FTC will likely investigate. An FTC investigation will cost Comcast millions in legal fees (make them spend the money they are stealing from you!). The FTC website is:
»www.ftc.gov/
There is an online form to file a complaint.
4) Contact your state attorney generals office and ask them to investigate the price practices of "bundling" these services. Frankly... I think their "discounted loyalty plan" of offering $10 basic cable for 1 year is bait-and-switch and is probably illegal. In Oregon, the attorney generals office website is:
»www.doj.state.or.us/FinFraud/Eng···tion.htm
They have an online or mail form.
5) Finally... don't threaten to cancel your service UNLESS YOU CARRY THROUGH! There is DSL available in many places in Portland. If I decide to switch, I'm going to make sure Comcast knows I am canceling BECAUSE of their price increases. If they want me to stay as a customer they will need to reverse their price increase. Ultimately, what will make Comcast change their short-sited business decision, is if they start losing their business to competitors.
Jim | |
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| jrlittlejr
join:2000-12-15
Wilson, WY
·Bresnan Online
| Re: No whining!! File a formal complaint!! ...Here is a copy of the letter I sent the Cable Commission...
Members of the Mount Hood Cable Commission,
I am writing to protest the unfair price increases and potentially fraudulent "bundling" of services recently announced by Comcast. I am a long term @Home and ATT Broadband customer. Recently, Comcast acquired ATT cable in Portland. Now Comcast has announced MASSIVE price increases for broadband internet service in Portland. My service was initially $39.99 per month. Comcast is raising the price to $52.95 per month, an increase of nearly 33%.
Comcast is justifying this increase by "bundling" this service with basic cable. They claim that if you purchase basic cable for "$10 per month" they will discount your internet services by the same amount. However, this $10/month cost for basic cable is an "introductory" offer and the price will increase again after one year.
Comcast's cable TV service is simply not satisfactory. The image quality is poor, and they require you to have expensive digital service in order to access high definition signals. The signal quality, pricing and customer service of the digital satellite services is far superior to Comcast.
I urge the Mount Hood Cable Commission to seek an immediate injunction prohibiting this unfair and monopolistic price increase. Either that, or force Comcast to open their cable lines to any willing internet service provider who would like to compete for their customers.
Sincerely, | |
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aztecnology
O Rly?
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Murrieta, CA |  Re: No whining!! File a formal complaint!!
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newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD | No whining!! File a formal complaint!! . . . and don't forget to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. | |
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