Mediacom → MAX Installation Fee info.

Here we go again, In case some people missed Anon's post.

To get Mediacom MAX Internet installed you have to get the bundle. The bundle includes Wireless home networking (Free) and a $150 installation fee. This is not negotiable. They are not Forcing anyone to get the SMC Gateway. If you do not want the Gateway and do not want to pay the Installation fee then simply get the 5/256 package. Yes i know some people managed to get the higher speeds without any of the extras, but the Current policy is that the bundle WILL NOT be broken up. Please remember that this is a new product and they want to get as many people to sign up at full price as they can. They have not lowered the prices on Telephony either btw. In the future maybe we will see the bundle broken up.

This is not the fault of the techs on this forum or the CSR's that you talk to on the phone so there is no point yelling at them/us.

So in closing....To get the service You MUST pay the $150 installation fee (If max is available in your area) and a Tech MUST Come install the SMC wireless Gateway. What happens after the tech leaves is up to you. But if you change the hardware and call for a speed issue, You will probably be told that you need the SMC Equipment.

Any Constructive Comments or questions?

Thanks that answered my questions in the other thread that I posted. At least you answered it better than what they did on the phone. But to get the 10/1 service if you really want it they are forcing you to use Mediacom equipment. You can't tell me that is not true. Read your above statement. They are not Forcing anyone to get the SMC Gateway. If you do not want the Gateway and do not want to pay the Installation fee then simply get the 5/256 package. Yes I do want the 10/1 service I just don't want mediacoms equipment to use it. I did'nt yell at anyone but it was like talking to a brick wall to the phone representive. I got the same response. If you do not want the Gateway and do not want to pay the Installation fee then simply get the 5/256 package. So I'll just have to wait for mediacom to give the word on when I can use my own equipment to use there Mediacom Max Online service. Nothing more to say about it.

so is it established then that there is no other logical reason why people wanting higher speeds cannot use anything other than MCs SMC junk?
other than the previously stated "because we (MC) say so"

in other words even tho you live where the service is offered and have sufficient or better hardware already set up and prefer NOT to go wireless you are just SOL because they want to squeeze a few more bucks out of us?

if this is the only logical explaination for this policy then it's sad. i have been a MC customer from the @home days and i am totally willing to pay a few more bucks a month for higher upload speeds. i live in a small town and MC has a legal monopoly here as they are the only internet cable available.

am i missing something here or is there some other reason for this policy?

burner50 no matter what we do or say they will still bitch about the install and service fees.

I wouldn't mind the install fee as long as it would be charged to my bill.

What, no smarmy comment from Anonymous?

if you consider valid complaints about price gouging to be bitching, then call me a bitch

PS- thank you burner50 for all your posts. I am in NW FLA and would love to test the Max service, but cant afford to drop $150 for a test.

ditto, and i don't think i will get an acceptable answer anytime soon either.

This sounds pretty close to the days of a certain phone company requiring their customers to use only their phone with their service.

...or maybe certain cable companies that used to require using their box to get cable tv and then charge a fee of some sort for it rather than just being able to connect directly to the tv.

Someone in Mediacom obviously is trying to use these old tricks to being in a little extra money. I doubt it has to do with slowing down deployment although it probably is for the best since Mediacom has not shown themselves to be very capable at handling such transitions on a mass scale.

I am kinda curious as well if the customer requests the 10/1 and the guy comes out, do they still configure the wireless even if it is not needed or wanted? In other words is it open for someone to get into even if the customer doesn't use it?

Bitching, eh? If nothing is said, then companies continue with what they're doing.

I've not seen or heard a whole lot of customers saying "Oh, that $150 is pretty reasonable for getting 10/1."

I followed this message from Mediacom in Hazel Green, Alabama.

Someone mentioned MAX but I had no idea it was part of Mediacom, btw, I got stuck in the @home change over and it was terrible.

Anyway, is/was this offer also for established Mediacom customers? If so, I am piS#ed! I just paid Geek-squad to set up a network for me. I also have questions about that but not sure where to go.

Thanks,

Yes, new customers or existing customers pay for the network installation.

There is lots of good help here: »Networking

I wonder why they did not tell me this? Of course, they tell me very little!

Thanks for the link!

mediacom is good for not telling anyone about even the need for the mediacom hardware i had the 10/1 service turned on one month ago and i still dont have the 10/1 speeds as of yet no one ever told me i needed the hardware for the speed increase they just kept telling me that the problem was first my modem so i went and bought 2 more modems just to test it and after 3 modems none still didnt work at all. then they tried to tell me that it was my computers problem but i have 3 computers and the call center still didnt know what to do or say when i was having the same problems on all 3 computers. finially 2 weeks later they told me i needed the smc gateway but then i couldnt get the local offices to give me one first they send a tech out to install it so they said he showed up saying he was there for a trouble call not an install and now a week later they are suppose to be here today to install the 10/1 with the smc gateway and i guess only time will tell but as an earlier post stated i will have more updates though out the day to let every one know how it went and i will even post pics of the modem if anyone wants to see. just cant wait to see what all the hoopla is all about with this modem and why it is the only offical modem that they want to work on the max service .. guess time will tell

if you call that piece of sheet a cable modem. I just called to set up new service were I am moving and was not told about the 150 fee if they charge me after the install they will not get there money. I find it hard to believe a small po-dunk company like mediacom needs to charge a stupid fee then charge 59.95 for the service that there compeditors are charging 10 bucks less. Lets not forget mediacomm is located in verizon markets for the most part what happens when FIOS goes live? I mean they are laying the fiber in the neighborhoods where I am moving already. I think mediacomm will change its tune soon enough.

Being the eight largest Cable company is hardly small and podunk!

lol...rather misinformed......

Mediacom is the 8th largest MSO in america with 1.4 million subscribers. Not the largest but not "po-dunk"

Mediacom isnt mainly in verizon areas, some areas also have verizon but not as many as you may think

1.4 to me is small not much buying power compaired to comcast or the other top 5. Well I am one of the lucky ones where I will have a choice between mediacom and verizon at least it will spur comp which does not happen in most markets. just my point of view of smaller cable operators. My cable operator sucks and is smaller than mediacom now but will be comcast in our area soon enough.