Cut off Comcast today

[squirtle]

Just a quick brag for my first post - After battling the cable companies for years I finally cancelled my cable service through Comcast today. No more monthly phone calls to keep the promotional rate for me. Instead of paying Comcast $110/month for cable/Internet, I'm now paying $19.99 for 25 Mbps Internet service and $7.99 for Hulu plus. To the most extreme Mustachians I still have some room to improve, but I am proud of this step.

[Mr.Macinstache]

Good job!

How did you get the internet for so cheap?

[squirtle]

With Comcast I always make sure I speak with someone in the downgrade/terminate service department, not just any customer service agent. They give out their 'new customer' promotions very easily. I look what the rates are online before calling and say I want to pay "$x", and they usually make it happen. This time around I had to sign up for their existing customer rate at $59.95/month and then sign in and chat with an online professional to apply the $19.99 rate. Somehow that was the only way to apply the rate to my account. Unfortunately I will have to call in six months to keep the rate down, but I am not expecting too much difficulty to keep that rate. Also, you don't have to yell to get a rate reduction, just be honest and say its only worth this much to me, can you help me out?

[chickenmama]

Thanks for posting your progress, you inspired me to cut our AT&T down to just the internet as well!

A friend clued me in to the MMM blog, and I just started reading last night. I was in the "how do I cancel cable and still get internet?" process, when I found your post.

I'm feeling pretty afraid of how my kids will react tonight when the cable shuts off!

[olivia]

Awesome, congrats!  Jealous of your $19.99 rate, too!  I currently pay $42 for internet through Comcast but I think it's higher speed...one of my conditions from my husband for canceling cable was keeping the same speed internet, so I'm going to let sleeping dogs lie for now.  :P

[Mr.Macinstache]

Thanks for posting your progress, you inspired me to cut our AT&T down to just the internet as well!

A friend clued me in to the MMM blog, and I just started reading last night. I was in the "how do I cancel cable and still get internet?" process, when I found your post.

I'm feeling pretty afraid of how my kids will react tonight when the cable shuts off!

I tried it and it wasnt pretty. The kids get nuts if they dont have some veg time on the tube. And they only watch maybe 30mins a day... I had to sign back on. Charter is about $94 a month for cable/internet. *sigh

[leonardotmnt]

Congrats!  Cutting our cable was one of the best things we've done. 

If you have any trouble with the kids you might want to try either Amazon Prime for videos and/or Netflix.  Our son has no trouble at all finding something he wants to watch and there's a much wider variety than what cable has.  Plus you can get an entire year for just about what one month of cable costs :)

[Ratracespectator]

Our kids were upset about canceling cable also until we introduced them to classic cartoons on Youtube. Bugs Bunny is still hilarious. They also found some cool science series  ("Mom, I'm learning about density right now!" So much better than that tripe that passes for programming on Disney.

I have a friend who is on unemployment, is now down to trying to sell things around the house to stay above water. But she won't cut out the daily paper or cable. Sometimes I wonder if government benefits should be reduced by the amount spent on cable....

All in all, if they push you, you push back. I tell them that the $70 we save per month is going toward their college educations, so that they're not in the slavery of debt when they graduate. If I don't teach them the financial facts of life, who will?

[chickenmama]

There was a lot more silence in the house tonight than normal (really nice), and definitely some push back.

One teenaged daughter accused me of being off my rocker. The other said I sound like I've joined a cult. And my husband mentioned that I should the time and money I spend on my chickens, before I think about cutting costs via anyone else's hobbies.

The money we were spending on cable TV really was redundant with other entertainment dollars we're spending. We've got Netflix and a Roku device (that I got as a Public Radio donation gift), as well as an Amazon Prime account.

There will definitely be an adjustment phase, but my family's not going to suffer for lack of entertainment.

[oldtoyota]

Congrats on cutting the bill!

For those of you with complaining kids, have you thought about letting them movies/videos from the library? That's what we do.

On another note, I am always surprised at the variety of pricing for Comcast.

I pay $73 and have not been able to get the rate down, yet maybe I should try again based on what you guys are saying.

[Ratracespectator]

I asked Comcast for the lowest cable package I could get without having to remove the cable box from our house (hubby would not allow that. Baby steps...) of course they try to lure you back in with a triple play offer. Stand your ground, and you'll get bare bones cable service.

[oldtoyota]

I asked Comcast for the lowest cable package I could get without having to remove the cable box from our house (hubby would not allow that. Baby steps...) of course they try to lure you back in with a triple play offer. Stand your ground, and you'll get bare bones cable service.

Interesting. I actually do not want cable. Because I get my internet via Comcast, they force cable upon us. They say the cable comes with the internet.

[Mr.Macinstache]

There was a lot more silence in the house tonight than normal (really nice), and definitely some push back.

One teenaged daughter accused me of being off my rocker. The other said I sound like I've joined a cult. And my husband mentioned that I should the time and money I spend on my chickens, before I think about cutting costs via anyone else's hobbies.

The money we were spending on cable TV really was redundant with other entertainment dollars we're spending. We've got Netflix and a Roku device (that I got as a Public Radio donation gift), as well as an Amazon Prime account.

There will definitely be an adjustment phase, but my family's not going to suffer for lack of entertainment.

You have to understand TV has a flicker rate designed to put you into a hypnotic state after watching it for 10mins. This is why we watch commercials that we have no interest in w/o changing the channel. So what you did was take your kids off a drug, much like adults like to have a smoke or beer after work or take a break.

I think TV is a nasty thing, but there are shows that I do like to watch here and there. I hate that cable is so expensive too... one day, I will win the battle.

[smedleyb]

I had to arm twist Time Warner Cable to come and disconnect my cable.  It took 3 months and many calls to actually cut my cable and adjust my bill to reflect just the internet service.   I felt like Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction,  TWC was Glenn Close, and my patience was the cute, furry rabbit.

[AlmostIndependent]

Interesting. I actually do not want cable. Because I get my internet via Comcast, they force cable upon us. They say the cable comes with the internet.

I'm in the same boat. I am looking forward to cutting the Comcast cord. Bastards.