Author Topic: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?  (Read 4310 times)

MustacheMiz

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Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« on: March 04, 2014, 09:28:33 AM »
My wife and I recently joined a long line of people who are "cutting the cord" and eliminating cable TV. We haven't looked back since; however, we did find ourselves in a bit of a crack in the system...

We cut cable TV and signed up for a Comcast internet-only account. Comcast sent us a box of coaxial cables, I hooked them up to our own router and modem, and I called Comcast to register my modem's MAC address. Everything worked out great and we were online.

We'd been online with the expected level of service for about 6 weeks when I started to wonder why our bill had not arrived. I started to worry that we were getting billed and our statement was going to the wrong e-mail and/or physical address. I tried logging in online but my account was locked so I tried getting help from an online agent. When I gave them my information they looked up my account and explained that it had been disconnected. (Clearly incorrect since I was chatting with them online.) I then called their 800 number and found out that my account balance was $0.

I left things there and have waited a few more months -- no change. On one hand, it's a great feeling to fall through the cracks and get revenge on Comcast after paying their exorbitant bills for many years. On the other hand, it feels like bad karma and more importantly I'm concerned whether I could get screwed in the long run if/when they discover the error.

Karma aside, any suggestions for the best course of action? Do nothing? Resolve the issue ASAP?

Thanks,
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MustacheMiz

sherr

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2014, 09:34:38 AM »
When they eventually discover the error they can and will bill you for the service you've been receiving. I'd say it's a good idea to correct the situation and pay your monthly internet bill instead of waiting around and getting slammed with a whopper at some indeterminate amount of time in the future.

Spork

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2014, 09:37:54 AM »
Not that this is the same thing but...   I had a similar thing with a garbage collection company.  I live out in the boonies where there is lots of competition in garbage collection (oddly enough).  They billed me once and 8 months of free garbage collection later... no second bill.   The thing was: they sucked.  They sucked so bad that even at "free" I thought I was being overcharged.   I ended up just hooking up with another company that showed up when they said they would and sent me a bill every month.

I might try one more time... and if you can't get some idiot to take your money, I'd see if there were other options.  (And yes, I know: sometimes there aren't.)

sol

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2014, 09:47:04 AM »
I'm no fan of Comcast, but neither do I condone thievery.  Even if you're stealing from a tyrant.

At the very least, start sending them a monthly check with your old account number.  Keep records.  If they cash them, you're golden.  If not, you're protected.

Nords

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2014, 09:53:11 AM »
I left things there and have waited a few more months -- no change. On one hand, it's a great feeling to fall through the cracks and get revenge on Comcast after paying their exorbitant bills for many years. On the other hand, it feels like bad karma and more importantly I'm concerned whether I could get screwed in the long run if/when they discover the error.

Karma aside, any suggestions for the best course of action? Do nothing? Resolve the issue ASAP?
Thanks,
--
MustacheMiz
As another poster said, give it one more try and then you'll have a clear conscience.  Comcast will figure it out eventually.

We had the same situation over a decade ago with our cable company.  They essentially gave us a higher tier of service for free because they were too disorganized to send out a tech to install the blocking circuits.  I reminded them twice and then gave up.  Five years later they finally caught up with themselves and used it as an opportunity to "warn" us that they'd be "reducing" our service level to the tier which we were actually paying for.

MustacheMiz

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2014, 10:09:50 AM »
Did you happen to use the same modem on your old account?

Prior to this, I was with Verizon Fios so this is a brand new modem with a new account. I was with Verizon for about 2 years and Comcast for many years prior to that. When I called to set up the modem with Comcast, we had no issues whatsoever and I was online within minutes.

I have no clue what my old Comcast account info was.

MustacheMiz

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2014, 12:26:48 PM »
When they eventually discover the error they can and will bill you for the service you've been receiving. I'd say it's a good idea to correct the situation and pay your monthly internet bill instead of waiting around and getting slammed with a whopper at some indeterminate amount of time in the future.

I also thought about this, and we decided that the extra $35/month would simply be tossed into savings. If Comcast comes knocking, I'll be prepared to pay.

Mortgage Free Mike

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Re: Screwing Comcast or Ourselves?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2014, 12:42:40 PM »
I would make one call or email to them, but knowing their customer service, they might not resolve the situation.
After one attempt, I wouldn't think twice about it.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!