So my Comcast bill just went up - what are the options?

[Memphis Mustache]

Okay, so apparently my Comcast bill went up, as I guess my initial promo period has ended. My bill for this month here in Memphis is $118.08. Previously it was $84.29. The bill breaks down this way:

Blast! Plus - $94.95
Internet/Voice Equipment Rental - $10.00
Broadcast TV Fee - $7.00
TV Sales Tax - $2.74
TV Franchise Fee - $2.37
TV FCC Regulatory Fee - $0.09
Internet Sales Tax - $0.93

Total: $118.08


That is basically for broadband internet and TV service (no landline phone service). I am basically getting tired of the Comcast negotiation game that always has to take place and want to get a better sense of options. It seems like here in Memphis we have two options for internet service: Comcast & AT&T. I am not sure if AT&T would really be much better price-wise and they might end up being inferior in both price and internet speed.

One option that I am considering is cutting out Comcast's TV service altogether and just trying to see what it would cost me to go with their internet-only (or AT&T's internet-only) option. Typically, though, these companies make buying just one of their offerings kind of pricey and try force you to bundle with another service (such as TV or landline phone service) to get a better "bargain". Anyway, I was thinking of doing broadband internet with one of these companies and doing something like Sling TV to still have access to some tv channels without paying through the nose.  My fear is that Comcast will quote me something like $59.99 for internet and that would be before I paid them $10.00 to rent the modem and another $7 to $11 bucks in taxes/fees.

For those who haven't totally cut the cord (either with regard to TV or internet) - what are you doing for internet & TV? For those who are doing internet through one of the major providers and doing TV through Netflix/Sling TV/Hulu/Roku or something similar - what download/upload speeds do you really need for them to actually run reasonably well?

[Rachel_the_Lark]

P2F I also like the idea of cutting the cord, but am fuzzy on the execution with internet needs.

[redbird]

Something you could do that would save you $10/month is to buy a cable modem. It will pay itself off (through not having to pay those fees) in less than a year. You would just have to call up Comcast to tell them that you bought your own modem, that you want the modem rental fee removed from your bill and want to return theirs, and then they'll probably have you take their modem to a UPS Store to have it returned (you will not pay shipping costs for this, don't worry).

For your internet speed question, pretty much anything that Comcast will offer you will be plenty for streaming video. You can go with a cheap option and be fine.

[katsiki]

Check out https://www.toast.net/.  I learned about it on this forum.

In your area (like mine), I would expect they will offer you ATT service (some version of DSL).  They don't offer TV service.

[Scortius]

Comcast actually has a button on their internet portal where you can essentially request a new rate.  It wasn't quite as good as my first rate, but it was significantly better.  The catch is that I had to pay up front for the privilege and the break-even point was about 5 months out.  Still, at the minimum it's worth checking out to see what's available.

[HPstache]

Start by giving them a call and saying that the raising of the price puts cable out of your budget.  I did this when the same increase happened to me and I got it down to about $100 locked in.

[slappy]

How many channels do you have? My bill was about that amount and I cut $50 off it by going to basic cable (15 channels). When I first called, they said I already had the basics package (45 channels). I called back the next day and got someone who cut me down to the 15 channels and the lower rate. I have internet and 15 cable channels for $75 a month.

[Memphis Mustache]

How many channels do you have? My bill was about that amount and I cut $50 off it by going to basic cable (15 channels). When I first called, they said I already had the basics package (45 channels). I called back the next day and got someone who cut me down to the 15 channels and the lower rate. I have internet and 15 cable channels for $75 a month.

Is that $75 a month before fees/taxes? If so, then it probably isn't much of a deal. My general complaint is that we should be able to get a pretty decent home broadband connection for around 40 bucks per month. We get quality cell phone service for around that price so why do we have to pay $60 to $70 for just a decent internet connection? I think it basically comes down to lack of competition. In the cell service market there are tons of options and competition but in the home broadband market, it seems like most people have maybe 2 options and they really just don't care to compete.

[slappy]

No it's $75 total. I agree though, we should be able to get internet only for $40 or so. I keep meaning to call them.

[Mega]

Android box + Kodi +VPN service = ~$15/month.

For speeds, you really only need 10Mbps, but 25 is a better 'minimum' for the advertised speed.

[Memphis Mustache]

Android box + Kodi +VPN service = ~$15/month.

For speeds, you really only need 10Mbps, but 25 is a better 'minimum' for the advertised speed.

Uh, so where is your internet service? A VPN Service still requires you to have an ISP in the first place.

[lil_miss_frugal]

How many channels do you have? My bill was about that amount and I cut $50 off it by going to basic cable (15 channels). When I first called, they said I already had the basics package (45 channels). I called back the next day and got someone who cut me down to the 15 channels and the lower rate. I have internet and 15 cable channels for $75 a month.

Why don't you just cancel cable all together if you're only getting 15 channels? You can get 15 or more channels for free with an antenna.

[Cwadda]

Another vote for cutting cable TV altogether. Can you grab Netflix/Hulu instead?

[slappy]

How many channels do you have? My bill was about that amount and I cut $50 off it by going to basic cable (15 channels). When I first called, they said I already had the basics package (45 channels). I called back the next day and got someone who cut me down to the 15 channels and the lower rate. I have internet and 15 cable channels for $75 a month.

Why don't you just cancel cable all together if you're only getting 15 channels? You can get 15 or more channels for free with an antenna.

Because I'm not aware of an internet option that does not include at least the most basic cable package. I tried an internet chat with Comcast recently and got the run around. I will have to call them and press them to see if they have an internet option without the cable that is cheaper. They aren't exactly well know for being forthcoming with that type of information.

[ketchup]

Step 0: Buy your own cable modem.  I think mine was $60 2.5 years ago.  Return the one you're renting and GET A RECIEPT AS PROOF or else they'll charge you $500 for it because you "lost" it.  That'll save you the $10/mo.

Go to their website and pretend you're a new customer signing up for service (at your same address).  That'll give you an idea of what the current promos are.

Call and bitch.  Ask if you're eligible for any current offers.  Their first offer tends to suck, so stand firm.  After the second option (which is usually much better, and pretty close to the new customer offers you saw), ask if there's anything lower by cutting TV (there might not be; lately they really want to boost their "cable subscriber" numbers by any means necessary).  That'll probably be the best you can get.

Also, don't forget that (for example) "$59" for internet-only and "$59" for internet+TV are not really the same price (for you).  TV has more extra taxes and fees than internet service, which will usually add another $10-12.

[katsiki]

Because I'm not aware of an internet option that does not include at least the most basic cable package. I tried an internet chat with Comcast recently and got the run around. I will have to call them and press them to see if they have an internet option without the cable that is cheaper. They aren't exactly well know for being forthcoming with that type of information.

ATT or toast.net will provide a straight DSL connection.

[Milkshake]

Not sure on your location, but I had Mediacom for awhile and realized that Satan's first entrepreneurship was a cable company.

We were able to find a small, poorly advertised local internet co-op that gives excellent fiber optic speeds, cheap internet-only options, AND good customer service. Plus I already had my own router from college, so it plugged right in with no extra rental fees.

Maybe you have already searched extensively, but at first it seemed like Mediacom was our only option until I couldn't take it anymore entered the bowels of Google to find this place.

[slappy]

I just called Comcast and they said they can offer me 10 Mbps for $49.99 or 200 Mbps for $59.99, which includes 15 channels plus HBO. I don't want the 15 channels or HBO. Also, online there is a $39.99 25 Mbps offered (promotional price for one year).

[Memphis Mustache]

Check out https://www.toast.net/.  I learned about it on this forum.

In your area (like mine), I would expect they will offer you ATT service (some version of DSL).  They don't offer TV service.

I looked at the Toast website; yikes those speeds are terrible. $37.95 for 6 Mbps download and 0.75 Mbps upload? That is not good at all. I have a Verizon 4G LTE hotspot that can get those speeds and I consider it a hunk of junk. I get 50/10+ real world speeds (not the advertised max speeds) with my current Comcast connection. Unfortunately the closest package that Toast offers is $92.95 and it is pretty unlikely that it would ever really hit their advertised max speed of 75/8. Comcast at my old apartment could hit 38/17 on average.

[Beach_Stache]

When I had cable I used to call and "ask for the promotions" and they would give you a discount, if that didn't work I would say I want to "switch to X company and to shut mine off" and they would quickly offer me a promotion to stay w/them.  I think they caught on, probably put it in the notes about me, so last time I threatened to cut it they called  my bluff.  We've been w/o cable for the last 4 years and I'm very happy.  We do internet ($60/month) and Netflix + Hulu.  What I found with cable is that it's the same stuff on Hulu but there is so much more crap on cable that I never wanted/needed.  If I'm on vacation or at my parents place and they have cable, I can never find anything good on.

They also jacked up my internet bill 2 years ago, and I called and said "the increase was hard on our family and if they could do anything", which at the time it really was as we had 3 kids in daycare, so they gave me a 2 year promotion at increased speeds for only $55/month.  After that ran up it went up $10, and I called again, they dropped it down to $60.  If you want to keep your cable in check, you gotta get rid of the stuff you don't need.  I need internet b/c DW and myself both work from home, and Netflix/Hulu is great, and the total is $16/month for both.

[Irateplatypus]

My partner renegotiates our Comcast plan every year. Basically if you call their customer loyalty department and ask if they have any promotions they will switch you to any active promotions. They'll even cancel your old contract to put you on a promotion with a new contract.

Occasionally you'll get someone unhelpful but just call back in a day or two and talk to someone else. But overall their customer supports has been surprisingly fantastic.

We switched about a year ago to internet only without a contract ($50 or so for 200mb down something insane like that) and haven't felt the need to renegotiate since then.

[BlueMR2]

I looked at the Toast website; yikes those speeds are terrible. $37.95 for 6 Mbps download and 0.75 Mbps upload? That is not good at all. I have a Verizon 4G LTE hotspot that can get those speeds and I consider it a hunk of junk. I get 50/10+ real world speeds (not the advertised max speeds) with my current Comcast connection. Unfortunately the closest package that Toast offers is $92.95 and it is pretty unlikely that it would ever really hit their advertised max speed of 75/8. Comcast at my old apartment could hit 38/17 on average.

I'm gonna have to facepunch you for that...  If you want Cadillac Internet you pay Cadillac prices.  6/0.75 should be perfectly fine for normal usage.  I've got 1.0/0.5 and I can YouTube and Hulu.  Updates are slow to get, but I let those run overnight.  In return I pay $23/mo instead of $100...

About the buying your own on premise equipment.  That can be shaky...  The problem is that when your Internet is down for any reason and you contact an ISP they immediately blame your equipment.  Getting them to even check their side can be frustrating.  And guess what, it's almost always on their end...

[Khaetra]

I looked at the Toast website; yikes those speeds are terrible. $37.95 for 6 Mbps download and 0.75 Mbps upload? That is not good at all. I have a Verizon 4G LTE hotspot that can get those speeds and I consider it a hunk of junk. I get 50/10+ real world speeds (not the advertised max speeds) with my current Comcast connection. Unfortunately the closest package that Toast offers is $92.95 and it is pretty unlikely that it would ever really hit their advertised max speed of 75/8. Comcast at my old apartment could hit 38/17 on average.

I hear you.  I pay $93/month for 100/10 through Spectrum (used to be Brighthouse) and I like the fact that I get what I pay for, usually topping out around 107-110.  Before the face-punches, I am already FIRE and it's figured into my monthly budget.  Plus, in my neighborhood it's the only option besides dial-up (no DSL available) and I am not getting a phone line just for that :).

[katsiki]

I looked at the Toast website; yikes those speeds are terrible. $37.95 for 6 Mbps download and 0.75 Mbps upload? That is not good at all. I have a Verizon 4G LTE hotspot that can get those speeds and I consider it a hunk of junk. I get 50/10+ real world speeds (not the advertised max speeds) with my current Comcast connection. Unfortunately the closest package that Toast offers is $92.95 and it is pretty unlikely that it would ever really hit their advertised max speed of 75/8. Comcast at my old apartment could hit 38/17 on average.

I'm gonna have to facepunch you for that...  If you want Cadillac Internet you pay Cadillac prices.  6/0.75 should be perfectly fine for normal usage.  I've got 1.0/0.5 and I can YouTube and Hulu.  Updates are slow to get, but I let those run overnight.  In return I pay $23/mo instead of $100...

I agree.  I wasn't going to reply because everyone has their own priorities.  However, I have 6/3 with ATT and it is fine for 2 Rokus running at the same time plus internet usage.  For toast.net, I was going to go with 18 or 24 since it was cheaper than ATT.

[LadyStash]

My basic cable + wifi bill with Cox Communications was about $80 (introductory rate) for one year, moving up to $110 last year, and just recently moving up again to over $130. I called Cox and asked for Cancellation and Retention immediately. With me telling the person that the monthly price was too high and that I saw better offers from AT&T (about $80 again), the person offered me a discount of ... $3/month. Yes, a measly $3/month when the price has been jacked up $50/month within a space of 2 years!

I haven't pulled the trigger yet on cancelling Cox and getting with AT&T because AT&T would require a dish for TV service. Yes, I could move to Hulu/Netflix/Whatjamacallit, but that would require me getting a smart TV over my old 19" box (right?). I'm not there yet!

Long story short, the advice of "call the company and say that you'll quit them if they don't bring the price down" doesn't always pay off!

[katsiki]

I haven't pulled the trigger yet on cancelling Cox and getting with AT&T because AT&T would require a dish for TV service. Yes, I could move to Hulu/Netflix/Whatjamacallit, but that would require me getting a smart TV over my old 19" box (right?). I'm not there yet!

Long story short, the advice of "call the company and say that you'll quit them if they don't bring the price down" doesn't always pay off!

Yeah, ATT has offered me $4/mo in savings before!  They are clueless/ monopolistic.

You don't necessarily need a new TV by the way.  Check out getting a Roku or AppleTV.  (I recommend Roku).

[kissthesky]

My mom called me with this same problem last night :D

My parents got internet for the first time very recently. For some reason TV was the exact same price as TV + Internet (they only found this out recently, which is why they then got internet). I think it's funny they have paid for TV only for so long, open to getting internet but not wanting an extra expense. Knowing they were paying extra for "TV" the whole time and not getting the "free" internet is kind of funny.

Anyhoo, their contract just renewed and the price went up (same thing, TV is same as TV+Interwebs but now just more money). I think I'll: 1) buy them a modem instead of renting one for the $10 monthly fee, then 2) look up their current offers as well as competitor prices/offers, then 3) call to try to negotiate (especially because they had been paying so much for TV only for so long). If that fails I will try to nudge them towards fun things that are more fun than watching tv... which will probably not go well haha

[Memphis Mustache]

I looked at the Toast website; yikes those speeds are terrible. $37.95 for 6 Mbps download and 0.75 Mbps upload? That is not good at all. I have a Verizon 4G LTE hotspot that can get those speeds and I consider it a hunk of junk. I get 50/10+ real world speeds (not the advertised max speeds) with my current Comcast connection. Unfortunately the closest package that Toast offers is $92.95 and it is pretty unlikely that it would ever really hit their advertised max speed of 75/8. Comcast at my old apartment could hit 38/17 on average.

I'm gonna have to facepunch you for that...  If you want Cadillac Internet you pay Cadillac prices.  6/0.75 should be perfectly fine for normal usage.  I've got 1.0/0.5 and I can YouTube and Hulu.  Updates are slow to get, but I let those run overnight.  In return I pay $23/mo instead of $100...

About the buying your own on premise equipment.  That can be shaky...  The problem is that when your Internet is down for any reason and you contact an ISP they immediately blame your equipment.  Getting them to even check their side can be frustrating.  And guess what, it's almost always on their end...

I guess that I am used to much better speeds than that; I would have expected you have to issues with streaming movies and TV via Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, etc. What provider are you using for your internet access?

[BlueMR2]

I guess that I am used to much better speeds than that; I would have expected you have to issues with streaming movies and TV via Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, etc. What provider are you using for your internet access?

I'm another Toast.Net user.  The actual circuit is from Frontier though (the fastest they have in the area is 3.0 mpbs, I'm at 1.0 because I'm all the way down at the end of the line and it's distance limited).  Going through Toast.Net instead of Frontier directly saves me $15/mo, because Frontier requires you to have an active phone circuit (and charge) whereas Toast.Net will supply it as a "UNE" (Internet only).

[Memphis Mustache]

I guess that I am used to much better speeds than that; I would have expected you have to issues with streaming movies and TV via Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, etc. What provider are you using for your internet access?

I'm another Toast.Net user.  The actual circuit is from Frontier though (the fastest they have in the area is 3.0 mpbs, I'm at 1.0 because I'm all the way down at the end of the line and it's distance limited).  Going through Toast.Net instead of Frontier directly saves me $15/mo, because Frontier requires you to have an active phone circuit (and charge) whereas Toast.Net will supply it as a "UNE" (Internet only).

So, you are able to view Hulu in standard definition with a 1 Mbps download internet service? Hulu's Help Center claims that users need to have at least a 1.5 Mbps download connection in order to stream with Hulu. I guess they are wrong in that regard.

I think I am going to look at Frontier and Toast and try to get the minimum speed needed to watch Netflix, Sling TV, Hulu, etc in 1080p; I think 5 Mbps download is what is needed to do that. AT&T services my area and has one option: a 5 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload option for $40 per month. Obviously, I doubt I would get the absolute max download speed consistently, so I would likely be truly getting like 4.0 Mbps or 4.5 Mbps download with them. So, I am a little hesitant to go with them and end up finding out that my speed is only good enough for 720p.

 I have to call Comcast again tomorrow but I don't think they will play ball. They want at least $66.95 for any internet-only package.

[katsiki]

You will be fine with 5.  I have 6 and had 3 before that.  3 would occasionally have issues but was generally OK.  At 6, I have seen no issues.

[ketchup]

As far as speed goes, I've found the stability and reliability of the connection to be far more important than the raw speed.  In the past (post-dial-up at least), I've had 1.5mbps (DSL), 3mbps (DSL), 16mbps (cable), and 25mbps (cable).  Of those, the 1.5mbps DSL and 16mbps cable lines were the most available/usable/problem-free.

I'm a huge hypocrite though since I presently have 1000mbps fiber (and this is probably the most reliable connection I've ever had, though it's only been a few months).  It's really mostly for GF's business though (and it's $70/mo - expensive but not absurd).

[Memphis Mustache]

So, just an update on my options here (Memphis, TN):

Comcast (obviously)
AT&T - but only the 5 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload speed - $40.00 per month
Toast.Net - but only their 6 Mbps download/0.75 Mbps upload speed plan - $37.95 per month

Those are the options that I am aware of. I checked with Frontier via their webpage and it suggested that they don't provide service to my area but I had planned to call them today just to verify.

I ended up being able to get a new promo from Comcast late last night via Twitter. Essentially, they have offered me the following:

Blast Internet - $10.00 (I believe the "Blast" plan for my area is up to 75 Mbps download)
Limited Basic cable - $29.99
HBO (included)
Broadcast TV fee: $7.00
Internet/Voice Equipment Rental: $10.00
TV Franchise Tax: $2.37
TV FCC Regulatory Fee: $0.09
TV Sales Tax Fee: $8.29
Internet Sales Tax: $0.93
Total per month: $68.67


Obviously, I intend to look pretty quickly for compatible modems to get rid of that $10.00 per month  modem fee. When I do that, it will drop my monthly payment to $58.67. I really didn't want TV service at all (I only wanted internet) but I couldn't get them to offer me anything reasonable from an internet-only standpoint. They really do try to push the bundles.

My assumption on why Comcast tries to push the bundles:
1. First and probably foremost is when the promo ends (at the end of 12 months), a cable + internet bundle will jump in price quite a bit more than an internet-only package. This is what they are hoping for, I am sure.

2. It allows them to keep their tv subscriber numbers higher (even artificially so, in this case, since I have something that I don't really want).


Anyway, I will still keep looking and checking for other options, as I will just end up in this same song-and-dance with Comcast in 12 months when my bill probably nearly doubles. Hopefully I will be better prepared when that happens and hopefully one of their competitors will have another option or two for me to choose from.

[KarefulKactus15]

Face punches !
 
I have 300/3 from charter @ 100$ a month.   

I enjoy it.   ( Cause nobody wants to wait to download 30gb game files.   Instant gratification ftw . Lol)

[ketchup]

Face punches !
 
I have 300/3 from charter @ 100$ a month.   

I enjoy it.   ( Cause nobody wants to wait to download 30gb game files.   Instant gratification ftw . Lol)

Wow, they seriously pair 300mbps down with only 3mbps up?  That's pretty ridiculous.  My main reason for forking over the $70/mo for the 1000mbps line is that it comes paired with 250mbps up (GF is a photographer and is constantly uploading client photos).

[robartsd]

You don't necessarily need a new TV by the way.  Check out getting a Roku or AppleTV.  (I recommend Roku).

Additional options: Amazon's Fire TV, Google's Chromecast. Plenty of options for making a TV "Smart".

[ketchup]

You don't necessarily need a new TV by the way.  Check out getting a Roku or AppleTV.  (I recommend Roku).

Additional options: Amazon's Fire TV, Google's Chromecast. Plenty of options for making a TV "Smart".

You could also just get the proper cable to hook up an old Xbox or PC if you have one lying around.  That's what I did before I had my fancy-pants $229 built-in-Roku TV.

[BlueMR2]

So, you are able to view Hulu in standard definition with a 1 Mbps download internet service? Hulu's Help Center claims that users need to have at least a 1.5 Mbps download connection in order to stream with Hulu. I guess they are wrong in that regard.

I'd presume they recommend a little headroom to be safe.  When doing so we only use the one device, so there's no resource contention.  I never checked what they recommend, I just went and used it.  :-)