Not so much badass as dumbass. Don't make my mistake!

[Tami1982]

A few months ago I purchased a modem to replace the one I was renting from Comcast/Xfinity. They recently raised their rental rates to $8 a month plus tax.  I purchased the modem and let it sit in it's box for almost three months because I didn't want to call in.  I hate calling into tech people. 

I googled tonight and discovered I didn't have to call in at all!  I plugged in the new modem.  Let the computer recognize it and then restarted it.  BAM got the comcast page that walked me through the whole thing.  Took five minutes.  Feel like a jerk for wasting $24 in rental fees because I didn't want to deal with the hassle WHEN THERE WAS NO HASSLE. 

I just wanted to share so if others are in the same boat of paying that rental fee to Xfinity/Comcast, that there is an easy option to fix it:)  PS: This works with internet access only - not with any of the voice/phone options. 

Here is the modem: http://www.amazon.com/uBee-DDM3513-Docsis-Cable-Modem/dp/B005Y1UFIM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391757309&sr=8-2&keywords=ubee+modem

[soccerluvof4]

thats a great idea. Will pay for itself in 6-8 months. On my list! Thanks

[rocksinmyhead]

I have Cox but I just ordered a modem off Amazon this week so I could stop paying $7/month... should pay for itself in 4.7 months :) Thanks for the encouragement, it's supposed to get here today so I will immediately set it up and hopefully it's just as easy peasy as yours was!

[DTSinWNY]

I recently booted Time Warner Cable's modem off of my monthly bill.  I went with the motorola Surfboard SB6141, from Amazon.   The $86 modem cost should pay itself back after about 12 months (I think TWC was hitting everyone for $6.99/month lease fee).   The call to TWC to port over was painless and easy. 

[PeachFuzzInVA]

That reminds me. I have one sitting in the box upstairs that we used when we had comcast that I need to put on craigslist. Thanks!

[Tami1982]

Hope it works out for all of you who are dumping the rental and selling stuff.   I returned the modem today, was super easy.  Handed it over and they gave me a receipt.  Took about a minute.  Was told credit would show up on next bill.  We shall see Comcast, we shall see!

[the fixer]

That reminds me. I have one sitting in the box upstairs that we used when we had comcast that I need to put on craigslist. Thanks!

Cable modems go quick on Craigslist. Both times I've sold them I got offers to pick up same-day.

We were moving out of the DC area and I was cleaning out the house on the last day I noticed we still had our cable modem. I spent all this effort to sell everything I could, but it was about to get left behind. So I said to myself "well the last time I tried to sell one of these it went pretty quick, let's see what happens if I just post it for $10 on CL and require same-day pickup." It was gone in ONE HOUR.

By far, these are the easiest things I've ever tried to sell.

[toga62]

I purchased a modem recently myself.  I've always wanted to but my new found interest in FI has helped push me to buy one.  It also helped that I was told the one I was renting was old and only providing half the speed I was paying for!  Maybe I can get a refund for that...

[markstache]

Points to my wife for looking at our Comcast bill and questioning the rental fee. Originally, I went with the rental to get online quickly. 5 years later....

UPS dropped off the new modem today. Tomorrow, no more rental.

[TreeTired]

I thought it was difficult to find a compatible modem to replace the TWC modem,  as in the typical store bought modem won't work.   Urban legend?    Myth perpetuated by TWC?   

[Tennis Maniac]

@NC_MJ
TW has a list of compatible modems on their website.
I bought one for $25 on ebay.  Setup was easy.

[anastrophe]

Pro-tip: sell your modem on CL the first week of the month, college students are happy to snap it up then.

Tami, it's not such a bad mistake, let it go and enjoy your cheaper service.

[greenmimama]

Well thanks for posting, I can now do that and save $8/month!

[Tami1982]

I bought one for $25 on ebay.  Setup was easy.

I happened to google for a friend of mine and saw the bajillion modems on ebay for about $35 average for the one I needed.  Wish I had seen that before I bought mine new!  If you are looking for UBEE, make sure it's the 3.0, but they are available on ebay  for about half the price.

[N]

yeah, I notice my cable company increased their cable box rental fee from 5 to 8$ per month. you do get one free, but we had one on a second tv. I just returned it, since we dont really watch much regular tv on that tv anyway. funny, though, if they hadnt raised the rate, i wouldnt ahve noticed, they would still be getting my 5+taxes a month...now they get nada. LOL

Im going to see if we still need cable boxes for reception at the new apt. if we can use an antenna that might reduce our bill, though I dont know because if you get cable internet here, it almost always includes basic cable tv.

anyway, good catch tami, and now its all savings from here on out.