Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How to prove to my parents they're getting ripped off.

D

dixie8123

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 26, 2010
58
0
Charleston, SC
WARNING: This may seem like a rant, but it's not.

Well, recently my parents decided to purchase AT&T Internet, of course I wasnt too happy, considering I hate AT&T. Before, we had 12MBPS Comcast Internet, now we "upgraded" to "save money" to a 1.5MBPS ATT DSL. This is the fastet connection they have, which is considered "Blazing fast, better than anything else" according to them. We pay about $100/month to AT&T for the Internet and phone. Personally, I think this is a little too much, considering if I got the same thing though comcast I would be saving money.

Now, I need your help to convince them they're getting ripped off.

Thanks,
Dixie
 
1.5MB/s isn't *that* bad but 1.5Mb/s is.

But I think you're right. I'm not sure why people bother using AT&T home internet. Your reasoning is sound, so there's not much else you can say besides pointing out the obvious.
 
I don't know if Verizon FiOS is available in your area but I just got 35MBps up/down, unlimited phone, and a bunch of HD cable for $114 a month through them.
 
Only problem is they think they areSAVING money. Idk why

----------
chrono1081 said:
I don't know if Verizon FiOS is available in your area but I just got 35MBps up/down, unlimited phone, and a bunch of HD cable for $114 a month through them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I already checked. It's either comcast or AT&T. Sadly, thats all. If only FIOS was here. Also, do you know how UVERSE is, thats not even offered here yet so
 
dixie8123 said:
Only problem is they think they areSAVING money. Idk why

----------



Yeah, I already checked. It's either comcast or AT&T. Sadly, thats all. If only FIOS was here. Also, do you know how UVERSE is, thats not even offered here yet so
Click to expand...

How much were they paying for Comcast internet. Saving money may not be as simple as cost per Mbps. They may actually want to lower the absolute total they pay per month regardless of rate.

What you may want to do is convince them to go voip. Pay more for a higher speed internet connection to accomodate voice over IP but less for phone service. I pay $57/month for 40Mbps DSL + voip service.
 
I think Uverse is similar in speed to FiOS--needs upgraded switch near your house--not offered where I live either but is offered a few streets over--just depends on where the switch is I guess. I doubt it is better than cable though--I'm very happy with my Bright House Internet and would not switch to ATT unless Bright House really pissed me off. Personally, I agree with you that moving from cable to ATT DSL is a big downgrade and not worth the money.
 
For the OP, sorry no real advice to give your parents other than to check out competitive pricing. I thought they passed a law years ago allowing subscribers to pick any internet provider regardless of where they live? It was not that way in Minnesota last year and it is not this way in the Houston Area, although I CAN pick any electric provider I want. This is what they need to do with cable to get real competition.

Yes you can pick DSL vs Cable, but for cable I have one choice, Sudden Link. Right now I pay about $200 per month for internet, premium channels (HBO/Showtime), DVR, and security monitoring. I think it's too high and am exploring alternatives.

I looked at Dish Network a year ago and after all the special intro rates expire, you are about the same as Cable. Is that still true? I'm frustrated...
 
dixie8123 said:
WARNING: This may seem like a rant, but it's not.

Well, recently my parents decided to purchase AT&T Internet, of course I wasnt too happy, considering I hate AT&T. Before, we had 12MBPS Comcast Internet, now we "upgraded" to "save money" to a 1.5MBPS ATT DSL. This is the fastet connection they have, which is considered "Blazing fast, better than anything else" according to them. We pay about $100/month to AT&T for the Internet and phone. Personally, I think this is a little too much, considering if I got the same thing though comcast I would be saving money.

Now, I need your help to convince them they're getting ripped off.

Thanks,
Dixie
Click to expand...

I believe where the ripoff is, is the AT&T land line telephone. I think AT&T internet alone should be cheaper.

I used to have 1.5mbps DSL from AT&T, and it was under $20. Where they got me was the landline.

I'm not sure if Comcast offers a "double play" with internet and phone (on their website it shows TV+phone or TV+internet).

If your parents have Comcast cable, tell them to get the triple play, they won't regret it.

Comcast internet is definitely a lot better than AT&T.
 
You're using your parent's Internet, so you need to convince them that they need the speed advantage offered by cable. If not, then you have to either deal with the slower speeds until you can have your own or chip in the difference between the two. Your parents want to save money and DSL will do that.

Dale
 
WOW that is expensive, and I was always under the impression that things like this were cheaper in the US.

I pay €59 per month for Cable TV (82 channels including HBO),plus cable internet.
Speed.jpg
 
Designer Dale said:
You're using your parent's Internet, so you need to convince them that they need the speed advantage offered by cable. If not, then you have to either deal with the slower speeds until you can have your own or chip in the difference between the two. Your parents want to save money and DSL will do that.

Dale
Click to expand...

I'm going more at the aspect that they're getting ripped off, not that it is too slow.
 
dixie8123 said:
I'm going more at the aspect that they're getting ripped off, not that it is too slow.
Click to expand...

what was the total they were paying for phone and internet before the switch?

what would an internet & phone bundle from comcast cost?
 
dixie8123 said:
Only problem is they think they areSAVING money. Idk why
Click to expand...
Are they?

They may have opted for the cheaper alternative as they decided that a faster internet connection is not a priority for them (while it may be for you).

If its not cheaper, do the leg work yourself and present to them the alternatives, giving both the pros and cons to each choice in a mature manner.

Finally since you're unhappy with their selection, why not offer to help pay for the internet cost. The bottom line is, its their money and they have decided that ATT is a good choice.
 
Comcast will give you TV/Internet or TV/phone, you can't get phone/Internet. The current price is around $70 per month for one year. More then.

We have the Triple Play package. The price breakdown goes like this:

Phone: $44
Internet: $53
TV: $103

This is full price with no applicable discounts.

Dale
 
Huntn said:
For the OP, sorry no real advice to give your parents other than to check out competitive pricing. I thought they passed a law years ago allowing subscribers to pick any internet provider regardless of where they live? It was not that way in Minnesota last year and it is not this way in the Houston Area, although I CAN pick any electric provider I want. This is what they need to do with cable to get real competition.
Click to expand...

How can you have different electric providers? Or do you mean marketers? There's a situation in the Atlanta area where you can choose your gas "provider". But really, you are just choosing a company to bill you while Atlanta Gas/Light is the actual provider for everyone. And part of the bill is a seemingly randomly generated "pass through charge" which can vary wildly from one house to the next, even with the same size house. And that charge is made whether you use gas or not. And when there's an issue, I've heard that many people can't get an answer from either, because each one says it's the other's problem. That doesn't sound like an awesome situation, and why I will avoid gas service in the Atlanta area.
 
samiwas said:
How can you have different electric providers? Or do you mean marketers? There's a situation in the Atlanta area where you can choose your gas "provider". But really, you are just choosing a company to bill you while Atlanta Gas/Light is the actual provider for everyone. And part of the bill is a seemingly randomly generated "pass through charge" which can vary wildly from one house to the next, even with the same size house. And that charge is made whether you use gas or not. And when there's an issue, I've heard that many people can't get an answer from either, because each one says it's the other's problem. That doesn't sound like an awesome situation, and why I will avoid gas service in the Atlanta area.
Click to expand...

In Houston, there is a company (can't remember who, an electric company) has responsibility for the poles and wires in the neighborhood, however my company Green Mountain, feeds it's electric into the grid and I pay them for my electrical usage. I'm sure the company that is responsible for the neighborhood infrastructure gets their cut for maintaining it.

This is the way it would have to work for internet with freedom to choose. I doubt multiple internet providers would run duplicate wires through each neighborhood.
 
Huntn said:
In Houston, there is a company (can't remember who, an electric company) has responsibility for the poles and wires in the neighborhood, however my company Green Mountain, feeds it's electric into the grid and I pay them for my electrical usage. I'm sure the company that is responsible for the neighborhood infrastructure gets their cut for maintaining it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm on a deal like this. The local provider for my area is Dayton Power & Light, and they're who sends my monthly bill. The actual electric is "purchased" from FirstEnergy (who owns a nuclear reactor near Toledo). I signed on with them for a guaranteed per-kilowatt-hour rate for two years, which as of now is cheaper than the rate I'd be paying DP&L. I think it's all paperwork though, no actual power transfers (at least here).
 
Huntn said:
In Houston, there is a company (can't remember who, an electric company) has responsibility for the poles and wires in the neighborhood, however my company Green Mountain, feeds it's electric into the grid and I pay them for my electrical usage. I'm sure the company that is responsible for the neighborhood infrastructure gets their cut for maintaining it.

This is the way it would have to work for internet with freedom to choose. I doubt multiple internet providers would run duplicate wires through each neighborhood.
Click to expand...

In Texas, Oncor provides the electrical infrastructure (the transmission lines, etc.) while the utilities (TXU, Reliant, etc.) provide the actual electrical power. You're free to choose your utility here.

OP, how is it any of your business where your parents get their internet service? They're the ones that write the check for it each month, no? Wouldn't you agree that they're in a better position than you are to know exactly how much it costs them?
 
Tomorrow said:
In Texas, Oncor provides the electrical infrastructure (the transmission lines, etc.) while the utilities (TXU, Reliant, etc.) provide the actual electrical power. You're free to choose your utility here.

OP, how is it any of your business where your parents get their internet service? They're the ones that write the check for it each month, no? Wouldn't you agree that they're in a better position than you are to know exactly how much it costs them?
Click to expand...

Obviously your son is too young for you to have learned that kids know everything.
 
Let your parents make their own mistakes. That it the only way they will ever learn.
 
Tomorrow said:
In Texas, Oncor provides the electrical infrastructure (the transmission lines, etc.) while the utilities (TXU, Reliant, etc.) provide the actual electrical power. You're free to choose your utility here.

OP, how is it any of your business where your parents get their internet service? They're the ones that write the check for it each month, no? Wouldn't you agree that they're in a better position than you are to know exactly how much it costs them?
Click to expand...

I could have sworn that some Federal law was pass years ago that was supposed to open the internet to this type of competition. Guess I was wrong...

BTW, this is just one of the multitude of reasons why we want a Federal/State government, that is if we have elected people who actually want to solve problems even if it means they must compromise...
 
Huntn said:
I could have sworn that some Federal law was pass years ago that was supposed to open the internet to this type of competition. Guess I was wrong...
Click to expand...

I would love this. Right now where we live our only option for broadband is U-Verse, and I think competition from either Verizon Fios or a cable company would force them to step up their game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back