I HATE Comcast....

[Wild-Bill]

Morons...

I called almost three weeks ago to set up an appointment to have a CableCard installed on my second HDTV (an appointment because we are clearly dolts who can't be trusted to install a PCMCIA card, and call a telephone number).

So today is appointment day, between 9am-11am.

11:08 I get a phone call from the technicial that tells me he is at the "warehouse" waiting for a CableCard to come in. He asked me how long ago I made the appointment and told him, as he was thinking maybe it wasn't enough notice to tell the supply people about the CableCard? Well since it was almost 3 weeks they've had PLENTY of time to get that device into this guy's hands. Anyhow, he tells me there were two single stream cards on hand but they didn't work so he was waiting for one that did. He asks if this is for a TiVo and I say No, it's going straight into the tv. Then he asks me why I wanted a CableCard since I won't get PPV, etc. I told him I already had a box that did that and didn't want one for my second tv which, up until three weeks ago was getting basic cable channels - and then Comcast "switched" to all-digital. I told him I didn't want to pay rent on another cable box and the cost of the CableCard is free, as per FCC rules.

Says he'd call me back in a half an hour to let me know if he got a CableCard. That was almost a half hour ago and no phone call.

I haven't even had the appointment yet and I am fuming. I also took the liberty of getting a copy of my tv's manual and bookmarked "CableCard" and the Sharp LC-37D7U on the very likely chance this person has no idea what he is doing.

I wish I could get FIOS here..

I'll be calling first thing Monday to get my $20.00 credit for this late/unkept service appointment.

 

[dukebound85]

ok?

 

[jav6454]

Luckily I have Cox. I've heard so many stories from Time Warner and Comcast.

 

[gfish31]

dude, everybody hates CommunistCast. It's pretty much the only option in Philly, so ya just gotta deal with their ****.

 

[harperjones99]

I am surprised they even gave you a 2 hour window...my experience has always been "we will be there sometime between noon and 5pm" kind of thing. Not that it matters since they didn't show up in time anyway. Bill them hourly for the time they cost you...I have heard people trying that but don't know if they got away with it.

 

[Wild-Bill]

Update.

So the tech (rather, a different tech) finally calls back at 12:54pm (initially was supposed to get a call back at 11:30) and tells me that they cannot come and install the CableCard today since they "are all out" and won't get any in until Monday, and he'll send "his best tech" out on Monday.

So now they are coming Monday. I didn't realize there was such a demand for CableCard in my area. / sarcasm. Unbelievable. They've had 2 1/2 weeks to find a damn cablecard. Incompetent bastards.

Keep in mind installing a CableCard isn't rocket science, but Comcast absolutely refuses self-installs.

 

[harperjones99]

Could you stand getting rid of cable TV and just using the internet etc for films and TV? It's what I did and it works for me but I know some people like having normal cable TV. Saves a lot of hassle dealing with their nonsense.

 

[Luigi239]

The interactions between cable and satellite companies are one of the reasons why I just use OTA signals with my TiVo. It's much easier that way

 

[kellen]

Could you stand getting rid of cable TV and just using the internet etc for films and TV? It's what I did and it works for me but I know some people like having normal cable TV. Saves a lot of hassle dealing with their nonsense.

Ditto. I have done it and rarely miss it. I only miss HBO and Showtime shows, but to get those will be soo much per month, as you have to get a package.

 

[ravenvii]

Ditto. I have done it and rarely miss it. I only miss HBO and Showtime shows, but to get those will be soo much per month, as you have to get a package.

Yeah, and you can always rent them (Netflix or whatnot) once they appear on DVD. So much cheaper, much more pleasant (you watch at your own time), etc. For me there's absolutely no reason to get cable TV.

 

[harperjones99]

Gah stupid double posting fingers....

 

[harperjones99]

Ditto. I have done it and rarely miss it. I only miss HBO and Showtime shows, but to get those will be soo much per month, as you have to get a package.

You can find any and all TV shows streaming online often within a couple hours of them airing. I have become so used to watching when I want and being able to pause and get a drink etc that I could never go back to regular cable.

 

[barkomatic]

You can find any and all TV shows streaming online often within a couple hours of them airing. I have become so used to watching when I want and being able to pause and get a drink etc that I could never go back to regular cable.

+1. I gave up Time Warner Cable and not only do I save $110 per month I don't have to deal with situations like the OP describes. No need to wait all day for the repairman. No need to hold for 20 minutes.

I've discovered I can get crystal clear HD broadcast TV from all the major networks with a simple antenna. That combined with netflix and the internet is more than enough media.

 

[MattG]

I loathe Comcast. If Apple does the subscription thing, and they do it right, I'll be getting that, changing to DSL Internet, and telling Comcast to go f*** themselves.

 

[Wild-Bill]

I Hate them more every day

So today is the day they were supposed to be sending their "best" tech out to me "first thing Monday!" which of course translated into another appointment between 9-11am. It's now 11:11am, no call, no show. I guess the overwhelming demand for CableCard in my neck of the woods has them all flustered.....

Anyway, on the phone with customer support demanding two $20.00 credits to my account, one for each missed appointment. And they are "trying to locate" the techs that are supposed to be here. Unbelievable.

When I buy a house I'm going to make sure FIOS is available in that area and do away with Comcast all together.

 

[mscriv]

For those of you that have "cut the cord" what do you do about sports? I've heard that for those of us who enjoy sports that you pretty much have to stay with some sort of provider because the live events are not available online. I understand you can get the three or four OTA channels, but I'm talking about ESPN and other sports related stuff. Do you all just go without this programming?

 

[steve2112]

For those of you that have "cut the cord" what do you do about sports? I've heard that for those of us who enjoy sports that you pretty much have to stay with some sort of provider because the live events are not available online. I understand you can get the three or four OTA channels, but I'm talking about ESPN and other sports related stuff. Do you all just go without this programming?

In my experience, getting sports outside a provider is difficult. When I moved to my current location in summer of 08, I decided to ditch TV. Like others have said, between Hulu, network websites, etc, I was doing ok. The problem started during football season. I love college football, and also enjoy NFL. I managed to get some games on ESPN360, but it was unreliable and not that fun to watch. Plus, it absolutely choked my Mini and my DSL connection. The NFL wasn't that bad, since most of their games are still broadcast on OTA channels (CBS, Fox, etc), but a lot of college games are on ESPN, Fox Sports South, etc.

This summer, I threw in the towel and got DirecTV reconnected. It wasn't that bad, since I only got one receiver and no frills. I don't have any premium channels, HD channels, etc, and have the mid-level package. With a special deal they were offering, and the friend referral, I am paying a bit over $40/month. I figure that is cheaper than the local sports bar.

 

[Wild-Bill]

*UPDATE*

I'm now on the phone with "escalations". The installer couldn't get the cablecard to work, and in the process the HD DVR on my living room tv lost all its service, so now I get no premium channels on it. AND the cablecard doesn't work. He gave me a bunch of numbers to call from the company that he worked for and of course I received no callback.

I anticipate them probably sending someone else back again tomorrow.

At least my internet is still working.

 

[fridgeymonster3]

I have Comcast too. Comcast sucks donkey balls. Nuff said.

 

[pachyderm]

I have Comcast too. Comcast sucks donkey balls. Nuff said.

and at+t and whoever else have no intentions of coming my way. so they have amonoply which i thought was illegal.

 

[ejb190]

When I moved into my house a few years ago, there was a overhead Comcast cable from the alley to the house. As I had made other arrangements for cable (fiber-optic from the phone company), I called Comcast to have them remove the cable. When I told the lady what I wanted she told me they couldn't do that. After I told her I wouldn't be held responsible for outages when I ripped the wire off the pole I was promptly transfered to someone who made it happen. The wires were gone two days later!

 

[paddy]

Some of you guys are really nice to the customer service reps, ya know that?

 

[steve2112]

and at+t and whoever else have no intentions of coming my way. so they have amonoply which i thought was illegal.

Nope, cable companies are exempt. See, in many places, the city can grant an exclusive contract to a cable company. It's a throwback to the early days of cable when cities were trying to entice cable companies into building out the infrastructure. And for some reason, cable companies never got hit with the requirement to allow other companies to ride on their infrastructure like the telcos.

Everyone in this thread is depressing me. I've had enough of AT&T DSL, but my only other ISP option is Comcast. Gee, do I want to be punched in the face or kicked in the gut?

 

[Luigi239]

Nope, cable companies are exempt. See, in many places, the city can grant an exclusive contract to a cable company. It's a throwback to the early days of cable when cities were trying to entice cable companies into building out the infrastructure. And for some reason, cable companies never got hit with the requirement to allow other companies to ride on their infrastructure like the telcos.

Everyone in this thread is depressing me. I've had enough of AT&T DSL, but my only other ISP option is Comcast. Gee, do I want to be punched in the face or kicked in the gut?

I'm stuck between AT&T 6mbps DSL (which I have now) or TWC 10mbps. I refuse to do business with TWC since they have begun trying all the download caps. Clear just launched WiMax in Charlotte, so I might try it out next week.

 

[steve2112]

I'm stuck between AT&T 6mbps DSL (which I have now) or TWC 10mbps. I refuse to do business with TWC since they have begun trying all the download caps. Clear just launched WiMax in Charlotte, so I might try it out next week.

I wish I had another option. My house is actually eligible for AT&T U-Verse, supposedly up to 12mbps, but they can't even make my current 3Mb stand alone DSL work. My supposed 3Mb connection has been 1Mb or less for a couple of months, and they still insist it is inside wiring. Nevermind the fact that I have run new lines and tested them. For the same price I am paying for this lovely service, I can get 12Mb service from Comcast. There are other DSL resellers, but they all require an active phone line for their service. AT&T is the only one around offering bare DSL.