As everyone knows, Comcast (and cable in general) is having some hard times. I suspect they're trying to cut some corners, in an illicit fashion, and subscribers are paying for it.
Background: I have bundled Internet and TV since @Home first became available back in, what...1999? When Tom Wheeler allowed cable companies to scramble Limited Basic channels (broadcast networks) four years ago, I purchased a rooftop antenna, but I continued bundling Limited Basic TV with my subscription so that I could watch Live broadcast TV on the computer via Comcast when weather drowned out my antenna reception (or when I was on the road, etc).
Earlier tonight, my OTA reception for NBC was null. So I signed into Comcast, but I was denied access to watch Sunday Night Football: it wasn't part of my subscription. Upon reviewing my account, I found that my account was Internet-only. No TV. Also, no reduction in price.
I called customer service, and was told someone in my household canceled TV in September. It took numerous denials and questions by me before the customer service person finally admitted there were no comments in their database about who canceled the bundling...no comments at all, in fact. And the service representative said she would re-instate my TV at our same price (but I would have to sync with a DTA ...different headache).
While assuring me everything would be taken care of, she offered to upgrade my Internet speeds for an additional cost: I can go from my current 25 Mbps to (up to) 200 Mbps.
This is where I realized I was being had. I still have the email from Comcast on March 3rd that informed me I was being given a free upgrade from FIFTY Mbps to 70 Mbps...a speed I confirmed after rebooting my modem. I also informed her that I purchased a DOCSIS 3.0 modem in January of 2015 after being informed of my free upgrade from 25 Mbps to 50, and had verified my speed increase back then as well...after all, I said, why would I ditch my DOCSIS 2.0 modem and pay for a new 3.0 modem if I had no intention of going faster than 25 Mbps?
She replied that the same call in September that "someone" in my household made to them also asked to reduce my Internet speeds. Of course, the 60% speed reduction also was not reflected in my bill. After hitting speed test websites, I verified Comcast had a hard limit of 25 Mbps on my account.
It seemed that every time I countered with denial or hard evidence, she had a new "you asked for it" story. Oh sure, would you please massively reduce my services, but don't save me a dime? Makes perfect fiscal sense, right?
Suspicion #1: because I don't use a DTA or descrambler (they know if you do), they assumed I never watched TV, so they continue charging me the bundled rate, but no longer have to pay their fees for carrying the networks. Ka-ching.
Suspicion #2: they assumed I wouldn't notice a 60% reduction in Internet speeds (in reality I did, but I thought it was just network congestion). Ka-ching.
So check your account. Run your speed tests, check your channels available, phone, whatever. I've seen what Comcast has done in the past, I have learned not to trust them. And if they tried to screw me, I'm probably not the only one.
Background: I have bundled Internet and TV since @Home first became available back in, what...1999? When Tom Wheeler allowed cable companies to scramble Limited Basic channels (broadcast networks) four years ago, I purchased a rooftop antenna, but I continued bundling Limited Basic TV with my subscription so that I could watch Live broadcast TV on the computer via Comcast when weather drowned out my antenna reception (or when I was on the road, etc).
Earlier tonight, my OTA reception for NBC was null. So I signed into Comcast, but I was denied access to watch Sunday Night Football: it wasn't part of my subscription. Upon reviewing my account, I found that my account was Internet-only. No TV. Also, no reduction in price.
I called customer service, and was told someone in my household canceled TV in September. It took numerous denials and questions by me before the customer service person finally admitted there were no comments in their database about who canceled the bundling...no comments at all, in fact. And the service representative said she would re-instate my TV at our same price (but I would have to sync with a DTA ...different headache).
While assuring me everything would be taken care of, she offered to upgrade my Internet speeds for an additional cost: I can go from my current 25 Mbps to (up to) 200 Mbps.
This is where I realized I was being had. I still have the email from Comcast on March 3rd that informed me I was being given a free upgrade from FIFTY Mbps to 70 Mbps...a speed I confirmed after rebooting my modem. I also informed her that I purchased a DOCSIS 3.0 modem in January of 2015 after being informed of my free upgrade from 25 Mbps to 50, and had verified my speed increase back then as well...after all, I said, why would I ditch my DOCSIS 2.0 modem and pay for a new 3.0 modem if I had no intention of going faster than 25 Mbps?
She replied that the same call in September that "someone" in my household made to them also asked to reduce my Internet speeds. Of course, the 60% speed reduction also was not reflected in my bill. After hitting speed test websites, I verified Comcast had a hard limit of 25 Mbps on my account.
It seemed that every time I countered with denial or hard evidence, she had a new "you asked for it" story. Oh sure, would you please massively reduce my services, but don't save me a dime? Makes perfect fiscal sense, right?
Suspicion #1: because I don't use a DTA or descrambler (they know if you do), they assumed I never watched TV, so they continue charging me the bundled rate, but no longer have to pay their fees for carrying the networks. Ka-ching.
Suspicion #2: they assumed I wouldn't notice a 60% reduction in Internet speeds (in reality I did, but I thought it was just network congestion). Ka-ching.
So check your account. Run your speed tests, check your channels available, phone, whatever. I've seen what Comcast has done in the past, I have learned not to trust them. And if they tried to screw me, I'm probably not the only one.