Is Comcast being fundementally dishonest in their ads?

[VirtualLarry]

They list their offers on the web site, often as things like "$29.99 for the first six months". But NO WHERE can you click on the offer to find out what the rate is for the remainder of the contract, and therefore get a picture of the actual overall costs for the length of the contract.

At least with Verizon FIOS, sure they show the promo rate for the first 6 months in big letters, but they ALSO clearly list the rate for the remaining months of the contract, allowing you to make a rational, conscious decision.

Full disclosure: I'm a happy FIOS customer, and Verizon has always done right by me in the billing dept. I have friends who have taken advantage of Comcast's promo special offers, and gotten burned.

Why isn't the FTC getting involved, for deceptive trade practices?

 

[imagoon]

If you ask, they will give it to you. Lack of information in an advertisement isn't dishonest as long as they do disclose it to you. It is likely in the 250 pages of size 4 font text that most people just scroll through and click "I agree."

 

[13Gigatons]

Comcast promo's are a complete lie. They can cost more than double and often don't include the modem rental and installation cost.

 

[imagoon]

I laugh every time I hear those Comcast "Are you tired of satellite bills that double after 12 months?" ads. This coming from the same company that was doing triple play for $99 the first 6-12 months then typically jumped to around $229 or more after.

 

[tracerbullet]

Any examples? I just poked around and "learn more" then "details and restrictions" popped up post intro info.

Either way though, agreed, it's misleading.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Any examples? I just poked around and "learn more" then "details and restrictions" popped up post intro info.

Either way though, agreed, it's misleading.

Still doesn't tell you what the rate is.

Offer ends 4/14/13, and is limited to new residential customers. Not all services and features available in all areas. Limited to Blast!® Internet service to a single outlet. After first 6 months, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular charges apply. Comcast’s current monthly service charge for Blast!® ranges from $58.95 to $72.95, and may vary depending on your area and other Comcast services subscribed to, if any. Equipment, installation and taxes extra. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Not all features, including Constant Guard™ Protection Suite, are available with Macintosh systems. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service charge and standard installation up to $500. Call for restrictions and complete details. © 2013 Comcast. All rights reserved. CONSTANT GUARD™ and associated logos are trademarks or federally registered trademarks of Comcast Corporation. Norton is a trademark of Symantec Corporation

 

[Cabletek]

They list their offers on the web site, often as things like "$29.99 for the first six months". But NO WHERE can you click on the offer to find out what the rate is for the remainder of the contract, and therefore get a picture of the actual overall costs for the length of the contract.

At least with Verizon FIOS, sure they show the promo rate for the first 6 months in big letters, but they ALSO clearly list the rate for the remaining months of the contract, allowing you to make a rational, conscious decision.

Full disclosure: I'm a happy FIOS customer, and Verizon has always done right by me in the billing dept. I have friends who have taken advantage of Comcast's promo special offers, and gotten burned.

Why isn't the FTC getting involved, for deceptive trade practices?

Because you're not filing a complaint with them?

https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

 

[merlion]

This is the first honest cable company -

http://youtu.be/0ilMx7k7mso

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is the first honest cable company -

http://youtu.be/0ilMx7k7mso

Damn, I just saw that and came here to post it. Great vid!

 

[ch33zw1z]

yes, they are dishonest. Welcome to big business, where it pays to not be honest. Now how do you tell your kids not to lie, when lying pays off in corporate america.

 

[Super56K]

In 2010-2011 me and Comcast got along swimmingly. I got competitive deals, even once from them reaching out to me (after completing a quality of service survey) to offer a 6-month deal on internet service that doubled my speeds and cut my bill in half.

In 2012 they decided they were being too generous and treated me so poorly that I was on the phone with support a couple times every few months trying to get my bill straightened out, and through all the phone calls my bill consistently crept higher (From a $35 a month low to a ~$73 a month high on the same speed tier). Conveniently these things started happening when I bought my own modem after they raised the rental cost to like $7 a month. I finally got things stabilized by reducing my speed to 6/1 at an internet only, no promo rate at $51 a month.

Since then I've been consistently denied any promos I attempt to take advantage of. The most egregious one was being denied an offer from a flyer I'd received in the mail because they said it wasn't applicable in my area. It's been bugging the hell out of me lately because it's like they're trying to push me away from them by screwing me around on my service. I would have moved on last year were it possible, but Comcast is the only real option for internet around here, unless I want to get ripped off worse by Century Link with slower speeds and higher prices.

So yeah, these days I just roll my eyes when I get a flyer in the mail or see a super-duper offer pop up while paying my Comcast bill online. I got tired of wasting my free time arguing with CS reps and having nothing to show for it.

 

[Cabletek]

While I get the sentiment I work for Comcast and I hear the same problems out of dish, DirectTV, and century link subs. It is just the way all big businesses run. If you want to stick it to them you need to use NONE of them or complain about every little wrong thing they do one way or the other will dip into the quarterly report earnings statements fines or lack of income either will draw attention. When the money dips in the reports the investors will complain, and that's who they listen to in the end. Not the employees, not the customers, but the investors who can turn around and cost them millions in a single transaction. As long as you feel you have to just use the lesser of multiple evils, you will spread yourself out evenly among them from who's experience was the worst, and they will continue.

The OP asked why the FTC is not doing something, it is becasue no one told them, They do not sit around and watch TV commercials all day then verify the legitimacy as there are way too many to do that. They rely on consumers who PAY taxes for them to exist to say hey this one needs investigation. If you do not do that, then they do nothing. Your own state may have a division for this as well if you have some dislike of the FTC. I used to work for one, at no time was I ever told go survey these people and see if they are doing bad things but when people called in, I was told handle this please.

If the majority of people sit there and pay, and do nothing, it will never change. If even 25% of the users file or leave, it will get noticed. Its realyl that simple.

 

[kornphlake]

I used to be a comcast customer and called a few times to get the promotional rates they mailed to my address in my name and was told that the rates were only for new customers. I asked why I was being sent mail offering promotions I was not eligible to receive, they never had an answer to that question. I asked to be removed from the mailing lists multiple times but the mailings never stopped. A competitive service was made available in my area a few months ago and I switched my service provider, within a few weeks the junk mail stopped showing up in my mail box. In hindsight, I should have documented the requests to be removed from the mailing list and found a hungry lawyer to pursue legal action when the junk mail didn't stop.

 

[VirtualLarry]

In hindsight, I should have documented the requests to be removed from the mailing list and found a hungry lawyer to pursue legal action when the junk mail didn't stop.

If the statute for junk mail is anything like the statute for the Do Not Call List, then if they have a "business relationship" with you, you CANNOT refuse their calls or junk mail.

 

[dtgoodwin]

I used to be a comcast customer and called a few times to get the promotional rates they mailed to my address in my name and was told that the rates were only for new customers. I asked why I was being sent mail offering promotions I was not eligible to receive, they never had an answer to that question. I asked to be removed from the mailing lists multiple times but the mailings never stopped. A competitive service was made available in my area a few months ago and I switched my service provider, within a few weeks the junk mail stopped showing up in my mail box. In hindsight, I should have documented the requests to be removed from the mailing list and found a hungry lawyer to pursue legal action when the junk mail didn't stop.

Everytime I call Comcast with one of those offers and threaten to quit, they always reduce my rate to keep me. I had been at $128 for internet + a mid-level digital cable with no premium channels. They bumped that down to $70/month for 6 months and told me to call back in 6 months and they would renew it. I've been doing this for a couple years. Only paid higher amounts when I forgot. Customer retention is a big thing, you just have to be willing to take that risk to quit. You may not get exactly the same deal they offer new customers, but you can get pretty darn close.