SCORCHING -- Comcast Internet 8mbit / 768kbit $29.99 for 6 months!!!

[walkure]

I signed up for Comcast high speed internet last July via Best Buy, $19.99/month for 6 months, also free cable modem and install kit (after rebate), also free $75 BB gift card, and free $20 gift card for some online digital photo prints (which I haven't even used yet).

My bill just came today, and I guess my 6 months are up, since it shows $42.95 for internet for my next billing period (01/16/2006 - 02/15/2006). I had been waiting for this to happen so I could attempt to take advantage of the free upgrade to 8mbit/768kbit for $42.95 for 3 months, as discussed at length in this Hot Deals thread.

So I clicked on the link in the first page of the thread, selected the free service upgrade, then filled out my account information. Within minutes I was connected to a live chat representative to fill my order. Apparently she couldn't find the offer that I signed up for:

Rep: "How long did it state your promotional period would last?"

Me: "6 months I believe." <--- total fib on my part, I figured she'd just say "No, actually it's 3 months." But...

She soon made the following shocking statement:

Rep: "Unfortunately I have no access to the 42.95 speed teir offer for 6months,
but what I can and certainly will do is give you what I do have to offer which is
an even better deal for your speed tier 8meg service at $29.99 for 6months."

Say what?!?! Sign me up!!!! Later in the chat:

Me: "The email just showed up. So I have been upgraded to 8mbps (down) / 768kbps (up) for 6 months for $29.99?"

Rep: "That is correct."

Are you kidding me???? Apparently not! Everyone must try this! I dunno the best way to go about it, but perhaps start by clicking the original 3 month offer for $42.95, and see if you can convince the representative to give you the deal I got!!!

I did not even have to power cycle my modem or restart my computer. She said it might take 2 hours for the speeds to show up, but actually it was instantly! My bit torrent upload speed doubled from ~43-44KB/s to ~86-88KB/s!!!!! I haven't tested DL speeds yet, I was more interested in the 2x upload speed!!

Following are links to JPEGs of my chat window with the representative:

Window 1

Window 2

Window 3

Window 4

Following is most of the text (transcribed):


Rep: Thank you for contacting Comcast, my name is Valene. I will be more than
happy to assist you today. One moment please while I look over your order.
Thank you.

Me: Hi Valene. I'm trying to upgrade my service to 8mbit/768kbit via the offer on
comcast.com

Rep: Certainly. I have verified account security (...). I am currently working
on your request.

Me: Thank you.

Rep: How long did it state your promotional period would last?

Me: 6 months I believe.

Rep: Unfortunately I have no access to the 42.95 speed teir offer for 6months,
but what I can and certainly will do is give you what I do have to offer which is
an even better deal for your speed tier 8meg service at $29.99 for 6months.

Me: OK. Also note that my modem is acting up right now.

Rep: I just actually sent the signal to your modem.

Me: And I would appreciate if I could be emailed the details of the offer that
you have suggested.

Rep: It can take up to 2 hours for the upgrade to take effect on your end. And
I will be more than happy to send you an email confirmation.

Me: Thank you very much Valene! I was not aware of the other offer, but it seems
very pleasing.

Rep: Certainly, not all departments have access to all promos.

Me: The email just showed up. So I have been upgraded to 8mbps (down) / 768kbps
(up) for 6 months for $29.99?

Rep: That is correct.

Me: Thank you very much! Comcast continues to please me with its great internet
services and fantastic live chat analysts, especially at this late hour!

Me: You will be recommended to all my friends!

Rep: Why thank you very much, glad we could be of assistance.

=======================================

Good luck everyone, I hope someone else can get this!!! Perhaps you will have good luck with the chat representatives who work the overnight shift -- they might all be crazy like this one!!!!

Also I will try to find out if there is a name for this plan so that you could ask for it by name...

 

[djnsmith7]

I'm trying it right now in chat & we'll see what happens...I'm in the same boat you are in terms of pricing...

UPDATE: This was a no-go for me. Bastards wouldn't give me anything. They said this deal only applies to new customers. Sometimes Comcast really pisses me off!

 

[hifi]

huge YMMV but very hot, plz post what you got, wonder if i should hassle over this, my luck usually is bad

 

[gravix]

Comcast in our area is not worth the trouble; doesn't work often enough to actually pay money for it.

 

[oppie1]

too bad us comcast employees get modem for free already

but for ppl that do have to pay, thats a great deal

 

[RideFree]

In Nov./Dec., I had been having trouble w/Concast not getting me anywhere close to their "gold" level although I had been paying the $10 extra for about 6 months. Additionally, my modem kept needing the re'boot' as much as several times a day.

In frustration, I finally said to disconnect and their "retention" rep managed to get me to stay as she got on somebody's case, cured the modem woes and put me on the $29.95 plan for the next 6 months.
When they're on, Comcast is very hard to beat. I have never had better service (ISDN, DSL, Cable, etc.) than I do now.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: on this deal!

 

[dabuddha]

Where do you see the CSR chat?

 

[walkure]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
Where do you see the CSR chat?

On the site? It comes up in a new window after you complete the sign-up for the service upgrade.

In my post? I ALT + Print Screen'ed the window and posted images on Imageshack -- they are linked up there

 

[LordSnailz]

hrmm, I can't get the csr chat window up either.

 

[Lark888]

I went through the order process and the Chat window automatically started after I pressed the "ORDER" button.

 

[walkure]

Originally posted by: Lark888
I went through the order process and the Chat window automatically started after I pressed the "ORDER" button.

Any luck?? At the very least you should be able to get in for the 3 months of 8mbit / 768kbit service for $42.95 (regularly $52.95). Everyone should try for that at least!!!

Now may be a good time to try -- late night, the CSR's probably don't care! I dunno if it would be possible, but you might ask to chat with CSR #43634, that is who did this for me! Just claim that you chatted with her before and got disconnected. Not sure if that'll help, but worth a shot if they deny you.

I'm currently seeding BitTorrents at 2x the speed -- I love my new upload cap!!

 

[feelingshorter]

I wish verizon was in my area..they get 100kilobit upload dont they? Its also cheaper than comcast i believe.

 

[NeezyDeezy]

comcast quoted me 50 some dollars a month, not hot

 

[Heretik]

Originally posted by: walkure
Any luck?? At the very least you should be able to get in for the 3 months of 8mbit / 768kbit service for $42.95 (regularly $52.95). Everyone should try for that at least!!!

I called last night and was able to get that deal (3 mos for $42.95) so it was better than nothing

 

[darksine2003]

Yeah the 29.99 plan has 100 KB upload for Verizon DSL. Actually it comes out to about 34.xx after taxes.

 

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: darksine2003
Yeah the 29.99 plan has 100 KB upload for Verizon DSL. Actually it comes out to about 34.xx after taxes.

yea but thats still cheaper than the comcast because the 29.99 comcast deal only lasts for 6 months? After that your going to be paying 52+ dollars a month. Verizon also has this optical internet service comming out i believe. Its probably still DSL but they use optical lines for their service stations. Some DSL service lags with pings up to 80+ whereas comcast will usualy give you really good pings at 10-20 if your playing games on servers close to you. So once verizon's optical network comes online....yea....but not in my area

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: feelingshorter
Verizon also has this optical internet service comming out i believe. Its probably still DSL but they use optical lines for their service stations. Some DSL service lags with pings up to 80+ whereas comcast will usualy give you really good pings at 10-20 if your playing games on servers close to you. So once verizon's optical network comes online....yea....but not in my area

Its been out for a year or two now. Its called verizon FIOS, and its fiber optic, not DSL. Its 15mbit/2mbit service for a mere $50 a month (or 30/5 for $200). Its incredibly super hot, IF you live in an area where you can get it.
http://www22.verizon.com/FiosForHome/channels/Fios/HighSpeedInternetForHome.asp

Interesting, I just found out that they have a new plan, 5/2 mbit (can you say server package?) for only $35 a month.

 

[themusgrat]

The 5/2 is what everyone should have. Too bad Memphis is probably not high on their list.

 

[MikePeters]

thats incredible, the fact that she out trumped your fib and cut the price down by more then 1/4 makes it sweet as honey

 

[Lucky]

Gah. I'm only paying $19/month for my comcast but the speeds are only roughly 512/80. Wish I could get faster speeds here.

 

[FOB]

for some reason, i've been paying $30 for basic cable and 6 megabit internet for almost a year now. Hopefully it will stay that way.

 

[gibster]

WOW! Did the upgrade request, already paying $42.95, so I had nothing to lose but to get 3 months extra speed. As I placed the order, the CSR did it while on chat, my modem reset the speed right away, and now it is 8.8Mbps/768kbps. That was a fast upgrade. I will probably go back to my old speed after 3 months, unless I get addicted. Thanks OP, not $30, but at least a temp upgrade.

 

[Savarak]

i think i've been getting 8.8Mbps+ downloads with 384kpbs uploads, according to many speedtests... 800 to 900 kbps actual download rates, around 45kpbs actual upload rates... I have the 49.99 special for 6 months with comcast digital cable with hbo and encore, and HSI... I don't remember what speed i'm supposed to be rated for though..

 

[XBoxLPU]

Charter freaking blows

 

[emperorCroc]

It would not work for me, I am an "internet only" customer, so they could only upgrade me to 6mbps/384kbps for an additional $20 a month. Not worth it for only 2mbps extra IMO.

Oh well, thanks anyway!!