My Comcast contract was up as of this month, and my bill spiked up from $104 / month to $135 / month. I had HD cable and 105 mbps internet. I did some investigating, and found that I was never using the full bandwidth of 105 - literally ever (found this by looking at logs / graphs in my router). I found that 25 mbps would actually do me and my family of five perfectly well.
I then looked at cable alternatives. All my family and I ever really watch are Travel Channel, Food Network, and some shows on AMC. I looked at Sling, Vue, Hulu Live, and Youtube Live TV, and found that Sling's Blue package at $25 / month would do me just fine, providing all three of those channels and then some, while allowing streaming on 3 devices at once.
Then, it was time to look at cable options. I went to AllConnect.com and did a search for internet providers in my area. I found 2 - Comcast, which I already had, and WindStream, which I don't want. I also found that Comcast had a promo price of $29.99 / month for 55mbps internet. Armed with this information, I called Comcast.
I first spoke to a sales person, simply stating that, after 9+ years of service from Comcast, I was ready to move providers. I told him I never use half of the things in my package, and I need to downsize. He said they had 25 mbps internet that he knew of, but he would have to get me over to their "loyalty department" to get me taken care of. Here's how that conversation went:
Me: I don't want the cable anymore, and I want to lower my internet speeds. What can you do to help me?
Her: Unfortunately the double play bundle is all we offer (TV + Internet) in your area, and since you aren't a new customer there isn't anything I can do with the price.
Me: But the other guy told me you have 25 mbps internet. Is that not in my area?
Her: No, we haven't offered that in a long time. We-
Me: Then you might want to tell the last guy that. The only reason this call is still happening and I haven't switched carriers is because of that info.
Her: We will, blah blah blah, we have the highest customer service rating, blah blah blah
Me: Then what is the lowest internet package you have?
Her: 55 mbps
Me: I want that, and I want to cut the cable.
Her: Unfortunately etc etc etc
Me: I'm seeing online that you have just the internet package in my area, so you must be mistaken.
Agent "Let me check" type type type Oh yes, it seems that we do. It's $59.99 / month with a two year contract.
Me: No, the website says you have it for $29.99 / month under a ONE year contract.
Her: Unfortunately not blah blah blah
Me: Well if Comcast is willing to lose a ten year customer over $30 / month then I suppose that's their decision.
Her: Let me check type type type Oh yes, we do but only for new customers.
Me: I'm about to be a "new customer" once I cancel my service by the end of this call, so maybe it will apply to me then. So let's go ahead and cancel it.
Her: One moment type type type Oh yes, it looks like the system will allow me to do it.
Me: WELL WHAT ARE THE ODDS
Long story short, my Comcast bill after taxes / fees is now $41 / month, and my Sling,m which has better HD at 1080p than Comcast's 720p HD offering, is $25 / month + $5 / month with cloud DVR. Totals out to $71 / month, as opposed to $135 / month, saving me about $64 every month on my bills. Comcast knows how to try and swindle their customers, using scripts to "blame mistakes on the system". They literally have to search your packages 3, 4, 5 times before it will let them get to the better deals. You just have to be firm, be forceful, remain respectful, but remember that YOU are in charge of where your money goes.
July 24, 2017 at 10:17AM
