Demanding Comcast lower their prices?

[Francisco]

I'm considering trying this - but was wondering if anyone has had any luck with it.

Basically, I signed up for Comcast a few years back, got a $99/mo special for phone/internet/cable... once that expired it went up to like $124/mo...

Recently, they upped the price to around $135/mo.

Meanwhile, I get mail for "resident" from Comcast offering me $89/mo and $99/mo promotional packages for the same service. I tried taking the offer before - and they said "no, it's only for new customers".

Also meanwhile, I get tons... TONS of mail from FiOS, offering service (which I hear is superior) for $99/mo for a year.

I'm thinking of calling up Comcast and basically telling them "charge me $99/mo, or I walk"...

I'm actually a little hesitant to cancel Comcast either way, for the following reasons:

- I never liked Verizon as a company, and don't fully trust them.
- I'm not sure my landlord will allow FiOS into the house (I'm told the equipment is large, and the process is extensive)
- I'm not sure the cost of FiOS once the offer runs out.
- My schedule makes it hard to coordinate anything like a major service install.

Has anyone had success with this, or does Comcast basically tell you to screw if you demand a lower rate?

[Zetanio]

I think you'll have mixed success. The companies only offer those teaser rates to new customers.

[solanis]

can't hurt.

[Guyverarmor]

Honestly, I am a supe at TWC ( I know not comcast, but the same policy is followed ). If you are eligible for it, probably will get it. Me personally, if a person just threatens to cut service, I tell em to GTFO and have fun. Don't call me and try to bluff, because I will call it. If you call and have manners, and are human over the phone, I will do what I can.

[Lucavi]

Call a few times, insist on a new person to speak to every time, and you'll eventually have luck. Make sure you're firm and threaten to hang up (and follow up on it at least once) and you'll typically get a call back.

[Ksandra]

Honestly, I am a supe at TWC ( I know not comcast, but the same policy is followed ). If you are eligible for it, probably will get it. Me personally, if a person just threatens to cut service, I tell em to GTFO and have fun. Don't call me and try to bluff, because I will call it. If you call and have manners, and are human over the phone, I will do what I can.

I would say definitely you'd have more luck this way than demanding. Try to act like you can't afford the raised prices and be the nicest guy on the planet about it. I supposed you could say something like "I really want to stay with comcast but at these prices I'll have to switch just because I can't afford this" or some bullcrap if you really want to. But being sweet nonetheless will get you way farther than demanding. Customer service people (who you'd be talking to) have to deal with bullshit all day, you'd stand out more being nice than being a dick.

[Ddz]

I called Comcast to say I had to cut my budget, and that I couldn't afford their rates. They gave me another year at the 1/2 price rate instead of cutting off my service. Better than nothing. Will revisit my budget in 6 months. They kept a customer and were great about it. I didn't threaten at all.

[Anakron]

Don't threaten to leave, just pleasantly call to cancel as if you already made up your mind. When they ask why, tell them it's because of pricing, and they'll offer you some discounts to keep you.

[Melena]

Good timing on this topic as it's almost time for my 1 year plan with comcast to expire. HD TV/Internet/Phone for 185 is killing me. Hopefully can con them into lowering it.

[Mikus]

Same thing happened to my mother. She politely asked if they could just make a package as she only wanted tv/phone and told them if not, she just can't afford it. They did and put it on a 6 month plan.

As far as FIOS, I had it for 6 months about 2 years ago or so. The service was superior to comcast. Customer service, not so much. IJ specified I did not want a contract, which they said they didn't do. I found out during instal they wrote me up for a 2 year agreement. When they came to instal the service they asked where I wanted the modem installed. I directed them to the bedroom. Besides the modem, they instal a gigantic box and iirc it's a battery backup. I was super pissed and told them to remove it. I was staying short term with my parents when I moved from Mi. to Fl. and they were heated as well seeing the box drilled into the wall. I got out of the contract when I moved into an apartment and I told them my landlord wouldn't allow it.

[Callisto]

You can basically just call and threaten to change to UVerse or whatever every 6 months and stand a chance at getting the rate re-upped. I absolutely despise haggling with people and think I have a pretty damn solid package for the price so I don't bother, but I know friends of mine have done it like clockwork with comcast for years.

[Franzer]

Most recently, about 6 months ago or so, I cancelled my TV subscription with them, as I hardly used it, but as far as internet goes in my city, there's really isn't anything better. Somehow, my bill changed and my internet skyrocketed to around $90. The first month I thought maybe i was paying some back fees for cancelling my cable, but the second month i was furious. I called and they said "somehow there must have been a mistake". Long story short, they cut my bill down to $40, which I thought was reasonable, and told me my service would be the same. Since I torrent quite a bit, I noticed that my speeds dropped from around 18mbps to around 9-10. I called back, and it just so happened "another mistake" occured, and my speeds were lowered. So just be careful when talking to comcast, and check everything after the fact.

[Militant]

Fios and don't look back. I sure as fuck haven't.

[Byrthnoth]

Comcast sucks dick, but they tend to be the only game in town when I move places. The last time I moved, they charged us for "renting a router" for three months before we called them up and pointed out that we sent the router back with the "installation technician" (the guy that plugs the coax from the wall into the cable box). Next month, we get a bill and see that they dropped our introductory offer (somehow changing the bill at all is too hard for them). Paid one bill like that so that we wouldn't lose service, then called them up and stayed on the line long enough that they credited our account for the router renting fees, the overpayment, an extra $10, and put the introductory offer back on for a full year.

I'd drop phone and TV service if I were you and you seriously need a bill reduction. Just watch that shit online and use a cellphone.

[Lazaruz]

You need to get a hold of the right person on the other end. Some will help you out and some won't.

i had a friend who was a sup at comcast now timewarner where im at. they gave me the promotional price for about 4 years + free hbo until they quit and moved on. if you can find somebody kool they may be able to hook you up.

[archibaldcrane]

um, get FiOS if it's available, fuck your landlord

what are you, retarded?

[Dimmauk]

Honestly, I am a supe at TWC ( I know not comcast, but the same policy is followed ). If you are eligible for it, probably will get it. Me personally, if a person just threatens to cut service, I tell em to GTFO and have fun. Don't call me and try to bluff, because I will call it. If you call and have manners, and are human over the phone, I will do what I can.

TWC customer here, just got my bundle down to $99 and cheaper boxes too. I mentioned how my coworkers have cheap satellite and I was thinking about changing. HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?!

[Tweek]

my wife used to work for Comcast. When you call ask for the "retention center" they will either give you a break or not depending on the history of your account, some accounts get flagged as "promo hoppers" and they won't hook these people up.. most people can get a new good deal though just by talking to this depatment

[Guyverarmor]

Damn it Dimmauk, I hate it when people do that shit

[Guyverarmor]

But seriously, call and do not be a dick about it. As I said with me on supe calls, if the customer is nice and just telling they cannot afford it due to pricing and do not yell, hey, I can slap a 6mo 20% off discount on there. Act like a retard and yell, I will say "If you want to disco services, I hate to see ya go, but I can process it for you right now."