[Rant] Comcast really bites - Rants, Raves, and Praise (2024)

kixy1
@comcast.net

kixy1

Anon

2008-Dec-10 2:09 pm

After 2 calls assuring me that I or my parents won't need cable converter boxes I see the "Top local news story" on TV last night... Yep, you guessed it. If we have Comcast it seems we really DO need a box.

Now this REALLY pissed me off because I sent in for those government coupons, but because Comcast TOLD me I didn't need them, I gave one away and let the other expire.

This morning I call Comcast to find out how to get the boxes. Once again, I'm told I don't need a box. WTF?! I ask to speak to a supervisor.... after 40 minutes here's what I was finally told.

1) all tv's that do not have a built in digital tuner AND/OR a Comcast digital cable box will need a converter box.

I've had cable for years, but I've never had any kind of box. I run it directly from the wall to the tv. I TOLD them this the first 2 times I called! I would think if I had one of their boxes they would see it on my account?!

Well, now I'm looking at 3 boxes for my tv's.. "Oh, don't worry mam, Comcast will give you 2 for free! So you'll only need to rent one." I'd sooner stick a hot poker in my eye than pay this company ONE MORE CENT! I'm downsizing to 2 tv's...

But wait, honored customer! You can go to any Comcast store and pick up a digital tuner box for free! That will cover one tv and then you can still get the other 2 "free" boxes! Wow, Comcast, you're GREAT!

I'm afraid to ask, but WHY are you giving me this box for "free"? Because, YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN PAYING FOR IT! that's right, "we charge everyone for it. It comes with the service". But I didn't ask for it. It wasn't offered to me when I signed up or on ANY of the occasions that your service reps had to come out and re-dig and re-wire the faulty original installation... Why!? "Uh, you have to order it". But if it "comes with the service and I pay for it" WHY didn't you just give it to me, why would I need to order it?! "because we need an order request before issuing any equipment to customers." I'm so exhausted at this point all I can do is sit there, the life sucked out of me...

After a prolonged silence the customer service rep offers up a free year of DVR service, "for the confusion". Whatever. I go down and get the box, come home and hook it up. Ok, I'll admit the pausing live tv and the ability to record is kinda cool. I'll keep it until it cost me....But wait a minute here...?! Where are all my channels?

I'm missing about a quarter of the channels I used to get! I won't go into detail of how I tried reprogramming and tuning the tv and the digital box, etc... Just say I spent WAY too much time before I broke down and called Comcast. Again.

"We're sorry mam, the channels you receive without the box can't be viewed with the box."

Please G-d, bring another, ANY other cable provider to my neighborhood...

bigddybn to kixy1

Member

2008-Dec-10 3:23 pm

Um.... the digital tv transition has nothing to do with cable companies at all. Whatever channels you needed a digital cable box before will be the same channels you still need a box for now. The transition only affects over the air transmissions of high power broadcast stations. It has nothing at all to do with your cable service. You are confusing an ASTC over the air tuner (digital converter box) with a digital cable box. The government coupons are for the first, your cable service uses the second.

Honestly it sounds like you might be the one confused here and are simply looking for a place to make some noise.

Robert

Premium Member

2008-Dec-10 4:30 pm

Actually, Comcast isn't dumping all of their analog channels. Customers who do not get the box will be limited to approximately 25 channels until 2010, then Comcast will remove all analog channels.

If it was up to me, I'd remove them all on Feb. 2009.

Kearnstd to kixy1

Premium Member

2008-Dec-12 5:22 pm