Comcast 105 plan?!?! $249 install fee?

[alkemyst]

First I am a Network Engineer, even our CCIE's don't get $249 billable for a simple 1 hour install.

That said I ran into this: http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Billin...llation-fee-of-249-for-no-reason/td-p/1728987

I have wireless and lot's of extras. The drone on the phone told me with wireless, wireless cameras and a security system I may be looking at other fees.

WTF?!?

I just need them to deliver a modem, put it in bridge mode and leave.

Anyone know a work around?

 

[Enigma102083]

I work for an ISP, if you factor in all the overhead (truck, tools, maintenance, wages, etc) it costs us just a hair over $700 just to roll the truck. Their overhead may be even higher than ours is, so they'll schedule at least 3 installs for that tech to break even. Probably closer to 5, which would give him drive time and an hour lunch. Which of course means if any particular install takes longer than an hour, the tech's entire schedule the rest of the day is completely jacked up. This is why utility companies always give you a time range that spans several hours.

 

[2timer]

The truck and tool maintenance fees at your company cost $450 above $250 just to roll?

Wow, I hate to say it but it sounds like you guys need to renegotiate some of those maintenance contracts, someone's getting alot of bacon somewhere.

 

[alkemyst]

The truck and tool maintenance fees at your company cost $450 above $250 just to roll?

Wow, I hate to say it but it sounds like you guys need to renegotiate some of those maintenance contracts, someone's getting alot of bacon somewhere.

he has to be in the call-center.

No one is rolling at $700 for one hour in a edit: typical (before some idiots talk billionaires) residential install.

 

[ch33zw1z]

With Comcast 100mb service, can you buy your own modem? that's the only workaround I can think of at the moment.

 

[ch33zw1z]

The truck and tool maintenance fees at your company cost $450 above $250 just to roll?

Wow, I hate to say it but it sounds like you guys need to renegotiate some of those maintenance contracts, someone's getting alot of bacon somewhere.

I would imagine he's not saying it's $700 per hour or per call. It's more like $700 per day to run the van.

Factor in tech wages, all the tools, vehicle maintenance, fuel, etc....

He saying they will try to schedule money making activities as much as possible to make that money back.

In large corporations like Comcast, divisions have their own buckets of money. Service is always seen as costing money, not making money. which is why billable activities like installs are always welcome by the service divisions.

 

[alkemyst]

I would imagine he's not saying it's $700 per hour or per call. It's more like $700 per day to run the van.

Factor in tech wages, all the tools, vehicle maintenance, fuel, etc....

He saying they will try to schedule money making activities as much as possible to make that money back.

In large corporations like Comcast, divisions have their own buckets of money. Service is always seen as costing money, not making money. which is why billable activities like installs are always welcome by the service divisions.

I work for one of the top Cisco Partners in the nation. They can't bill my hour at $249...they can't bill a senior CCIE at that really.

The laugh is the same tech that rolled out free for cable hookup will be the same one at $249 to just drop a modem in place or config the one already there.

 

[indy2878]

@OP

My guess is comcast is billing you $49.00 for the installation fees
and $200.00 for your next bill for your triple play service
incl./ extreme 105 service....

Question? is the security system from Comcast Xfinity?
Or is it your own hardware you purchased?

 

[ch33zw1z]

I work for one of the top Cisco Partners in the nation. They can't bill my hour at $249...they can't bill a senior CCIE at that really.

The laugh is the same tech that rolled out free for cable hookup will be the same one at $249 to just drop a modem in place or config the one already there.

I work for a large corp. Our billable services start at $200. I've performed billable services at over $300/hr. Of course, I get only a fraction of that amount...

I find it hard to believe a CCIE can't bill at that rate.

edit: So can you buy your own modem on that Comcast plan? Why have the tech come out at all, get your own modem, call it in to get it provisioned.

 

[alkemyst]

I work for a large corp. Our billable services start at $200. I've performed billable services at over $300/hr. Of course, I get only a fraction of that amount...

I find it hard to believe a CCIE can't bill at that rate.

What company and what market? I work in S. Florida. Most of our projects are 6 figures in services. 7 when you add the equipment in.

 

[alkemyst]

@OP

My guess is comcast is billing you $49.00 for the installation fees
and $200.00 for your next bill for your triple play service
incl./ extreme 105 service....

Question? is the security system from Comcast Xfinity?
Or is it your own hardware you purchased?

I asked if that includes the first month bill.

They said it's just the install. Also they added my wireless and cameras may be an upcharge.

I told them, their modem has no affect or impact from them.

 

[ch33zw1z]

What company and what market? I work in S. Florida. Most of our projects are 6 figures in services. 7 when you add the equipment in.

Server market.

I'm typically not involved in the figures. wide range of server equipment. different equipment gets different rates.

 

[alkemyst]

Server market.

I'm typically not involved in the figures. wide range of server equipment. different equipment gets different rates.

Market as in region.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Market as in region.

I'm in New England. I would assume prices don't change per region, however.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm in New England. I would assume prices don't change per region, however.

Then you really have no clue. The NE market has a very high billable rate compared to S. Florida. We have offices all over the country, the standard hour is very different.

 

[Pulsar]

Market rates for Zoller, Hommel, ABB, Kuka, Zeiss, Mecco, and other manufacturing techs START at $150 an hour and go up depending on day and time.

Perhaps you're just really really underpaid. :sneaky:

Of course, those techs make no where near that.

Obviously, his story about Comcast is obscene, and I'd consider taking them to small claims over it.

 

[indy2878]

edit: So can you buy your own modem on that Comcast plan? Why have the tech come out at all, get your own modem, call it in to get it provisioned.

This... (just make sure its a comcast approved model)


Or you can have Comcast ship to you a rental modem for your
extreme 105 plan if you don't mind waiting till maybe Monday or tues to receive the rental and pay a modem rental monthly service fee.
(this is what I'm currently doing...)

Surely beats than having that $249.00 bill....

 

[cmetz]

>WTF?!?

In my opinion, it appears that the install cost is intentionally engineered to discourage actual uptake. So they can claim to support the tier for competitive comparison reasons, but they don't want customers to buy it, because the customers who will are the customers who will use it, and there's probably not enough network capacity behind it all to support the service at scale.

>Anyone know a work around?

Don't buy this tier from Comcast. Look at what the poster in the thread you linked to did. It's clear what the incentives are here.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Then you really have no clue. The NE market has a very high billable rate compared to S. Florida. We have offices all over the country, the standard hour is very different.

I doubt very much that my employer changes billable rates by region. You're not just paying for onsite services, you're paying for the support structure behind us. That support structure doesn't change by region either.

 

[alkemyst]

Market rates for Zoller, Hommel, ABB, Kuka, Zeiss, Mecco, and other manufacturing techs START at $150 an hour and go up depending on day and time.

Perhaps you're just really really underpaid. :sneaky:

Of course, those techs make no where near that.

Obviously, his story about Comcast is obscene, and I'd consider taking them to small claims over it.

I am referring to rates to do a simple device deployment, rates are higher for design, security, UC, data center, etc.

To show up to drop a switch/router in place and be gone in one hour much less.

We tend to make closer to our bill rates as well.

 

[alkemyst]

I doubt very much that my employer changes billable rates by region. You're not just paying for onsite services, you're paying for the support structure behind us. That support structure doesn't change by region either.

Call center/help desk is different.

Almost every salary survey will easily explain there can be huge differences between regions.

 

[alkemyst]

This... (just make sure its a comcast approved model)


Or you can have Comcast ship to you a rental modem for your
extreme 105 plan if you don't mind waiting till maybe Monday or tues to receive the rental and pay a modem rental monthly service fee.
(this is what I'm currently doing...)

Surely beats than having that $249.00 bill....

Comcast doing this is rare, in fact most probably don't even need a modem change.

On the Comcast support forums no one has really been able to dodge the fee and all the tech has done was verify the modem was DOCSIS 3 and call tech to OTA provision.

The install is no different than the other services Comcast offers.

 

[Cabletek]

First I am a Network Engineer, even our CCIE's don't get $249 billable for a simple 1 hour install.

That said I ran into this: http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Billin...llation-fee-of-249-for-no-reason/td-p/1728987

I have wireless and lot's of extras. The drone on the phone told me with wireless, wireless cameras and a security system I may be looking at other fees.

WTF?!?

I just need them to deliver a modem, put it in bridge mode and leave.

Anyone know a work around?

Subscribe to 50 MB and do self install. Then inquire about upgrading the speed after its in an running maybe they will just put the codes on and shove you out the door.

Do not use the gateways the wireless sucks anyway, go get your own ROUTER and get a GOOD ONE. Then either buy your own modem and save the $7/month rental [just make sure its D3] or rend a stanadrd MODEM, if you are doing phone too then you are a little more stuck with renting.

They figure if you can afford the ridiculous high monthly fee for 105, you can afford the install then too.

Either way they are going to reinstate caps so you're just going to reach them faster...

 

[ch33zw1z]

Call center/help desk is different.

Almost every salary survey will easily explain there can be huge differences between regions.

You're not understanding what I'm saying. Support structure includes onsite techinicians, remote support centers, parts systems.

Who said anything about salary surveys? I guarantee my employer will charge the same rate other places in the country, assume those field techs make less, and keep the extra few bucks/hour they would've paid me instead.

Anyways....

Can you buy your own modem or what...

 

[Mushkins]

This thread doesn't really make any sense at all to me. Why are you even telling Comcast about your wireless or your security cameras? How would that even come up as part of scheduling a service installation?

Buy a Surfboard 6141, plug it into your wall, and open internet explorer. The activation process will automatically pop up because it's an unregistered MAC. It's completely automated, you put in your name, address, and Comcast account number, click the little box to activate your new modem and click the little box to deactivate the old one. Drop the old one off at any Comcast office within 30 days so you don't get charged for it. If you're a network engineer i'm pretty sure you can handle the process of activating the modem.

You never need to talk to a Comcast rep or anything outside of returning the modem. When you call to upgrade to the 105 plan you just tell them you have your own top of the line Docsis 3.0 modem and do not rent one from them. They go "oh, ok, then you dont need an installation." They up your bill and flip the switch for the service. The end.

The *only* time I could see that $250 install fee is if they *had* to do an installation that required running a new line to your house because there wasn't one where you wanted it (or at all), because that's a PITA and does cost a lot of time/money for a tech to do.

Seriously, just politely tell the rep you're in IT and know what's up. That's usually one of the first things I mention when I have to talk to them and they're usually pretty thankful they can skip most of the scripted BS and we can hash out the call in 5 minutes instead of a long and painful hour of troubleshooting. Always very friendly and helpful.