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

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alkemyst said:
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.
Click to expand...

On that note, have you gotten your CCIE yet? My buddy is studying up for his, has has own lab setup in his basement. I read your brother's blog and it seems like it would be fun to do.
 
I had 105mb service, bought my own modem, and paid no install fee ... but that was like 2-3 years ago when they were 'beta' testing it in my area.

Tell them to do it free, you just need a hook up .. my guess is they may need to run some new lines? Mine had to get rerun because they were old and couldn't handle more then 4 channels for DOCSIS 3.0. I also provided my own DOCSIS 3 modem.
 
alkemyst said:
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.
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Actually I'm the senior consultant in the IT consulting division. I bill anywhere from $75/hr to $270/hr depending on what I'm doing for that client.
 
ch33zw1z said:
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.
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That's exactly what I said, I thought I made that pretty clear when mentioning the whole 8 hour day and needing at least 3-5 installs to break even.
 
Enigma102083 said:
Actually I'm the senior consultant in the IT consulting division. I bill anywhere from $75/hr to $270/hr depending on what I'm doing for that client.
Click to expand...

I was replying to cheezewiz. He doesn't even realize billable time changes with region for the same job.

My minimum bill rate is close to $200. Cheezewiz brought CCIEs in, they are always over $200 even in S. FL.

I am thinking he works in a call center of some sort.
 
Juddog said:
On that note, have you gotten your CCIE yet? My buddy is studying up for his, has has own lab setup in his basement. I read your brother's blog and it seems like it would be fun to do.
Click to expand...

I am no where near ready to do CCIE. I have too much family stuff going on.

Getting the CCIE is rarely fun.

After the fact, probably.
 
Mushkins said:
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.
Click to expand...

I need VoIP.

My modem is not just a SurfBoard. I had them in my past and never needed a roll out.

Comcast wants that $249. When they get there it's been said if they see cameras and the like you get additional charges.

I get what you are saying, but they aren't budging.

Do you have Comcast 105?
 
Cabletek said:
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...
Click to expand...

I have 50...

I have a C819 router now, had a E4200 prior.

I need something like an Arris to handle voice and IP traffic.
 
alkemyst said:
I was replying to cheezewiz. He doesn't even realize billable time changes with region for the same job.

My minimum bill rate is close to $200. Cheezewiz brought CCIEs in, they are always over $200 even in S. FL.

I am thinking he works in a call center of some sort.
Click to expand...

Re-read your own posts. I fully understand what you are saying about your employers billable charges changing with region. For whatever reason, you can't understand what I am saying about my employers billable charges not changing with region.

You brought CCIE's up...

I don't work in a call center. I'm in field support.

Way off topic here alky....

http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

That's a link to the list of supported modems. You'll find telephony modems on there to support VOIP.

What modem do you have now?

What they're hounding you about the cameras for is because you're probably coming off like an arrogant d-bag and they think you're running a business out of your home.
 
Last edited:
Order the performance internet package (25/5 speeds), they might not charge you for the install then.

Few weeks later, call in upgrade over the phone to 100mbps package.

Sounds like it might work?
 
I have blast, I get 30Mbps...I am using a Docsis 2.0 modem I found out (they said it was a Docsis 3.0 I had, but the model is Arris TM602G)
 
As far as I know there's no way to get around this fee. I have a friend that decided to get this service and paid this fee to have the tech come out. From what he stated the tech did a fair bit more than just installing the modem. Part of the reason that they have a tech come out is because Comcast guarantees that if you get this service that you'll get the 105 down and if not they'll refund the fee. It'd be nice if they let you install a DOCSIS 3 unit and just try your luck but for whatever reason they don't offer that option.

Just for reference op if you want to get a DOCSIS 3 equivalent you can purchase it off Amazon, you're looking for the Arris TM822G.
 
@OP. To be honest you should just get the 50down 10up service instead.
Its more affordable and I CAN vouch for you its pretty fast. I used to have
the 25/5 service and the 50/10 plugged into the ethernet port of the modem
I get great speeds. Yeah, just upgrade that Docsis 2.0 modem to a Docsis 3.0 modem and you'll be fine....
That's just a good option to think about...
 
Yea indy, I have the 50/10. Using a SB6120 that I got for $50 on the FS forum. I get a solid 6.5MB/s down and the full 10Mb/s up. It's very rare I don't get those speeds. It's very fast. We run everything over services like Netflix, Amazon, etc...
 
alkemyst said:
I was replying to cheezewiz. He doesn't even realize billable time changes with region for the same job.

My minimum bill rate is close to $200. Cheezewiz brought CCIEs in, they are always over $200 even in S. FL.

I am thinking he works in a call center of some sort.
Click to expand...

I've always found that CCIEs get billed at a lower rate than some other specialties. Generally speaking. The Avaya call center engineers I've worked under regularly billed at $300+, Cloud engineers were in the $250-$290 range, sometimes more. Virtualization guys have been getting $230-$270ish.
 
Enigma102083 said:
I've always found that CCIEs get billed at a lower rate than some other specialties. Generally speaking. The Avaya call center engineers I've worked under regularly billed at $300+, Cloud engineers were in the $250-$290 range, sometimes more. Virtualization guys have been getting $230-$270ish.
Click to expand...

If R&S there is a limit on can charge. It's like at your local general practioner, they may get $15 to put a Band-Aid on. In the ER, they get $300.

CCIEs doing security, UC, UA, DC, etc make much more.
 
I requested a DOCSIS 3.0 Arris and I went from 20-30M to 50-60M now.

The did send a gateway instead of just the basic voice modem I asked for (TM- vs TG-)

I had to call in to have them put it into bridge mode and deactivate the WiFi.

All advanced options are disabled with the COMCAST Firmware.
 
i didn't pay

i asked comcaststeve if could do it for me

he got someone to call me and I got comcast 105 with no installation fee
=)

of course he doesn't work there anymore =/
 
These regulated utilities are horrible. I dont trust anything that comes out of their mouths. And you have to be kidding me on the 249 to install a modem.
 
RadiclDreamer said:
No way! Why would they think something like that?
Click to expand...

Please don't turn this into an Alkemyst thread. Also networking is no place for name calling/derogatory statements.

They had no idea of my cameras at the time. However; I have heard more upselling for the 105M plan if things like that exist. The facts are there are very few people (if any as it really can't be verified) that got out of paying the $249 connection fee for 105M service.

Cheezewiz seems to have a very artificial view on real world billing to not believe companies bill at different rates in different regions. Either he doesn't truly know what his company does or they are a pure call-center locating in one geographic or similar cost-of-living based areas.
 
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