Freaking Comcast has been cheating me. RANT

[DCal430]

I upgraded to Blast30 speeds from Comcast around a year ago. NEVER once was I informed that I needed to exchange my DOCSIS 2.0 modem for a 3.0 one to actually get BAST30 speeds. I would always get around 15Mbs down speed test and I always assumed it was due to congestion. A few days ago I found out that I was getting screwed and needed to exchange my modem for a new one. Today I got my new DOCSIS 3.0 modem and now my speed test are averaging around 28Mbs.

Why the fuck didn't they tell me I needed to exchange my modem to get the speeds I was paying for.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Thank you for your money, please pay again.

 

[Phokus]

I upgraded to Blast30 speeds from Comcast around a year ago. NEVER once was I informed that I needed to exchange my DOCSIS 2.0 modem for a 3.0 one to actually get BAST30 speeds. I would always get around 15Mbs down speed test and I always assumed it was due to congestion. A few days ago I found out that I was getting screwed and needed to exchange my modem for a new one. Today I got my new DOCSIS 3.0 modem and now my speed test are averaging around 28Mbs.

Why the fuck didn't they tell me I needed to exchange my modem to get the speeds I was paying for.

Because you should change your title to 'freaking comcast has been cheating comcast customers'. They'll do anything to fuck you and everyone else whenever they can.

 

[DCal430]

Because you should change your title to 'freaking comcast has been cheating comcast customers'. They'll do anything to fuck you and everyone else whenever they can.

Yep, I knew someone who Comcast for a year was overbilling them by $10 a month, not only did they refuse to reimburse them they refuse to stop collecting this illegal $10, claiming it was legit. It wasn't until he complained to the local Cable Commission did Comcast change their tune. The local cable commission told Comcast they had two weeks to fix the billing error and reimburse him any past amounts collected from this illegal fee, if they didn't they would be fined $2000 a DAY. Every day they would fined $2000 if they failed to comply. Right away he had some high up manger called him, saying it was a mix up with the people bellow and she was very sorry.

 

[techs]

I just found out that Comcast is taking my money and giving it some of it to politicians so that they can charge more for less.

So, basically I am paying to get screwed.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I just found out that Comcast is taking my money and giving it some of it to politicians so that they can charge more for less.

So, basically I am paying to get screwed.

So, a typical ATOTer?

 

[mmntech]

Cogeco Cable did the same to me. They upped my broadband speed package from 5mbs to 14mbs but never bothered to tell me. So I was blindly paying full price for only 1/3 the speed. I never would have known if I hadn't checked their website to see if a faster package was available. I called them and they also claimed it was probably congestion. I said it was the modem, and made them come and replace it. Low and behold I was suddenly getting 14mbs.

They've recently jacked their rates up too, which is pissing me off. It's now $62/mo + tax for 14mbs and 80gb bandwidth. I can get 16mbs and unlimited bandwidth for $60. Problem is I still live at home and my parents are fighting me on the switch as they don't want to give up their ISP email addresses.

 

[techs]

I just found out that Comcast is taking my money and giving it some of it to politicians so that they can charge more for less.

So, basically I am paying to get screwed.

So, a typical ATOTer?

:biggrin:

 

[thescreensavers]

So you been getting half of the rated speeds for a year but it never occurred to you to figure out why?

Yea they should of maybe mentioned it but come on.

 

[DCal430]

Cogeco Cable did the same to me. They upped my broadband speed package from 5mbs to 14mbs but never bothered to tell me. So I was blindly paying full price for only 1/3 the speed. I never would have known if I hadn't checked their website to see if a faster package was available. I called them and they also claimed it was probably congestion. I said it was the modem, and made them come and replace it. Low and behold I was suddenly getting 14mbs.

They've recently jacked their rates up too, which is pissing me off. It's now $62/mo + tax for 14mbs and 80gb bandwidth. I can get 16mbs and unlimited bandwidth for $60. Problem is I still live at home and my parents are fighting me on the switch as they don't want to give up their ISP email addresses.

I hear the Cable Companies in Canada are just as greedy crooked as tones down here.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I hear the Cable Companies in Canada are just as greedy crooked as tones down here.

that's what i've heard

 

[postmortemIA]

cable companies are cartels, not much different than other known cartels.

 

[Nintendesert]

So you lease your modem? Fail right there if you do. It took me a few moments to look at their website and know I need a DOCSIS 3.0 modem for their higher rated speeds. Take some responsibility for yourself...

It's almost as bad as someone that doesn't check their statement month to month and then blames everyone else when the charges aren't right.

 

[DCal430]

So you lease your modem? Fail right there if you do. It took me a few moments to look at their website and know I need a DOCSIS 3.0 modem for their higher rated speeds. Take some responsibility for yourself...

It's almost as bad as someone that doesn't check their statement month to month and then blames everyone else when the charges aren't right.

While I should have been more active in finding out why I wasn't getting my full speeds, they should have informed me.

Do you have Comcast and own a modem?

 

[ViRGE]

Why the fuck didn't they tell me I needed to exchange my modem to get the speeds I was paying for.

Because you don't technically need a DOCSIS 3.0 modem to get those speeds. A single QAM 256 channel is rated foe 38Mb/sec, which is more than enough for your package. However because your package is rated for such a high fraction of a total channel's capacity (~80%), that channel basically needs to be empty for you to be able to get the full 30Mb/sec, as otherwise you're contending with your other neighbors on that channel for a piece of that 38Mb/sec.

DOCSIS 3.0 modems have the advantage of channel bonding, which allows them to connect to multiple channels at once. As a result your usage can be spread among multiple channels, which reduces individual channel contention.

DOCSIS 3.0 is only truly required for packages that exceed 38Mb/sec (e.g. Extreme 50). But as you've found out, DOCSIS 3.0 is advantageous even on lower packages. And really that's the difference - DOCSIS 3.0 being advantageous is not the same as it being required.

Anyhow, this would be a good time to consider purchasing your own modem if you don't already have one. Given Comcast's modem rental fees, having your own modem will quickly pay for itself.

 

[CptObvious]

Comcast is right down there with AT&T as the worst for customer service. I recently moved and it took about a dozen calls, three faxes and a few chat sessions to get all my service transferred. They ended up overbilling me for 2 months of service at my old address (even though I only moved three weeks ago), which they refused to refund to my credit card but would only credit me for future payments. I could've fought them with a chargeback but at that point I was so sick of dealing with it I gave up.

 

[DCal430]

Because you don't technically need a DOCSIS 3.0 modem to get those speeds. A single QAM 256 channel is rated foe 38Mb/sec, which is more than enough for your package. However because your package is rated for such a high fraction of a total channel's capacity (~80%), that channel basically needs to be empty for you to be able to get the full 30Mb/sec, as otherwise you're contending with your other neighbors on that channel for a piece of that 38Mb/sec.

DOCSIS 3.0 modems have the advantage of channel bonding, which allows them to connect to multiple channels at once. As a result your usage can be spread among multiple channels, which reduces individual channel contention.

DOCSIS 3.0 is only truly required for packages that exceed 38Mb/sec (e.g. Extreme 50). But as you've found out, DOCSIS 3.0 is advantageous even on lower packages. And really that's the difference - DOCSIS 3.0 being advantageous is not the same as it being required.

Anyhow, this would be a good time to consider purchasing your own modem if you don't already have one. Given Comcast's modem rental fees, having your own modem will quickly pay for itself.

Yes I now technically DOCSIS 2 does support my speed, but apparently in area the congestion is bad enough to make it so I only average around 15Mbs, so this new modem basically has doubled my speeds.

Also I have been looking at a buying a modem, the cheapest one I can find supports 8 channel bonding, is 80 at Best Buy, so it would take less than 1 years to pay off. Hmm, maybe I should.

 

[techs]

Has anyone else noticed that since the Cable Companies have bought up networks and become so powerful you never see anything on television about them and their practices?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Yes I now technically DOCSIS 2 does support my speed, but apparently in area the congestion is bad enough to make it so I only average around 15Mbs, so this new modem basically has doubled my speeds.

Also I have been looking at a buying a modem, the cheapest one I can find supports 8 channel bonding, is 80 at Best Buy, so it would take less than 1 years to pay off. Hmm, maybe I should.

http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

I recently picked up a Motorola SB6120 off the FS/FT forums. The $7/month was getting to steep for something that pays for itself in a year.

 

[dmcowen674]

Freaking Comcast has been cheating me. RANT

I upgraded to Blast30 speeds from Comcast around a year ago. NEVER once was I informed that I needed to exchange my DOCSIS 2.0 modem for a 3.0 one to actually get BAST30 speeds. I would always get around 15Mbs down speed test and I always assumed it was due to congestion. A few days ago I found out that I was getting screwed and needed to exchange my modem for a new one. Today I got my new DOCSIS 3.0 modem and now my speed test are averaging around 28Mbs.

Why the fuck didn't they tell me I needed to exchange my modem to get the speeds I was paying for.

You speed how much countless time on a Tech site here and did not know this?

 

[Nintendesert]

While I should have been more active in finding out why I wasn't getting my full speeds, they should have informed me.

Do you have Comcast and own a modem?

Yeah, I have Comcast. I buy my own modems. That 7 bucks a month is such a ripoff so quickly. I picked mine up on Amazon. Just a Motorola modem and it pays itself off in less than a year.

When I lived in California Cox was the same way, that leasing fee is just silly and they must make a killing on it. I doubt they pay retail for their modems and those things just print money for them on the leases. I have an old Motorola modem with them and I've had it for years.

 

[ViRGE]

Yes I now technically DOCSIS 2 does support my speed, but apparently in area the congestion is bad enough to make it so I only average around 15Mbs, so this new modem basically has doubled my speeds.

Also I have been looking at a buying a modem, the cheapest one I can find supports 8 channel bonding, is 80 at Best Buy, so it would take less than 1 years to pay off. Hmm, maybe I should.

Even at multiple years to pay off it would still make sense. Cable modems aren't something that get replaced quickly; you'll probably hold on to it for 5 years if not more.

Just be sure to look into reviews and compatibility lists before you buy one. I think the latest Surfboard for example (SB6141) isn't officially supported by Comcast yet.

http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

When I lived in California Cox was the same way, that leasing fee is just silly and they must make a killing on it. I doubt they pay retail for their modems and those things just print money for them on the leases.

The worst part is that the modems they lease are absolute rubbish. Buying a modem isn't just about not paying for a rental - it's about getting something that can actually handle the slightest variation in line quality.

 

[Nintendesert]

Even at multiple years to pay off it would still make sense. Cable modems aren't something that get replaced quickly; you'll probably hold on to it for 5 years if not more.

Just be sure to look into reviews and compatibility lists before you buy one. I think the latest Surfboard for example (SB6141) isn't officially supported by Comcast yet.

http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

The worst part is that the modems they lease are absolute rubbish. Buying a modem isn't just about not paying for a rental - it's about getting something that can actually handle the slightest variation in line quality.

I agree they are rubbish too, but Virge, you have no idea how cheap I am. I highly value the savings!

It's just a win win all around though. It's a great thing from a consumer standpoint if you're saving money and getting better quality.

 

[mmntech]

I hear the Cable Companies in Canada are just as greedy crooked as tones down here.

Definitely. Just like the Sates, they're buying up all the networks too. There's only two real big players: Bell and Rogers. I have Bell Satellite, which is a nightmarish company to deal with. We only went with them because they had better time shifting options than the local cable company did. Back before I had a DVR. I kept my Internet with Cogeco, the local provider. They're usually pretty good but that underhanded thing they did left a sour note with me.

Last year Bell and Rogers were fighting to ban resellers, because they were offering unlimited packages for cheaper than the big boys expensive capped data. Lost the case the case fortunately.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I agree they are rubbish too, but Virge, you have no idea how cheap I am. I highly value the savings!

It's just a win win all around though. It's a great thing from a consumer standpoint if you're saving money and getting better quality.

It's a win win for those of us who can provide technical support for our own modem.

Telco's make a fortune of people who aren't tech savvy. I leased my modem for a long time because if there was ever a problem that appeared to be the modem, I just demanded replacement.

Now, having purchased a modem, I will have to prove to them that it's not my modem, which means I may have to buy another one at some point...but maybe not