I hate cable and phone companies!!! Fees = teh sux0rz

[conjur]

Currently with BellSouth for local/DSL and it's $40 for the freakin' phone (complete choice plus taxes and fees - damn FCC network access fee is $6/mo. alone) and the DSL is like $45/mo. But, my DSL speeds suck (barely 1.2mbps). So, I'm paying nearly $90/mo. just to have a phone and email/surf decently.

I thought about switching to cable modem (ex's dad is getting 3.02mbps now) and they now offer HD programming. But, in order to get the HD programming I have to have their 'digital gateway' box ($7.95/mo...that's a ripoff as it's probably a $50 box...they're making tons of money off of that monthly fee) + basic ($15). Then I get the HD box for another $2/mo. (not too bad for an HD tuner) and pay for the HD Pack and add on $10/mo each for Showtime/HBO to get their HD channel. All I want is just the HD portion ($2/mo. for the box) $10 for the HD programming pack and $20 for the Showtime/HBO. But...nooooo...can't do just that.

So tempted to drop the landline completely (just might once school starts...can't tell a teenage girl she can't use a phone until after 7pm - when the cell plan's night minutes kick in), drop Bellsouth completely and bite the bullet to get the cable modem but go back to satellite. Why do they make it so difficult to pick and choose what you want?

 

[minendo]

Who is your local cable provider?

 

[ElFenix]

1 cell phone for the whole house would be annoying

they make it difficult for the same reason honda makes it difficult, its way cheaper for them to bundle it than do completly custom channel lineups for everyone

 

[ImGoingDown]

You the consumer have the option not to utilize said services.
Now stop whining.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: minendo
Who is your local cable provider?

Insight...same as you.

And, I have a cell and my daughter has a cell (Cingular Family plan)

And to the n00b on the board...I *am* choosing to not use their service.

 

[brtspears2]

You can be like my unethnical roommate and lie about your income to get reduced rate "lifeline" phone service.

I don't suggest it though.

 

[MaxDepth]

Yeah. I am real *happy* with Verizon right now. I had to call and ask for the recent rate reduction on DSL (if i hadn't asked, they never would have changed it). And I find out that I am locked into an ATM on my line, so I cannot go higher than 768 while newer cutsomers are getting the 1.X , and that they have no plans on upgrading the line and moving me off the ATM.

Now, as of last week, my landline phone from them gets a rate hike approval. I save $8 on DSL but turn around and $5 more for the phone.