ISP rant: I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!

[dud]

A 17% raise would be wonderful ... wouldn't it, especially during these days of low inflation? Well, like most, I DID NOT get a 17% increase this last year BUT my ISP has decided that their "products and services" are now worth 17% more than last year. I have been using Spectrum/Brighthouse as my ISP for 14 years. Other than some technical issues I have been reasonably content with their level of service for the money I pay. Unfortunately, Spectrum and Brighthouse merged in mid-2016 and decided that they would raise all of our bills by 15% across the board. Yesterday, I come home and find another letter from my beloved ISP letting me know that my "promotional period" had ended on my package and that my bill would be going up an additional $11 per month. My wife and I agreed that the previous 15% increase had pushed us to the limit as to what the "products and services" that our ISP was providing were worth to us. To add insult to injury our beloved ISP is already billing us at the increased rate!

Rant over ... I'm not looking for anything more than other user experiences with ISPs. I live in Central Florida and have other options like AT&T. We do not seek to become true cord-cutters as there is some sports content (ex: tennis) that the wife enjoys and we would like to retain. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation and found a solution somewhere (in-store or online) to replace a greedy ISP? Unless the ISP agrees to discount their fees I will be switching to an alternative within the next 30 days. ANY helpful advice in making the switch would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you ...

 

[13Gigatons]

You should switch to the 3rd or 4th provider...that would show em.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Same thing happened to me and I cut the cord out of spite. I used my Unlimited Verizon hotspot and then switched to Sprint to save even more on the cost (basically $35 more on my wife's cellphone account for Unlimited that includes 10gigs of Hotspot per account). So we just stream data from our phones and have a 20gig cap/month....we pay under $110 for both phone accounts combined. Screw the cable companies and DirecTV....they're way too expensive for how little we use them.

 

[highland145]

Screw AT&T too. $294/mo for 2 business lines and $40 extra for internet. The white/yellow pages aren't what they used to be so I'm looking at internet based phones through our cable company or a costco deal I saw. Just have to do the research 1st. Keeping the same ATT email address is a must.

 

[ponyo]

You have limited option with choices and even fewer options if you're not willing to cut the cord. Speak with retention agent at Spectrum and not regular customer service to see if they can cut your bill. If not, be prepared to switch to AT&T.

I switched to AT&T Fiber earlier this year from Spectrum but that was easy because I cut the TV cord years ago and only need the internet and nothing else.

 

[dud]

You have limited option with choices and even fewer options if you're not willing to cut the cord. Speak with retention agent at Spectrum and not regular customer service to see if they can cut your bill. If not, be prepared to switch to AT&T.

I switched to AT&T Fiber earlier this year from Spectrum but that was easy because I cut the TV cord years ago and only need the internet and nothing else.

Thank you for the advice. Will seek out a retention agent. We do not want to switch but enough is enough.

 

[Yakk]

I've cut the cord over 7 years ago now, and I usually end up changing ISP every 2-3 years mostly because of promotions I can't refuse.

Always be ready to change when needed, there's no real point to sticking with one company over another as promotions are usually to attract new customers, rarely to retain them.

 

[Tormac]

I believe that Spectrum is actually AT&T re-branded. I used to have AT&T's cable modem service, and they would always pull this same crap. If you call them and threaten to disconnect I bet they will come groveling back with a special limited time offer discount, and then six months latter when that discount runs out they will try upping your rates again.

AT&T loves to play this game, hoping that you will not notice, or care enough that they are jacking up your rates. Either play their game, call, and se what discounts you can get, or do what I did after they made me mad enough and switch.

 

[Newbian]

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Rant over ... I'm not looking for anything more than other user experiences with ISPs. I live in Central Florida and have other options like AT&T. We do not seek to become true cord-cutters as there is some sports content (ex: tennis) that the wife enjoys and we would like to retain. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation and found a solution somewhere (in-store or online) to replace a greedy ISP? Unless the ISP agrees to discount their fees I will be switching to an alternative within the next 30 days. ANY helpful advice in making the switch would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you ...

You have bigger problems than your isp my friend.

 

[Feneant2]

At 11$ a month I'd consider myself lucky. Our bill went up 117$ last month after my promotional period ended (This is for phone, TV and internet). I called and they refused to give us a decent price until we went to another ISP to start the service transfer at which point they finally gave in.

 

[clamum]

Heh, I just got a letter from Spectrum a few weeks or so ago also saying my promotion period was over and they'd be raising my bill. I think mine was going up like $11? Or maybe $7? I guess I should've saved the bill. Mine's $132 right now for ~50Mbps Internet and extended channels + HD channels. I think it's fuckin bullshit that people have so little options for cable companies. I should be able to choose between Spectrum, Comcast, etc.

I just looked back on the spreadsheet I have for my bills and saw my Bright House (now Spectrum) bill already went up $10 around August 1st last year. But that had been roughly a year since I started service with them after moving to my current place in 2015 so I probably went past some "special price for 12 months" sorta thing.

 

[snoopy7548]

Comcast has a monopoly in my town. I don't think I can even get DSL, and the only other option for TV is satellite. I cut the cord a few years ago and haven't looked back. When I went internet-only, I got on the 125/10Mbps tier for $66/month (much better than the $90-100 I was paying for internet+TV). Since then, the price has been jacked up $87.95 but they've also had speed increases (now at 200/10Mbps). The crappy part is, I can't even downgrade my internet tier for a reasonable savings, so I'm totally stuck. I've never called to re-negotiate because it's just too much of a drain. At least the service is reliable.

Here are Comcast's offerings in my town. A whopping $13/month savings between 200Mbps and 25Mbps, and $3/month if I cut my speed in half! Figure that one out! And I doubt the 2Gbps tier is even available.

I could probably save $10-20/month by bundling TV for a year or two, but I'm voting with my wallet on this one. I'll never pay for TV service again, and I'd rather pay extra to send them a message, even though I'm just one measly customer.

 

[BudAshes]

You have bigger problems than your isp my friend.

What do you mean? He could become one of those famous "Florida Man" guys.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Isn't it sad you can't just 'not use' it?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'll never pay for TV service again, and I'd rather pay extra to send them a message, even though I'm just one measly customer.

You are not alone snoopy; solidarity brudda.

 

[Schfifty Five]

A 17% raise would be wonderful ... wouldn't it, especially during these days of low inflation? Well, like most, I DID NOT get a 17% increase this last year BUT my ISP has decided that their "products and services" are now worth 17% more than last year. I have been using Spectrum/Brighthouse as my ISP for 14 years. Other than some technical issues I have been reasonably content with their level of service for the money I pay. Unfortunately, Spectrum and Brighthouse merged in mid-2016 and decided that they would raise all of our bills by 15% across the board. Yesterday, I come home and find another letter from my beloved ISP letting me know that my "promotional period" had ended on my package and that my bill would be going up an additional $11 per month. My wife and I agreed that the previous 15% increase had pushed us to the limit as to what the "products and services" that our ISP was providing were worth to us. To add insult to injury our beloved ISP is already billing us at the increased rate!

Rant over ... I'm not looking for anything more than other user experiences with ISPs. I live in Central Florida and have other options like AT&T. We do not seek to become true cord-cutters as there is some sports content (ex: tennis) that the wife enjoys and we would like to retain. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation and found a solution somewhere (in-store or online) to replace a greedy ISP? Unless the ISP agrees to discount their fees I will be switching to an alternative within the next 30 days. ANY helpful advice in making the switch would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you ...

Have you considered keeping internet only and then getting something like PS Vue?

Call Spectrum and bring that up and tell them the price is too high. They'll try to sell you a bigger package at a higher price, but tell them you are trying to lower your price, not increase it. They'll magically find some "coupons" to apply knocking it down $10 or so, and keep telling them it's too high, and they will find another "coupon". That's what happened to me. They went from offering me their top tier package with all the bells and whistles for like $160-170 (after tax/fees), to a slightly less bells and whistle filled package for $105-110. All I did was keep saying it was still too high. In end though, I really only wanted to keep internet, so I did that.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I think you will find that Spectrum just doesn't care. If they are like Comcast, they certainly don't when a dozen people on my street fled to AT&T after the phone company installed Fiber. They wanted me to pay 20% for 1/30 the performance. Ass hats.

 

[dud]

You have bigger problems than your isp my friend.

Thank you for your reply Captain Obvious. Living in the penis of the country is hard enough. Many on the forums joke about Florida and even post links to weird news coming out of the state. Unfortunately, most of them are true. What's even weirder is that the state (not just Mickey World) is one of the top ... if not the top tourist destinations on the planet. People actually PAY to come here ...


So, if you would be so kind, could you provide some USEFUL information?

 

[bruceb]

Just so you know, Spectrum has also bought out Time Warner Cable ... Happened a few months back this year. You could save money by dropping the movie channels (if you have them on your sub) and also by dropping special sports packages (if you have them on your sub) .. Most movies can be had on DVD for much less and you can watch them when you want for nothing. Even new releases come out on DVD within a few months of actual release.

 

[Red Storm]

Speak to retentions, it's the only way.

We finally cut the cord for good not too long ago. We had Fios triple play (phone, internet, tv) at 75Mbps speeds, which was costing us $150/month. Unfortunately on our road Verizon is the one and only internet provider (other than satellite of course but nobody considers that), but when they launched their "Gigabit" internet plan I jumped at the chance. Now we pay $90/month for 940Mbps internet, and dropped the TV and phone.

Their router sucks though, so I am looking at wifi mesh solutions.

 

[local]

Comcast has a monopoly in my town. I don't think I can even get DSL, and the only other option for TV is satellite. I cut the cord a few years ago and haven't looked back. When I went internet-only, I got on the 125/10Mbps tier for $66/month (much better than the $90-100 I was paying for internet+TV). Since then, the price has been jacked up $87.95 but they've also had speed increases (now at 200/10Mbps). The crappy part is, I can't even downgrade my internet tier for a reasonable savings, so I'm totally stuck. I've never called to re-negotiate because it's just too much of a drain. At least the service is reliable.

Here are Comcast's offerings in my town. A whopping $13/month savings between 200Mbps and 25Mbps, and $3/month if I cut my speed in half! Figure that one out! And I doubt the 2Gbps tier is even available.

I could probably save $10-20/month by bundling TV for a year or two, but I'm voting with my wallet on this one. I'll never pay for TV service again, and I'd rather pay extra to send them a message, even though I'm just one measly customer.

I would kill for your monopoly. At my house cable does not exist and my only hard line option is AT&T 6Mb DSL for $80/mo. Right now I am using a LOS microwave ISP and paying $100/mo for 25/5, 50/5 is $150/mo.

 

[Elixer]

People are basically screwed when it comes to ISPs.
You usually have only 1 cable provider and 1 DSL provider, then you have the wireless gang.
Out of all those options, usually, cable is the fastest option...

To make matters worse, your local leaders sign 30+ year leases to keep it that way, so no new competition can enter (so you can't have 2+ cable companies or 2+ DSL companies).

Calling to cancel might help, then again, might not help at all. It is a crap shoot.
The thing that Charter/spectrum does right is, no caps, and no contracts.

 

[snoopy7548]

I would kill for your monopoly. At my house cable does not exist and my only hard line option is AT&T 6Mb DSL for $80/mo. Right now I am using a LOS microwave ISP and paying $100/mo for 25/5, 50/5 is $150/mo.

Damn, I forgot other people have it worse than me. Yeah, I feel for all those out in the country with satellite (HughesNet?) as their only option. I can't wait until ISPs are regulated as utilities, hopefully in my lifetime; I can't speak for most people, but I certainly wouldn't buy a house if cable wasn't available.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Not just an ISP issue but issue with every other expense in general like utilities and taxes. Seems everything goes up every year but salaries stay the same.

It's great to fight to raise minimum wage and I stand with those people, but any time they raise minimum wage they should raise all the other salaries too by the same percentage.