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Avoid Comcast’s Internet Installation Activation Fee
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Last November, the promotional rate on my Comcast Internet and digital cable service expired and jumped from a somewhat reasonable $70/mo rate to an ridiculously unreasonable $140/mo rate. We tried to do the Comcast cancel dance to no avail as the CSR said “I can’t do anything” and we said “I want to cancel” and the bozos at Comcast actually let us cancel. Almost the same day, Verizon started putting in signs around the neighborhood advertising their new FiOS service, fiber optic right to the house, and we were intruiged. Talking to the Verizon folks at their booth, it appeared that their rates would equal the promotional rates of Comcast so we decided we’d live without Internet for a couple weeks until they got the whole thing setup. Well, as expected, Verizon still hasn’t setup FiOS is our area so I’ve decided to sign back up with Comcast for their promotional rate.
So, how do you avoid that ridiculous $50 activation fee? Well, the activation fee is so that you have the pleasure of waiting at your home during a four hour window, where they will invariably show up an hour after the end of the window, just so the guy (or gal) can do one of two things:
- If you live in an apartment, he will unscrew your coaxial cable panel from the wall, and connect the cable on the inside with the jack, or,
- He will find the box outside, open it up (it’s hardly ever locked), and connect it.
So, to avoid the $50 charge, just connect it yourself and ask for the self-install kit (please do not steal cable and do not trespass on their property, I’m not advocating or condoning the theft of services that you aren’t paying for). If you have a cable modem, simply hook it up and try to open any website. A Comcast site will appear where you can download their installation CD software and you can do the installation yourself. If you don’t have a cable modem, wait for the modem to show up before you do all of this. If you’re patient, you can avoid the $50 fee but you can’t avoid a phone call, and the 30 minute wait because somehow they are always busy and they never hire more CSRs, to Comcast to activate your service.
The benefit is two-fold – not only do you avoid the $50 fee, you get internet the day you start paying… not two weeks later when their technicians are able to pencil you in for a four hour window they stand no chance of making anyway.
{ 97 comments, please add your thoughts now! }
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When I last signed up, I just asked if I could not pay the install fee, and they went for it. Hey, it’s worth a shot.
Wow – I had no idea you could install yourself – I always thought the activation fee was mandatory! Lesson learned.
Duh! why do you think they have self install kits????? and it took five minutes and i was on internet
I liked FIOS, but from what I can tell, there is a contract
I just moved two weeks ago and I can tell you this only works if you have existing cable-TV service. Otherwise, they will not allow self-install.
when i ordered comcast for my new apartment i was given the self install kit without existing cable. when i ordered the cable the lady i spoke with said a tech would come out and hook me up from the outside and the only charge was ten dollars for mailing the insall kit to me. so its not neccesary to hook it up yourself to avoid a 50 dollar charge. even if you hook it up yourself you will still be charged the same amount for a self install kit.
While you’re at it, hook up your phone and power as well. What’s a little legality when it comes to saving a buck?
Make sure you use you meter to get the levels correct so the modem doesn’t drop out every 10 minutes or so. It is important that you do this as you WILL be charged for any and all troulbe calls when a tech arrives to find you connected it yourself and proper procedures weren’t followed.
And if you only want cable modem service, if you connect yourself you get free TV service! At least until the cable company finds out and the police pay you a nice little visit.
So let’s do the math….$50 savings by connecting yourself, $30 charge for the tech coming out to the home to fix what you screwed up, $10,000 fine for illegal cable tv service=$9,980. You can deal with that, can’t you?
Comcast CEO is that you?
Actually we never pay attention and plugging those things in is no more difficult then plugging your tv into the wall. We really, in apartments, just have to come out, find your wire, screw it on and charge you. When I tech’d, I’d smoke a couple cigarettes and sit in the van to make it seem like I was doing something.
haha. that is so wrong, but exactly what I thought you guys were doing anyway…..
The guy showed up at my apartment to do the same simple cable hookup and I was charged $70 for becoming a Comcast customer. What a privelege! I still own a home in another state and have never lived in apartment. We have done our own connections and found that it works so much better. We had Comcast when we first moved out here last year and it NEVER worked. We couldn’t stay connected to the internet, the phone worked rarely and the cable was out more than it worked. I was foolish enough to believe that I wouldn’t be able to set up a dish in an apartment. Plus, I get far fewer channels than with the other company and my kids are upset they can’t watch what they want. Not only that, the phone was so fuzzy I couldn’t use it. I called the installer back to let him know he left several pieces of equipment at my apartment (then waited all day to return it. He showed up at 9:30 PM.) and let him know. That was Saturday. I finally had phone service on Wednesday and it still drops out inside my apartment! Thursday, I received a bill for the first month and intallation! You’ve got to be kidding! INSTALL IT YOURSELF. YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF DECENT SERVICE!
“And if you only want cable modem service, if you connect yourself you get free TV service! At least until the cable company finds out and the police pay you a nice little visit.”
And you let them in for what reason? Even if they test the load it could be read wrong and here Chicago I can tell no police or DA is going knock on your door because you have a cable modem and digital tuner installed in your PC to watch TV. Excuse me I need to put out this blunt and lay down my crack pipe and hide a dead body as the cable cops are at the door. U idiot
Old man, we can do without the name calling. Sides, you’re three years late in the reply. Whose the idiot now? (not as though you’re going to check back here anyway, I sure as hell won’t).
I never opened up the box outside my house but when I found out that all you needed was a television signal in order to run cable, I knew I didn’t have to get the install kit. I don’t advocate going to the box itself, opening it, and connecting it, I just meant that you can connect the jack inside your apartment if one exists.
I don’t advocate or condone stealing cable television.
cable tv is free
If you get Comcast’s phone service too, the tech has to call some automated system and activate your number. So having a tech come out is kind of unavoidable as they won’t do this for you over the phone. When I first signed up I asked them to waive the install fee and the did, but when I moved I had to pay.
Nice commentary, sadly it has nothing to do with the entry. o.O
Gotta love this. Just had Comcast digital voice service installed in my home. I was suprised to see a $99 charge on the receipt for installation charge, which nobody told me about beforehand.
Like others have said, all the tech did was open the cable panel on my wall and plug in an additional cable jack, and then plugged in the phone to the now activated cable jack. Twenty minutes.
I called Comcast, and the CSR told me:
a) the tech did lots of “complicated” work hooking up my service
b) it would be ILLEGAL for Comcast to not charge an installation fee. Illegal??? They then nicely reduced the charge to $29.99. That’s on top of the other $29.95 for service activation (a charge I do understand).
I think the best way to avoid installation/activation fees is to act shocked when you are ordering the service and hear how much the fee will be, and then threaten to go with a different service. Comcast is really nice about making you happy when you call to complain. It should never get to that point in the first place.
Not the most Comcastic night for me.
Who wants to pay for something that you could do yourself? Personally, Comcast should make users aware of how to hook up your own cable. Unfortunately, more jobs and more money seems to be be important to them.
It sounds like people have had decent service with comcast… I wish I could say the same… In our first apartment, we signed up for Comcast internet and tv. We had this service for 2 years until we moved, I called and transfered the service to our new home. I asked the CSR point blank “so, service will be disconnected at so-and-so date and turned on at the new place?” and they said yes. Come to find out, , they never disconnected the original service and since I have auto-debit on my account, they have been charging me an extra $100 a month for our old apartment. This has been going on for over a year and just finally, after numerous phone calls, have recieved a measely $200 credit. Mind you, they’ve “stolen” over 1300 from my account. Their excuse? You have to make TWO phone calls to transfer service, one to start service and one to stop service…..
Many of YOU – grabbing all the internet processes are fools!
You should NEVER sign up to allow automated bill paying for anything. I can’t believe people would actually allow anyone to help themselves to the money in your pocket!
Though I enjoy having a computer – have built two myself – I will never pay a bill over the internet – I feel more secure trusting the Postal Service with my envelopes – where noone can open it to read it.
Hhahahahahaha. That’s hilarious how you’ve fooled yourself into thinking that USPS is MORE secure than a 128 or now 256-bit encryption system for paying bills on the internet! Obviously you haven’t read all the reports about where you’re more likely to have your identity stolen…oh, wait, it’s via SNAIL MAIL at your mailbox or along the route. Internet bill pay is NOT, however, the same as automatic bill pay, which is ridiculous.
Hopefully the lesson you learned was to ALWAYS review your monthly statements — whether they be for your bank account, your credit card, or your utility bills.
Most people don’t feel it’s worth their time, so minor (and sometimes major) mis-charges continue for months on end. Credit cards with revolving balances are the worst, because you’ll pay significant interest over time even if you later get the initial overcharge reversed.
Fifteen minutes spent a year ago would have saved you $1,300. That’s like earning $5,200 per hour or $10.4 million per year. Still don’t think it’s worth your time?
Anyone know how to avoid the cancellation fee with Comcast?
There are no cancellation fees! That’s the benefit of no contract with Comcast
know cancellation fee they sent me a bill for 850.00 I took my boxes back so i dont understand Ihave been with comcast for 16 years IM TRYING TO FOUND OUT
steal cable if possible!
I’VE BEEN TRYING FOR A MONTH TO GET SERVICE TO MY HOUSE FROM COMCAST. THEY SAY I AM TO FAR FROM A BOX, MY HOUSE IS 800 FEET FROM THE GROUND BOX. I HAVE BEEN GOING ROUND IN CIRCLES ABOUT THE DISTANCE. I CAN’T BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THIS SITUATION.
This is what comcast speeds really look like. I have comacast and every night it drops. See for your self.
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Download Connection is:: 2746 Kbps about 2.7 Mbps (tested with 4096 kB)
Download Speed is:: 335 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (Main)
Test Time:: 2008/08/12 – 9:02pm
Bottom Line:: 48X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 3.06 sec
Tested from a 4096 kB file and took 12.218 seconds to complete
Download Diagnosis:: May need help : running at only 44.1 % of your hosts average (comcast.net)
D-Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-NQI7AW4D1
User Agent:: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727) [!]
COMCAST is quite possibly the worst company in the United States. They always manage to screw up your order, always manage to over charge and almost always do what you don’t want them to do. Oh and saying their customer service SUCKS would be an understatement.
Actually At&T is the worst company in the United States, followed by dentists, then the power company, then comcast
you have no idea what crappy customer service is until you deal with embarq
comcast would be a blessing
comcast always overcharge people
What I hate about Comcast is that they charge for each box you have to have (if you have more than one TV). By the time you have paid 6-9 $ a month X 4 boxes, you could have bought boxes on e-bay. However, then Comcast refuses to activate your box(s) whereby they FORCE you to use their equipment.
THERE OTTA BE A LAW!!
BlueEagle 2001
Huntsville, Alabama
So just buy a digital TV and you don’t need a box at all…
Hey if you dont want to pay an install fee get a self install kit. Otherwise quit bitching about haveing to pay cable fee’s. I build the cable companies outside main systems on the street and this technolidgy is a science! I get tired of hearing about people complaining about paying for bills when I have to do my work with all the following hazards. I work outside regardless of weather most of the time at night, because to many housewives bitch about not being able to watch their soap operas. I buy my own tools which cost tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention paying for my own hotels, fuels flights and the travel in general. This includes being away from my home, family and friends. So there are alot of costs on side of the people doing the real work, not just the lazy techs. Its a business think about it if you want better service ….. IT COSTS MONEY TO GET!!!
Sounds like you need a new job.
If you don’t like your job, don’t do it. We all know “it costs money to get it” but we all know we’re getting ripped off! I am moving from a non-comcast area, sadly, and I know I’m going to have to pay $30/mo more for the same service. Or else go with dish/dsl “technolidgy”.
I feel ya on that. I install Comcast also and people have NO idead how much work is acutally put in to a day of comcast. On my avarage Thursday Fridays and Saturdays I pull 16+ hours over 40 hrs in 3 days plus the other days i work. People have no idea how much it costs to keep bucket trucks running, employees paid, Gas in trucks, Fleet trucks, How much we spend in supplies, spools of cable, fittings, taps, hardline, amps, equip, Dig boxes, DVRs, modems, HD boxes…ETC there is much more expenses. Atleast unlike Dish and Direct we don’t charge per foot for the cable we run. To install a whole brand new house for Dish or Direct costs a lot more them Comcast. For 13 lines in one house here in TN it cost one of Dishes customers over $275 just to run lines… comcast $120. People have no idea cable isn’t a walk in the park and it’s not a breeze. People also expect every single tech to make every single time frame I wish people would stop complaining so much about time frames. When a tech goes to a job the job can look very easy on the work order and end up being 5 wallfishes new 200′ drop triple play and the customer most of the time told the CSR they had all the lines in there house already it’s ready to go and instead of 45 mins for one job it ends up being 2 hours and he falls behind schedule. Most late time frames are from customers setting up work orders and not knowing what to tell the CSR they need
Kevin, we’re talking about activating service in already pre-cabled houses. Tell me how $99 justifies “activating” the service? Let’s not get off topic. We all agree if you needed your house wired it would actually be worth the $99, but that’s not what we’re talking about.
They’re shifting the costs.
You chose the job, so stop whining.
He’s not whining, he’s venting and you’re being a douche. Just because someone ‘chose’ a certain job doesn’t mean they have to put up with stupid, ignorant, arrogant, ungrateful pricks which is exactly what a lot of customers turn out to be.
There was a time when satellite cost thousands of dollars to install and Cable was at least $450 because nothing was pre-wired.. but now all you jackholes have this typical American entitlement mentality and think everything should be just given to you exactly when you demand/cry for it.
Cheap people make the worst customers.
sounds like you should quit your job! your getting the shaft! isnt complaining complaining, or are you better than everyone else?
You can only qual for a self insall kit if you allready have video or telephone service through them. Also not everyone lives in a underground neighborhood, so unless you want to climb the pole pay for the install
I didnt have any service what so ever and I got the self install kit for cable and internet.
They let me cancel too.,,,, wow they’ve lost a 15 year client. im going with another provider just because they are rude
Well, if you live in an apartment, just ask your neighbor to share the cost. 50/50
If you share cable from apartment to apartment by law that is illegal
Just curious: Why is sharing cable with a neighbor illegal? I don’t know any of my neighbors, if I did, I would share the wireless internet at least. That’s legal, right? Also, to Kevin and to Cable Joe: You both sound like extremely hard working people who really deserve to be treated better and paid better. I agree that you both are not trying to hurt anyone and there is nothing wrong with the hard and intense careert that you have chosen. My complaint is really for comcast for charging me one price, my neighbor another and my mom gets charged no installation fee at all. At the same time, one of my friends lives in a place that already has cable and everything set up and only needed the DVR box, they charged her 30$ to come out and would not let her go pick one up. I guess it would be nicer if customers were treated more uniformely, or better yet actaully charged a certain fee IF they need to do something. The guy that came out to set my cable and internet was super nice and not lazy at all, but he honestly said that everything was already hooked up and there was little for him to do. So I am ok with with pay a smaller activation fee, just not 75 on top of 70 something a month. But onece again, I thank you for your hard work.
The self-installation kit is fine and dandy; however, Comcast is now charging a $29.95 fee to install internet/cable yourself. They found a way to get your money.
Comcast doesn’t charge an install fee for S.I.K. (self install kits) they charge a $30 trip charge for a tech having to go to the house and hook up the service outside
when did they start charging this because as I have stated several times I got the self install kit and the only charge was 10 dollars to mail it. I have had my service since april 20th this year.
I know in our area, Comcast has this newer “Hot Drop” policy, where they leave the main line hooked up from the previous subscriber. If you moved in within a certain amount of time, signal was already on in your house.
Or they may just have had a way to waive it at the time.
Comcast overcharges always!
Probably the easiest way to get by the install fee.
Order the internet and their ‘phone service’ (aka VOIP). If you get the phone service they’ll waive the installation fee. Then cancel the phone after it’s installed.
Perfectly legal, etc. Plus do it fast enough and you’re within the ’30-day money back guarantee’ window. If it ends up sucking you’re at least not stuck paying for an install you aren’t going to use.
When I try to ask for self install kit, the rep said they can’t provide that because we’re first time users with Comcast, so he ended up charging us $60.00 for installation fee.
Is this standard or did the rep completely lied to me?
he lied! I got a self install kit and I was a first time user. when I use to work for a co(in sales/instalation) in atl that contracted out for comcast the the phone rep worked on hourly pay and commision pay.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> I would like to have service sooner than next Sudnay 13th if possible?
Christian (COMCAST CALL CENTER REP)> For the self install kit, I am sorry but no. At my end for new customer it is required for a professional install.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> If I were to purchase the install kit at Best Buy, could I install and cancel the install appointment
Christian > However you may visit the local center since they can process a self install for pick up for the service you would like to request.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> You have no idea what is is like being without internet service
Christian > Yes, you may. All you have to do is call the 1-888-266-2278 and request to be connected to our Activation department if you wish to buy a self install kit at a Retailer store.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> so I can buy the kit at a retail store and then call 800 COMCAST to be activated over the phone?
Christian >
Yes that is correct.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> When I do that, can I thne cancell the install appointment?
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> I was planning on being at church that afternoon.
Christian > Yes, you may cancel at 4 days prior to the date for the installation.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> without being charged?
Christian > Yes, that is correct.
LOCAL CUSTOMER)> SWEET!
“You have no idea what its like being without internet service!”
people are so depressingly pathetic sometimes.
Man sat-tech… why such a hater? Troll much?
I have a new computer.When i plug in my ethernet cord nothing installs.Is there a disk that i need or am i doing something wrong.
If you had your modem hooked up to a diff computer then unplugged and hooked it into a diff computer you have to pull the power plug on the modem and plug it back in so it can sync up to your computer.
I was taken by the installer he said he would come back but never did and i dont want to pay another install fee help!!
If a tech says he will come abck and does not come back they will not charge you another fee. The work is guarenteed for 3 months and if you have any problems within 3 months there will not be a fee for a tech to come out if you let the tech install your cable. I would ask for a contractor for comcast we get the job done right without having to go back and forth.
Well that’s B.S. I just went and picked up the self install kit and also the digital boxes myself, they charged me $170.0. Clerk said “it’s because someone still has to come out.” I mean i’m hooking everything up in the house all he has to do is reconnect to the pole which has the hookup at ground level.
He also checks your signal levels at the side of your house. After you hook everything up and get your computer hooked up to the internet open up the internet and type in 192.168.100.1 and it will tell your signal levels. You want your levels to be between
Upstream 28-51
Downstream 11 -11
if your signals are out of those ranges you need a tech to fix your levels and it will speed your internet up to what speed tier you ordered
And no, I am not a first time customer. I had them for around 5years total before canceling, only for 3 months due to wife being off work and having a baby, we needed the extra money then. Still wouldn’t wave the fee.
I installed Comcast cable and now i’m in Dispatch. You can ask them to waive the fee and if they dont waive it tell them you will go with someone else and they will waive the install. But if you do a self install kit you will be charged anytime a tech has to come out. If you let the tech install it (preferably a contractor for comcast) they will install and do free trouble calls for 3 months. Letting the tech install it is worth it in the long run. I’ve been dealing with Comcast cable for a while and taking shortcuts can end up costing you more and give you more of a headache.
Not always, you still get charged if it’s an internal rewiring job, or customer error that required the service call.
Unless you have some sort of protection plan in place.
Comcast claims no responsibility for the quality of your internal wires/connectors/configuration/customer equipment (such as TVs/Computers/Phones/AV receivers, etc), that is on the subscriber. If any of these are the cause of the problem, and not the comcast system, you will get charged.
They only claim responsibility for their own equipment and system, as it should be.
Comcrap
nuf said
One note on Verizon FiOS (may be applicable to Comcast as well)… They contract out the install. Ours tried to convince me that he couldn’t snake the cable into an existing outlet but rather needed to bring the cable through the eve (under the rain gutter and through the attic) and out through the top corner of a room. Can you imagine a wire coming down from the corner of the ceiling? And no, I wasn’t mounting the TV on a wall.
The installer was only interested in getting in and out as fast as possible to turn as many tickets as he could. Verizon was no help in persuading him. Finally I had to threaten cancelling before he agreed to bring the cable up from the floorboards. I couldn’t get him to snake it.
have any idea what it takes to wallfish a cable? you should have offered him fifty bucks to do it, then im sure he would have. after all the expenses, installers hardly make anything, so its no surprise he was trying to get in and get out. not sure why he wanted to drop it out of the ceiling though, thats just total laziness.
@sat-tech – seriously? Running a cable on an exterior wall is a little harder due to insulation, but an interior wall…not a problem. Anyone doing installs for a living should know how to do it right and quickly.
That’s more then we offer in my market. We don’t do wall fishes, we just punch in from an outside wall, or up through the floor of an unfinished basement.
Why?
Because Comcast is a SERVICE provider, not an internal wiring company. Call a local contractor or electrician if you want lines wall fished. Whether its a comcast sub contractor or company employee, we’re there to hook service up, and run lines as quickly as possible when we need to.
Not every house is built the same. You don’t know what you’ll come across in some walls, and there are many liability issues you can run into that can jeopardize your job. I’ve seen a tech get fired for fishing a line through a wall and messing up electrical (we thought maybe a predamaged electrical line, and they pinned it on him afterwards as there really wasn’t anything he used that would damage an electrical line).
Stuff like that happens a lot, and something most techs are not willing to risk. The ones that do end up like the above tech, just a nice guy that some jerk off took advantage of to get what, a free couple months of service?
All you need is a modem and a network adaptor. That’s all
I always thought there were no self install kits and it was only the option to do a installation fee. I found it ridiculous because I know how to do it myself. So I asked the online rep for Comcast if there were self install kits or any chance of taking off that fee and she said No. So I found this article and called Comcast and just asked if they had self install kits I can pick up. Sure enough they said yes. Thank you for this and saving me nearly $50!
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:15:42 EST 2010)>Hello Robert –
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:15:50 EST 2010)>Hello, Helena.
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:16:05 EST 2010)>I can see here that you want to order Performance Internet/the Internet promo at 19.99?
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:17:09 EST 2010)>Yes, that is correct. If I were to purchase the install kit at somewhere such as Best Buy, could I do the install and not have to pay the one-time $100 installation fee?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:17:21 EST 2010)>Yes, its possible.
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:17:39 EST 2010)>we can also send one for you, there is a shipping fee of $9.95
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:18:28 EST 2010)>Really – there isn’t a price for the installation kit itself?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:18:43 EST 2010)>let me check that for you.
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:19:00 EST 2010)>but if you do want to get it sooner, buying one from Best Buy would do.
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:21:16 EST 2010)>Good news, Helena.
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:21:31 EST 2010)>What’s that Robert?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:21:25 EST 2010)>Its free from us.
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:21:50 EST 2010)>What a surprise. And the shipping timeframe?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:22:05 EST 2010)>shipping will be 3-5 working days
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:22:47 EST 2010)>Not bad. Could I pick it up and still pay the 9.95 fee?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:24:58 EST 2010)>are you renting the modem from us at $5 monthly?
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:25:13 EST 2010)>Yes – I all ready have phone service
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:25:41 EST 2010)>So, I will pay 9.95 for the installation kit plus the 19.99 monthly fee, correct?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:27:27 EST 2010)>there is no fee if you pick it up.
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:27:41 EST 2010)>And the kit is still free?
Robert(Thu Feb 11 17:27:48 EST 2010)>Correct. Kit is Free.
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:27:59 EST 2010)>Wowwwwww, lol
Helena_(Thu Feb 11 17:28:42 EST 2010)>Could you please provide the closest locations to me?
___________
So to summarize: You don’t have to pay anything for the installation. Simply order the internet service online if possible (to get the best promotions), pick-up the installation kit from your closet location – completely free of charge (or have them send it to you with a wait time of 3 to 5 business days for $9.95), install yourself and get billed your regular monthly rate via the next cycle. If I remember to do so, I’ll let you all know how the self-install goes. But hey, if I can’t do it, I have a father, uncles, cousins, brothers and a boyfriend, all of whom I’m sure can figure things out. I just saved $100!!!
I live in Northern, VA.
Guess what people companies do what you sit at home and complain about. If you stand up to them they change policies and rules. They only do what you allow. Nothing more or less. Who have the power PEOPLE that buy the service. Where do the money come from your pocket.
If you dont like it call and complain like no tomorrow because guess what they have to listen. Endorse competition! Stop hurting the small companies that want to go up against the big bad companies and we can have options for once and a while.
LOGIC will go a long way!
I just tried to order internet service from comcast – they want $228.94 for the install! I am still in shock. What is wrong with this company? Anyone know a better provider for the Bellevue, WA area?
When i try self-installing Comcast it says i do not meet minimum sysytem requirements beacause i have Windows NT 6.1 though acording to my computer i have Windows 7 home premium. Help??!!
nt 6.1 is windows 7. try running it in compatibility mode or have them send you a new disk.
I have some questions!
I talked to two reps separately today at Comcast, and they gave me different information.
One lady told me that there’s no fee for the modem and cable box, but another guy told me the modem is $5/mo and the box is $3.45/mo…what’s correct?
Also – what exactly is involved in installing everything, I’m going to get the self starter kit and save myself $50!
It seems that FIRST TIME customers HAVE TO pay installation fee.
Yes, especially in new MDU (multi dwelling units) buildings like apartment complexes and such. In new houses, you may not have a line run to feed the house. If so, it was never connected, which only the proper authorized personnel (comcast tech) can do it (legally anyways).
The other is the prewired cables inside may not be terminated, or weren’t terminated properly. A lot of builders/contractors don’t have proper training or knowledge to terminate the lines properly when they’re wiring them up.
If you are ordering online how do you un select the “Professional Setup” option? I don’t see a way to remove it from my cart or un select it as an option.
Let me know if you have any ideas.
Rishi
i have direcpath internet, the service is terrible, but my place is new construction and no other service was available. so i heard about at&t u-verse, i think i will try them, they are available. also there is something called the broadband speed test that is free, i used it and SURPRISE, direcpath is not delivering the speed i ordered. also, i don’t want direcpath because when i call, I HAVE TO PRESS ONE to speak english. ugh.
The shocker here is any non cable service I test hardly ever is getting the speed they pay for. I’ve tested the micro wireless stuff, dsl, and satellite, all failing miserably. Granted, with DSL it seemed to be closer as they were closer to the headend, but almost never actually what they were paying for. (I think the highest I saw was a 3 Mb dsl sub getting 2.7-2.8)
I haven’t tested any of the new fiber systems yet, mainly because it’s not available around here.
With Comcast’s powerboost (included with all but economy speed), i regularly see well over what the sub is paying for (honestly!). A 12 Mb sub can easily get 20Mb+ direct off the modem consistently. Older/non-updated routers will hinder speed, especially over wireless.
http://www.speedtest.net, great speed test site.
Well, all I can say is do your homework and have a separate browser window open with the package you ordered while chatting on-line for on-line confirmation (only way to complete on-line ordering, such a pain).
Promo Internet package selected for existing customers only (which I am) stated under customize step, $15 one-time fee and maybe a $9.99 handling fee depending, basically. I selected will self install and have my own cable modem. My order came up as $30 one-time fee with $15 handling. So $45 for a CD, I have a modem and I’m self installing? LOL!! Asked on-line chat rep why different that was stated and I selected during ordering (I copy/pasted that statement from separate browser window I had open). Was told it depends where you’re located. I said my order already discloses my location. Rep agreed only $9.99 for kit and no other start-up charges. $9.99 to mail me a CD but whatever and agreed. Ask about receiving Email on order confirmation, was told yes…haven’t received. Going to local store for order confirmation (don’t trust rep changed $45 charge to only $9.99). Plus maybe I’ll get no charges when I P/U instal CD from store.
I don’t approve of Comcast’s marketing ploys and you must be a ‘haggler’ to pay only what you ordered…or less in all fairness. A CD doesn’t cost 10 bucks to mail. Heard elsewhere you can down-load software free anyway. Researching that after this post…..
This article is not correct in a lot of scenarios. If you have your cable through your association then you could do the self install kit to save you the install fee. The same rule also applies when you already have the cable TV hooked up. What it does not apply to is if you have no cable TV what so ever and you want the intenet. Then a tech still has to connect you up to the Tap. If a tech has to go out to get you started then you have to pay the fee. So, in short, if you have Cable already you can use your own cable modem (You must purchase seperatly) or Comcast can ship you a self install kit for 10$. Sometimes if the front counter has them in stock you can pick them up for free. Hope this helps.
1/15/2011 sign up under promo deal.
Told to come in and place deposit and pick up my self in stall kit.
Go home- No Install recognized. Call tech support. 1 hr later, they tell me to schedule a tech to come here. I live in an apartment and they have to Flip the switch. ( wow so worth the service fee! NOT NOT!)The Guy assured me that I would not be charged since they also found problems in there lines that week. Various outages were going on with customers. A week later- (man they are quicker with sending bills then service!). I get a bill with a $50 install fee!!! I send a letter to an assigned CSR personnel. She researches and agrees that based on the call log I was assured the fee would be waived. A New bill with adjustments would be forthcoming. Yup I got the bill today! They not only kept the install charge they nicely added the install kit fee of 39.00$ !!!! THen of course the modem rental, since they swore my original comcast modem simply stopped working. Psstt its because they lock out mAC ID Address’s from previous customers! (Which I was 6 months prior). I work in technology and do not like being nickeled and dimed and I refuse to do such to any customer I want to retain!
This will get resolved to my liking financially but Comcast has really much to improve upon . To the guy who mentioned all the supplies, parts and gas,truck guess what??? ITs a business, its built in to the budget I’ve yet to see the Comcast Stock plummet because of any of those matters. But when it does I am sure I’ll see another bogus fee to help them recoup! Bottom Line is: Yes they will charge you .