Comments on: Avoid Comcast’s Internet Installation Activation Fee

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:26:21 +0000

I cancelled Comcast TV 2 years ago after unexpected price jack-ups and no customer service.
Now I’m thinking of getting back with the pimps for internet. But the 1st tech said my install would be more than the phone quote, so while I tried to contact Comcast, he just left. Original “install” quote was $25, but tech said a wall fish would be extra $35. After some reading, I’m sure the first bill would be considerably higher. Sounds like I need to stick with my existing ATT pimps’ DSL and living at 1Mbps.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:55:50 +0000

Not to mention them going to your attic (after saying NO)Putting foot thru ceiling,and doing nothing…(I had cable before,cancled,then all they had to do is just start service through their computer) The same way they cancel you. They had three guys going through every room of house,closed doors that I daid not to enter. They said they needed to know how many TV’s were on the property. I finally Re-canceled. NEVER AGAIN ! NOT ComCast !

By: Seth

Seth — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:01:54 +0000

New apartment, has free basic Comcast TV, but not receiving CNN, Animal Channel, Fox News, etc. as I need a Digital Transport Adapter (I think). If I buy a used Comcast DTA, will the old activation still work? Or if I have a friend activate a DTA box at his house, can I then take that DTA and move it over to my apartment and will it work? Thanks.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:44:30 +0000

comcast is the least customer oriented bussiness i have ever dealt with. they want moreyour money every month but if they have a servi outage do you think they’ll deduct that from your bill? no my service goes out at least once a week and they want to charge me a late fee even tho iv asked them to move my due date to the 5th of the month because thats wen i get my monthly check. they suck! service is bad and customer service is even worse

By: JACK

JACK — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:47:04 +0000

Normally when you cancel service, cable modems are returned to COMCAST. If you want to restore cable modem service someone usually a “technician” needs to register the cable modem into the Comcast computer system to recognize the MAC Address of the cable modem box you have. EVERY device on any computer networks has a UNIQUE MAC address.The MAC address is unique worldwide!!!

Technician has cbl modems in truck.
They call a “special” telephone number to register the modem.,
But you are allowed to BUY your own cable modem. To get it registered is another question to ask of COMCAST Tech services. Internet install free is HUGE close to $100.

By: jay

jay — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:26:26 +0000

its so rediculous how this company says its all about costumer service but based on
how much they really do when they finally come is based on efficiently takeing your money. thats why i love directv. they dont sit down finding ways to charge you for extra

By: Nettygal

Nettygal — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:15:00 +0000

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 .

By: WorBlux

WorBlux — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:40:21 +0000

They’re shifting the costs.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:59:40 +0000

cable tv is free

By: Cable Dude

Cable Dude — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:04:47 +0000

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.

By: Cable Dude

Cable Dude — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:57:41 +0000

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.

By: Cable Dude

Cable Dude — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:48:08 +0000

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?

By: Cable Dude

Cable Dude — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:30:23 +0000

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.

By: Cable Dude

Cable Dude — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:17:52 +0000

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.

By: Dustin B

Dustin B — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:22:38 +0000

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.