fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2392 ]

[ SECRET POST #2392 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2392 ⌋

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Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 064 secrets from Secret Submission Post #342.
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So it's been almost 6 years that I've been on my own/had my own bills, and every year since then my cable TV/internet bill has gone up significantly. My brother, who moved out of our parents' house at the same time I did, has cable with the same company, and actually has a better plan (everything else is the same but he has movie channels and I don't), pays less now than I did when I very first got it 6 years ago, which is almost HALF of what mine has just gone up to. His has never gone up once in the past 6 years. I've called the cable company several times over the past few years to complain but no one has ever been able to give them a straight answer as to why this is, and every time after much frustration and anger and tears I've just given in and paid the new higher price, but this is fucking ridiculous. I tried calling customer service a little bit ago but after being on hold for over half an hour and my stomach being in knots the entire time I finally hung up.

I don't know what to do. I've checked out the other companies who offer TV/internet and they're even higher than this one, so I'm kind of stuck. I suppose I could give up cable (I don't want to, but I could) but I need internet for work. I just really don't understand how my brother pays half of what I do and his bill has never once been raised over the past 6 years while mine has consistently gone up every year.

The only thing I can think of to do is to try calling them again, or maybe going there in person but I'm not sure it'd do any good since in the past 6 years no one's been able to explain to me why my brother's bill is so low and mine is so high.

GRRRRRRR.

(reply from suspended user)

I doubt it. I use the internet for work but his job is almost entirely dependent on it, plus I've only watched one movie on Netflix since I got it less than two months ago and he uses it constantly. I would be really, really surprised if I used more bandwidth than he does, but even if I somehow did, I definitely don't use any more now than I did six years ago to explain it going up over the years.

Call up and threaten to cancel (politely, you never get deals if you rant and rave) but sound a bit hesitant about it. Staff get commission on the amounts of cancellation they save, so they'll offer you a deal not to cancel. Then you call up another firm and say that you've been offered a deal, but you'll change if they price match it. Sales staff get commission on sales so will price match like crazy. Always be polite though, your savings are dependent on their goodwill and willingness not to take a hit on their stats for the sake of screwing the entitlewhore, so never be the ranty, ragey, entitlewhore.

Call up and threaten to cancel (politely, you never get deals if you rant and rave) but sound a bit hesitant about it. Staff get commission on the amounts of cancellation they save, so they'll offer you a deal not to cancel.

I did that last time and they basically were like "alrighty then, sorry to see you go" and offered to make no deals whatsoever. I don't know if it's because they knew the other companies were higher or what. And the other companies were like "well, we'll give you this deal for six months [that was still *slightly* higher than the original company] and then after that it'll go up to [waaaay higher than the original company]."

It's just so fucking frustrating.

it's like they want to go broke or something O_o

is there some internet only provider? cancel with them and get just internet with someone decent

Sounds like you were being an entitledouche to them then if they were willing to take the hit of their stats to get rid of you. Try again, being even more polite.

I was really polite though! At first I just wanted an explanation of why the bill was so high, and they refused to give me one. It was only when the guy started being rude that I said maybe I'd go somewhere else, and even then I felt like I said it in a polite way. Everyone I told about it said I should've asked for a manager but I was too afraid to even do that. I guess I need to try again.

Nah, if they know their competition isn't really competition, because their gouging rates really are the lowest, they often won't bother to try to keep a customer.

OP, next time you try this, instead of saying you're switching to the cable competitor, claim you're cutting back to Internet only, but going with Hulu for your tv. That may actually get their attention and get you a deal on a full package. The time I did that was the only time I was offered an actual deal on my cable.

(And I'm with AT&T now. I got a good deal on the first year, and both their Internet and DVR are light years better than the cable company's. Even when the rate goes up I'll probably stay with AT&T.)

Thanks, that's a good idea. I'll have to try that, mentioning Hulu. I tried calling customer service again a little bit ago but couldn't get through. It's supposed to be 24 hours but considering it's Sunday evening I doubt I'll get anywhere tonight. Tomorrow I'm either going to call or maybe go to the office in person.

And yeah, AT&T is the main competitor, but their internet service in this area is horrible (not to mention their prices are so much higher). It's what we have at work and also what my parents have, and both of them are constantly having problems with it. The internet and TV from the cable company are both great and I've never had any issues with either so maybe I need to just suck it up and pay but knowing my brother pays so much less for the same service just drives me nuts.

is there not some sort of consumer rights watchdog thing where you live?

because if you and your brother have the same service/contract but you are paying wrong that's not fair (and possible not legal, depending on the laws where you live?)

sa

especially since they can't or refuse to tell you why the difference in prices

Does your brother live in a different area? It's possible his cable is cheaper because your provider faces more competition in his area than in yours, or the market where he lives simply won't bear such high rates and yours will, even if you personally can't.

Hmmm. He does, actually. I hadn't thought of that but I guess it could be possible.

SA

Clarifying, he lives in a different part of the same city, which is why I never really put much thought into it but our neighborhoods are...vastly different, which I suppose might make a difference.

I moved from Atlanta to Boston last year and the jump in internet costs has been astronomical. What's weird is that it's the only service that's more expensive up here - gas, electricity and water are all much cheaper. It's about state-by-state licensing and which services are available in which areas, I guess.

Though I'd strongly encourage you to try a free trial of a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu (you could buy a cheap used Wii and stream straight to your TV set, if you don't have a console already); seems like everyone I know who's tried this has cancelled their cable package before the end of the free trial.

If it were me, I'd find an internet-only service. I don't know how plausible that is for you, though. Good luck; I hope you find a solution!

In the UK if you live in a remote area then internet providers will charge a premium to supply your service. These are called 'off net' areas, and the premium these customers pay is because it costs the provider more to maintain their service further from the exchange. As you said your brother lives in a different area to you then I would suspect that he is in an 'on net' area for your cable provider. You might find it worthwhile to contact your cable company and find out if there are any deals for renewing your subscription with them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ SECRET POST #2392 ]

Cable bill - need to rant

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