Beware of the new problem with comcast!
 

For those of you that have had Comcast here in the Villages for the last 3 years,,,,beware of the "new" issue..IF you get home and all of a sudden see this message on your TV ( that by the way worked just fine an hour ago!)
" No HDMI signal"...After calling Comcast cust service ( that took an hour on the tel)..They set a service call for the next day..( great right?) Well the next morning when the tech calls, I tell him Internet works fine, adding that the 2 small bedrooms that have the little DTA boxes both have TV, just not my DVR set top boxes. His reply.." Oh ma'am the promotional High Def has run out and now you have to pay an add'nl 9.95 /month to get High Def"...WHAT? I have had these set top DVR boxes for 4 years and never knew a thing about a "promotion". He says you have two options..# 1. I can come over and make the call to cust serv myself and they will send a signal and then charge you $ 60.00 for my visit along with the 9.95 per month..OR, you can call yourself after I tell them the issue and they will send a signal and it will work"..Seriously?? Why didn't they tell me this last night on the telephone? He says, " Well we as techs are discovering this problem all over now..Look at it this way, you had the promotion for over a year"..HUH? That would be acceptable; if I ever KNEW there was a promotion! The other strange things that keep happening... they arbitrarily changed my email address to send my bills to the main email address on my act even though I had it sent to another for over 4 years..Also, I keep seeing my "home Page" on my computer keeps trying to default to IXFINITY..I keep having to reset it . .This is getting crazy... Just FYI- We live in Amelia and have never had an issue with Comcast before.....I just want you to be aware if any of you have had your set top DVR boxes for over 2 years now that this may start happening to you soon...

We had problems with Brighthouse, Centurylink, Charter, and Comcast.

Lucky us---got rid of Comcast about 4 or 5 years ago because of worse than poor customer service.

Comcast has always been a four letter word. Let us know if what the tech said solves the problem. Often they tell you something so they can get on to the next problem. It is like they have a quota on number of calls not number of solutions.
Usually when the promotion runs out, the higher price shows up on your bill.

2.5 years with Brighthouse triple plan....zero issues. Price increased 5 bucks and same equipment without failure. Of course now that I said that this sucker will probably blow up.

BINGO. I had spent the first couple of years learning my way around the rolodex at COMCAST. it paid off. it also helps to hold your temper
COMCAST has been good to me

We purchased an ANTOP TV antenna from Amazon, get 43 channels, all the networks, assorted westerns, old TV shows. Cut cable awhile back and have not missed it. We still have Comcast for internet however...in April they announced they were changing the billing date, then sent us a bill the same day it was due for April and May, with a $10 late fee!

ANTOP AT-400BV Flat-panel

Although not a fan of government regulation, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Cable/internet companies may require a bit of regulation. Every year they become more and more necessary like other utilities that are regulated. Costs are increasing not decreasing since deregulation.

And that means what?
 

you realize that to most people what you stated means absolutely nothing. Why not explain yourself?

When we moved to here, we had to sign up with CenturyLink. It was a nightmare because they were just bought by AT&T and just contracted with Direct TV, so they were fumbling around with their system. It took about 3 years for them to straighten out and only because I finally lost my temper.

Sad to say but sometimes losing your temper and making threats work.

File a Complaint w/FCC-
 

Filing an Informal Complaint | Federal Communications Commission
Filing an Informal Complaint | Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission gives consumers the opportunity to file informal complaints about problems with the communications services that the FCC regulates.
There is 1 fellow in the Tampa Comcast office who handles all FCC complaints. He will call you very soon after you file a complaint. I complained when they charged me for new remotes that I do not need or want. I did not get everything I wanted, but I did get some $ credited.

We lost the four HDMI connections on our 5 year old 55" Samsung tv. They were working fine one minute and then they quit. It probably had nothing to do with Comcast in our case, unless it was a surge of some kind that their cable box passed thru. When i researched the issue, I found it not uncommon because there is a small current passed via HDMI. The HDMI jacks are part of the TV's main circuit board which costs approx $300 plus labor. We then opted to use component cables rather than repair the TV. I do miss the HDMI jacks because I have no way to access the Internet ie. Amazon or Netflix. We're waiting for the tv to die so we can replace it with a smart TV. I mention this only because your HDMI issue may be similar but I hope not.

And people in TV are actually considering Comcast for their cell phone service!![emoji23] [emoji35] [emoji24] that is sooooooo funny!

Sent from my SM-N910R4 using Tapatalk

There's something here that doesn't sound quite right. A "No signal" is what the TV displays when it doesn't see your cable box. Comcast shows a different message "You have not subscribed to this service" when trying to access high def channels and you have not subscribed to high definition service. Your situation sounds more like you lost your HDMI input jacks that I mentioned happened to me, and if you search the net happens with some frequency. May we assume that you also reconnected your HDMI cable at both ends? You can also test the HDMI inputs with a DVD player if you have one.

Congradulations
 

A couple of questions. Do you actually believe the Politicians are not aware of the Cable charging rip off's?, Do you actually believe these problems have not been raised to the politicians many many times in the past? Do you really believe the Politicians are actually missing this problem and are not aware it exists? Of course they know it exists and has for years. Of course there is something rotten to the core and the citizens are paying for it. How many times have you gone into a store, decided to purchase something and when you were given the price screamed you were not going to pay that much and the merchant immediately said, "oh I'm sorry, here is a new price" and the guy behind you paid the higher amount and no anti trust laws are brought out by the Gov't. There are 2 crazy things that come to mind. (1) is the total unethical and illegal practices by the cable business's and (2) the unethical way way the cruise lines advertise/highlight their prices. The price they advertise is usually a cabin in the back of the ship, no windows, the sail date is to the Caribb in mid August and only applies when there is a full moon for 12 hours.
We are truly sheep who just put up with it while the Politicians milk our finances. It's a shame. :swear:

I could not agree more! Maybe we need to get Walmart or Amazon to enter the TV and Wifi business, We are all mercifully being robbed.
Thankyou for your post.

Hello Yucatan2,
I am very interested in the Antop antenna, I just order a model at 403B, from Amazon. i'm sure of what the difference is, i assume a higher part number means it is newer. How do you like the antenna model you have? Thanks Bill

As is true for almost every business in a capitalist, free market society.

Competition
 

It is true the market will drive the price however that is only accurate when there is "competition" which is not the case in some situations. You have a potential of 2 different types of stores. You can have a franchise store and you can have a company store. Go to the Cable franchise store and tell them your remote has failed. First you go to the Direct TV store and they tell you to go to Brighthouse as they represent just about all Cable Stores in The Villages. They will tell you they have to sell you the remote as they have to buy it from the Company. But you call the Company and they will sell you the remote much cheaper or provide it on the warranty. What is interesting is that one Store/Cable Company represents about all and therefore it is not price competitive. This is all done under the banner of "Franchise". The first question should always be regardless of cable or cell phone company.."Are you a Franchise or Company retail store. I am not sure there are any cable company stores in The Villages and it is necessary to go to the Internet? One thing that is an indication of a problem is if you look into a problem and the Franchise stores tries to sell a different cable company in order to get the commission. That's another story best held for another day. :ho:

UPDATE* Of course after being on the tel with Comcast, they "flipped the switch" and yes I now have an HDMI signal...Just wanted everyone to know if this happens to you, ( on 2 TWO separate TVS!) its not your HDMI cable or your connection, its to get the $ 9.95 HDMI fee...I wish they offered Brighthouse North of 466A but they don't...Only wanted to warn everyone before the scheduled a Comcast Visit etc...

My Candid Comment
 

For these cable companies
 

They all stink compared to other areas so they can get away with it.

Where we used to live, NY, we had FIOS, it was far fewer problems AND LESS EXPENSIVE.

I've wondered, why the villages, or sections of the villages don't get together and buy in bulk. Should not only be less expensive but, they have far more reason to be concerned about loosing 100 customers compared to any one of us.

You've been lucky
 

We too have a triple plan but ours is with comcast. The good news about the triple plan is when it goes out, I've lost count of how many times it has gone out in three years-about 6.
When, it goes out you have no TV, No computer, No phone.
Due to limited use, we pay by the minute for cell phone.
Sitting on hold for 45 minutes and then to have someone HANG UP ON YOU costs me 4.50. Oh, on our last service call, between 1-5:00 the tech never showed up. Our triple play so no phone,tv computer. A call to the office and we were told they would send someone in THREE DAYS.
A bit of insistence and they sent someone the next day.
We had already been without service for 2-3 days.
The guy comes over and discovers the people putting in a pool next door had cut the line. NOT FOOLIN he needs to call another crew to fix the line.

THE GOOD NEWS-not sure why but they did not bill my neighbor. We also had some landscapers cut the wire to the people on the other side of us and we were not billed either. They have britehouse-I think. We have comcast.

It is a pain in the neck but.....
 

Things like this you are dealing with a computer as far as the late fee. Obviously, you need to call a HUMAN and get the charge eliminated. I WOULD INSIST ON AN E-MAIL CONFIRMATION print it and put it in your PIA file. If, they do not do it right, five years from now you will get a collection letter for the $10 plus interest. Again, we deal with computers. These companies sell computer records of owed money to DIRTBAG collection agencies.

Personal experience, I had a medical bill paid with a CHECK.
It was sent in for collection and we were contacted by one of these TURDS. Once, I sent them a copy of the cancelled check by return receipt. A couple of years later it came up again. I had the complete file. I sent them a nasty letter. I told them I could send you yet another copy of the check but what I am sending is the SIGNED DELIVERY RECEIPT. If, they bother me again I will take them to small claims and sue both them and the doctor.

The OP was on Tuesday. I wonder if the problem has been resolved since? It always amazes me how a single complaint about Comcast/Xfinity morphs into a general indictment of the cable tv industry, and the need for more government oversight. IMHO Comcast is far from perfect but a hundred times better both in service and support than when we first arrived here in 2005. Trust me it was really horrible then.

Yes. See post #25.

I like xfiniity. They give me no reason not to. I understand rates could go up after first year but you may be able to get HBO or Showtime for free. As I see it, I plan on 200$ for cable and internet, and I am paying 100$ now, so when it goes up, I am good with it, but I still will moan to get some freebees. I like them.

What service are you using now?
How do you like it?