Internet Service
 

The bill for my Xfinity package for TV, internet, and landline phone has become obscene. After doing a little homework I decided to try the T-Mobile 5G internet. Went to their store in Burnsed and signed up. They had my information except for payment method. Early in making out paperwork they asked for last 4 of my social security number which I gave them. He brought out the equipment and then asked for the first 5 numbers of my Social Security number. I told him I didn't give that to anyone unless they were hiring me. I was told I could not sign up for their service without giving them the entire number. We said goodbye at that point. Am I to believe customers in The Villages turned over that information to do business with T-Mobile? If so I understand why scammers like us.

Is a SSN required to run a credit check? I know cell companies do that before when signing up new customers.

Yes, T-Mobile requires an SSN so they can do a credit check.

“ It is normal for companies that provide internet, cable or phone service to ask for a prospective customer's Social Security number so they can run a credit check. They are, in a way, extending credit to you, in the form of service that you haven't yet paid for.”

Thank you for replies. It seems I'm in the minority for refusing to give out my SS number but I'm good with that.

It's all about what you are willing to do without.

If I don't want to turn over some kind of funds then I won't have a beer at the square tonight.

If I don't want to turn over bank account information then I won't use Zelle or certain features of Venmo.

If I don't want to show my driver's license then I won't be purchasing alcohol in some stores or states.

If you don't want to give your SSN then you won't get most mobile phones or plans (or a new car or a new home or DirectTV or anything else that requires a credit check).

To bad they didn't explain why they needed your S/S.

We went with Spectrum, after 20 years with Comcast. No SS# required. Zero problems, no buffering. We have T-Moble cell, and have never had to give them info, maybe it was before they requested it

T mobile requires it. Their way or the highway as they say.

Is your spectrum service DSL, coaxial, or fiber optic cable? We are looking to add internet service and spectrum only offers DSL where we live and I don’t want service that buffers.

Spectrum
 

Spectrum is Coaxial everywhere that its available. New customers can get 300mbps for 19.99 for 2yrs with no contracts. For more information give Lysander Jimenez a call 352-239-3538. He is one of the local sales rep for The Villages.

Same problem.
 

We had the same problem. I let them pull my Eqifax report that showed my 822 credit score. They said they needed to pull the other 2 reports. I refused and left. Since then every week I get a letter in the mail telling me to take my driver's license to the store to complete my application. So I did and they still needed the other 2 reports. I left and will not go back. :ohdear::ohdear:

Don’t waste your time with T-Mobile. We had a two week free trial and it bombed. The service coverage for cable was very spotty.

I never give out my SS number.

I use Spectrum for my internet service. I don’t have a landline phone. I dropped cable years ago and use the Amazon Firestick to access streaming services. I select what I want to watch and add or drop what I want to watch each month.

Total for all of the above averaged less than $125 per month

Like you we felt that Xfinity had become far too expensive. After a bit of research we felt the way to go was streaming. Went into the Xfinity store and told them we intended to leave.
They asked to see what they could do.
Long story short - bill cut by $80 per month and internet speed increased from 300mbs to 1 gb. If we had stayed with 300mb we would have saved over $100 per month.
Always worth asking.
And yes we got all the same channels and premium ones we already had.

Yes, very normal not only in TV.

Well personally I don’t think you seen the last of it. What does your S. S. # have to do with getting signed up with getting a phone. Guess they didn’t want your business to bad. Crazy world!

If you think withholding your SSN protects you from identity theft, then you would probably be mistaken. The fact that you are able to secure credit and transact other business without giving your full SSN should tell you that someone does not necessarily need your full SSN to use your identity. There are many ways that you can be violated by a thief without them having your SSN.

I'm not saying you shouldn't protect your SSN and other personal data, but if you don't trust major, known companies such as T-Mobile you may be restricting your ability to obtain goods and services that you may want or need. If you've bought a home, a car, a golf cart, or have credit cards you've probably given your SSN to obtain those goods and services. If your SSN is out there it can be obtained by other methods than your giving it to a company like T-Mobile.

I had Xfinity bundle with 5 TVs in the house, I dropped the cable and am streaming the equipment rental alone saved me a ton of money. The streaming package saved me more money, besides using my own modem, it easier to add and drop extras like HBO. I did keep the internet and cell phones with them which is $30 a month for 2 phones. I suggest before you leave Xfinity see what you're willing to do and what they will let you keep and at what price.

Xfinity Service
 

We just bought Xfinity WiFi and purchased YouTube TV. Streaming at 200 Mbps handles 4 TVs and all other devices without any problems. It’s about half the cost of cable.

We have never had a problem with our Spectrum service buffering. We are south of 44.

If you are considering alternatives for Internet service south of 44 in all the new areas.

First, there are Comcast/Xfinity and Spectrum using cable technology. In Marsh Bend those are the only wired options. Some newer areas on the Sawgrass side, I understand there may be some Fiber options.

Price promotions for the first year or two to draw you in. Goes from $$ to $$$$ after those first years. I have Spectrum, and have been happy with internet. I stopped the cableTV from Spectrum and switched to YouTube TV. Half the cost and much better.

If considering internet and/or TV service using cellular tech from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile...

South of 44, AT&T provides the best for me in Marsh Bend. I have used my hotspot capability at times for TV, as there are limits to performance, even though it's unlimited. They do not offer TV service.

Verizon and T-Mobile both provide cellular Internet for streaming, but the signal isn't as good. When I tested, Verizon was OK, and T-Mobile wasn't strong enough for us.

Best to ask for trial to see if it's going to work for you.

No comment about SS.

Yes they do. Xfinity wanted SSN number for cell service, but not internet. So I have internet with them and buy as you go Tracfone cell plan.

You're lucky - do not go with T-Mobile. Horrible coverage and you're stuck for 2 ye.
 

Spouses' medical devices can't even communicate out but t-mobile doesn't care. They also have hidden costs. TV freezes, texts and calls don't go through. Stay away if you can. VERY unhappy, with no help from them.

I have considered doing the same thing, but when I did the calculations, I was never able to save 50 percent by using YouTubeTV instead of Xfinity cable. Also, Xfinity cable has more features than YouTubeTV.

If you think that your SS # is not out there and available, you are sadly mistaken. By the time you're an adult, your SS# has been entered into so many databases it's impossible to keep it 100% secure. People need far more than just your SS# to do anything malicious.

So, do you refuse to provide your SSN to banks, investment companies, credit card companies, medical offices, pharmacies, mortgage companies, Federal and state agencies, title companies, hospitals, attorneys, and others?

Freeze your credit. It is free. People do not need your social security number to steal your identity, not that I think your not wanting to give it out is inappropriate. No one can get any credit in your name when you credit is frozen. I can top this story. I wanted to open an account at one of the credit unions and they required all three credit reports for me to DEPOSIT money in their institution. Say bye bye whenever you feel they ask too much.

I would be surprised if any bank allowed you to open an account without first pulling some form of history on you. When you "freeze your credit" you are likely only freezing queries from the big three agencies - there are more. Banks have another reporting agency that they can/do use though I can't think of the name of it right now. Freezing your credit with the big three does not affect this one that banks use.

Perhaps the Credit Union intended to send you offers for their credit card or other services that depend on clean credit reports. It would be easier for them to pre-screen members using reports from the big three then have to find out later you were a risk.

Slightly off topic but you are not missing anything with T-Mobile's internet. We tried it and it is slow and disconnects a lot. Verizon's was not much better.
We negotiated with Xfinity and now pay a total of $235.00 per month for TV 200+ stations, fast internet 400+ speed, home phone and 2 cell phones lines. One stop-shop bundle.

Where do you live?

We live between 466A and 44 and CenturyLink home Internet no longer working for our streaming tv service. We are trying T-mobile because that is our cellphone carrier but the 2 routers they gave us have not worked. T-mobile is sending a third one but my guess is it won’t be any better. Customer service assures us they service our area but I remain skeptical.

We have Spectrum internet 300 south of 44, and we have a problem fairly often with buffering, and even more often with lips not synced with audio on whatever we’re watching. It’s frustrating.

The actual location in your home makes a big difference. I set up the T-Mobile box for my father in his home in NY. I had to try three locations before I found one that worked reliably. I haven't checked the T-Mobile coverage maps lately but depending on your address you might be at the edge of their coverage just like my father is.

Wow! They didn’t have that deal a few months ago when we signed up with them for 300 mbps. We’re paying $73 monthly. I guess our timing sucked.

The funny thing is ... if you have xfinity, then you gave them your SSN some time back. Xfinity requires the SSN for the same reason as everyone else. The only way to avoid it for cell phone would be a pre-paid account. But, that doesn't work for internet and home phone.

No internet today, so far. Tried to get on my premarket show this morning and no internet. Thanks Xfinity.

we have same problem with Spectrum,we now pay$70 for internet, have you found any other options south of 44?

Then I assume you are posting this from your phone.

Other than a few (3-5) minutes here and there I've never had any issue with Xfinity internet so I don't know what their customer service is like. Their phone app has some troubleshooting steps you can try. Perhaps it also has an outage map or a way to report a problem.

Depending on your phone you have an alternative.

My wife and I have xFinity internet, plus two iPhone 13s that are on the xFinity plan for $30 per month each, unlimited text, data, etc. I'm not too knowledgeable about other phones but our iPhones have a feature where they can become your "hotspot" for internet service. If our internet service decides to take a short vacation the phones are our backup: iPads, Apple Watch, etc. all connect to it. A bit slower than our regular xFinity internet but not much. I don't know if our TVs would run off the phone hotspot or not but I'm not much concerned about that anyway.

Excellent backup in an emergency.

Finally got service.