No morre comcast
 

I have had it with Comcast about vacation mode. A long story. I will need new services. (Television, phone, Internet, wireless) I would assume Dish TV is the way to o with the television. But what do I do with the telephone, and Internet hookup? I heard about Vontage for the phone but I'm not sure how good it is.

my wife is ready to sell the house in The Villages. She is bent out of shape over the greed of Comcast. Before she does something stupid, I need to find ann answer.

Please help me. I love The Villages. Don't want to live in NY anymore.

Not a defender of Comcast.....
 

I am curious what the issue is. I have Comcast in two places $$$$ and put them on and off vacation yearly. I am just about to do it for my Villages account in fact.

I do know one issue no more than six months....

Just started Comcast Vacation Plan last week.....no issues at all, although the first rep I talked to told me that they weren't "offering it anymore"! He passed me through to someone else who told me that they still DO offer it. We will be away just 2 months, which is the minimum required time to use this plan. We will save about $260 over two months and that is nothing to sneeze at. Neither satellite company has a "vacation plan" that I know of. This will be our 4th or 5th consecutive year of using Comcast's plan.

We have Direct TV at both homes, one in WA state and the other in TV.

We have been able to put both homes on vacation hold when we are in the other location. The only thing it does if you have a new plan it extends the final date. So far have been happy with Direct TV.

Tom, I'd talked with Comcast late last year about how to temporarily suspend their services when we wouldn't be in TV and found it to be too restrictive for us to consider. Sorry you're having problems with them.

What we wound up doing:

TV (as in television) - We've got DirecTV here in OH. They installed a satellite antenna out back at our place in TV - no charge for standard installation. We bring our two satellite receivers with us from OH when we go down there, plug them in/cable everything up, make a phone call to DirecTV for them to "switch to our other service location", and presto - satellite TV in TV (!? :) ), including the local channels from central FL. The sweetest thing is there's absolutely no change/increase in our monthly DirecTV bill. When we come back to OH, we take the receivers back with us, make the phone call again to DirecTV, and it's done. You can check with Dish Network as well - they might have the same type of option. As an aside, that "switch service locations" phone call is a little tricky to get the person on the other end to do the right "stuff" to make things happen correctly. Contact me if you go this route - I've got all the bugs worked out of how the phone call/process needs to works!!

Phone - We just use our cell phones while we're there. I'd consider doing the same (no land line) even if we were spending more/all of our time in TV. You might take a look at Vonage in more detail if you want a house phone - Ooma is a similar (though less costly option) as well. Both require an "always up" internet connection but don't require your computer to be running like Magic Jack does.

Internet - We're close to Seabreeze rec center so I usually run over there with my PC occasionally to get the free internet connection. It's aggravating but easy enough to accept since we're not in TV very often. Longer term, I'd take a look at internet connectivity via our cell phone service provider. Others on here who have actually gone that route can give you much better info on that option than I can.

Hope that helps!

Bill :)

The Comcast representative I spoke to says "The vacation mode expires on July 15. If we stay until August 15, we are not allowed to use the service. So in other words, if we stay until August 16, we will be without TV, phone and Internet for a month.

That would affect me also, so thanks for the heads up. I will call and see what I get. One of my frustrations with Comcast is that I never get the same story from two different support reps. Will let you know what I find out.

Comcast is a monopoly and I wish Verizon could get a piece of the action in The Villages. This way I could flip flop my service from Ny to Florida.

I must be missing something here. I come down in the fall and get comcast to hook up the TV and internet. When I leave in the spring/summer I turn in the boxes and cancel my service. I pay a small hook-up and disconnect fee. But that's less than the vacation fee. They usually have a fall special that I take advantage of too. I have the Ooma phone with 2 local numbers. Ohio and Florida. It seems to work for me.

Bob

We're dumping Comcast too. Way too many problems and phone calls trying to straighten out incorrect bills.

Tom, I just called Comcast, I was first connected to Connecticut, then transferred to MA and finally got FL, but that is another story:censored:. You are right about the 7/15 date. I have never left FL this late, so I was unaware the ability to put your Comcast account on vacation for the summer ends 7/15.

We do not have phone via Comcast, we use Verizon wireless and Skype for phone. My summary information I learned below does not include costs for phone vacation or hookup.

For Comcast we have television (tv) (extended whatever), HD and DVR, and high speed internet.

If we put the whole bundle on vacation Friday there is a one time fee of $80 (no hookup fee, no returning boxes).

In the three previous years, we have done something like bob45, canceling everything except BASIC tv and putting just BASIC tv on vacation. If we do that it is a one time fee of fee of $20. (no hookup fee, must return boxes)

If we cancel the whole thing we return boxes and pay a hookup fee of $40.

Tom, sounds like the last one is your only option. As bob45 said it may work because Comcast has no contracts, so you are eligible for any deal a new customer gets upon return. Doing it the way we have done (downgrading service to basic cable and putting that on vacation), we have gotten some deal every year upon return and upgrading our service. Every year, when we return we look for specials and always get Internet for $19.95 for 6 months and some years get other stuff.

Anyway... now I have to think what I am going to do.....

Know What you Mean
 

I know what you all mean..My cable bill (with internet/phone) became more than I pay in taxes. They reduced my bill but if it comes back to it's old rate I am definitely going to change carriers. They are just too expensive. !!! I guess they are also playing around with vacation rates. There are other ways to get service in TV's and it looks like it may be necessary to change carriers in order to get back to something reasonable. My monthly rates climbed to just about the same as my "Property Tax and Bond" bill. :grumpy:

tom - just for your consideration - comcast [florida] recently called me [in nj now] and offered my florida location their current triple play bundle of tv/phone/internet for $99/mo with free hbo for three mos and sho for a year [movie channels normally $15/mo].

second yr pricing increases to $115 and third yr to $130. do not indulge in hd and dvr so did not inquire about those services. rep could only sched install 3 mos out - told her would be back in jan/2012 and would like to install then - she said she would not the file and i should call back just before we get there to sched install date [will take about a week to switch phone# from century link - will keep same # though].

our friends have had the same pkg for two yrs and have had no problem with vacation/restart.

might this pkg be worth calling back and asking to speak with a supv from the group that deals with new customers?

It not as much as the price , Beach, (although $150 monthly it is steep. It is, they (Comcast) is telling me when I can come and go. Their vacation mode ends on July 15. I am leaving on August 16. Either I have to up my flight to satisfy Comcast or stand my ground and show them I have my rights also. I spoke to Bill (Of the famous Bill and Brillo team) on the phone in depth today and he gave me a few options. It sounds like AJ might be being squeezed also.

Bottom line is, I will return in January (maybe late December) but I WILL NOT pay four-five months @ 150 monthly for nothing.

I've also owned my own business for 36 years. If an employees of mine ever gave customers the "You need us , we don't need you " attitude my employee would be an ex-employee.

Comcast
 

Although, we are here full time, we are tired of Comast and their rates. We are switching to Century Link with bundled phone, internet and Prism Tv (not sat). More channels, unlimited calling with features including long distance and a higher speed internet. It is $58.00 a month cheaper the first year then will be $46.00 cheaper.

Tom - This might be worth a look-see for your situation. Wonder how Century Link handles temporary shut-offs of service when you'd be away?

Bill :wave:

Yes, Bill. Century Link might be a possibility. I'll check it out. Thanks for the tip Dennis

I tried to send a PM to Dennis but his PM isn't functional. I'd like to converse with you about Century Link. What I saw on Google looked like a winner.

i hear ya, tom! wish we could go the centurylink way but we live in lady lake which is still on satellite for television, internet speed is practically in reverse mode compared to comcast speed [slightly faster than dial-up] and their telephone service is little better that two tin cans and a string! i do give them props for their customer service, tho - don't think i have ever been disappointed or frustrated with that!

it seems that the utilities in each of my home locations restrict 'vacation' service to six months/yr whether you are there or not. i can't get upset over it - i save my jersey for bigger fish! ;)

good luck in your quest!

Tom, I'm thrilled with Direct TV and once my Comcast contract for data is done in January, I'm going with Century for data. I disdain Comcast more than any other company I've dealt with. Long story, but not worth my blood pressure. I'm sending you a PM.

I too am upset with the constant increases for tv service from Comcast. However, I need the high speed Internet. I suppose I should deal with the inconvenience of going with different providers. I'm thinking Century Link for TV and stay with Comcast for phone and Internet. Does anyone have this combination? We don't need the sports channels but like HD.

Prism
 

FWIW we've had Prism for tv for about 2 weeks and tonight - no tv at all! They say it's an outage in our neighborhood and are working to restore it. I have to say I'm not very impressed with them so far!

OK, just as soon as I posted this, our tv came back on! I take back everything, and all I can say is - wow, you ARE good TOTV!!!!

Direct T V, cell phones,& Century Link for internet! Like Bill we call Directory T V to let them know we've changed locations ....no interruption on service done this way.Although it was hard for my wife to let go of the "need" for a land line we've been cell phones only for 2 years now and surely don't miss it. Century Link for internet allows us to put the service on vacation mode for the 4 months we're up north.

We use Comcast for TV and hi-speed Internet. I've found that Comcast prices are usually negotiable, and they may have "win-back" specials. For the last four summers, we've had no problem with putting our service to sleep for six months while we travel north. We use Vonage for phone, with two "virtual" numbers which ring in TV as well as our lake cottage in Canada.

Vacation Rates
 

We have had Comcast for the past 11 years.Two years ago we switched to Comcast Triple Play(Phone,Internet and TV).We put all of our services on vacation from May until October.The Vacation rate is 15.00 per month,equipment does not have to be returned and I was happy to discover that our phone was left in service and I can listen to my voice mails on my computer.Also it was cheaper by 32.00 per month than when we used Centurylink for Internet and Phone and the Phone service includes unlimited Long Distance.

[QUOTE=bargee;370540.The Vacation rate is 15.00 per month,equipment does not have to be returned .[/QUOTE]

That is good and dandy. But try putting Comcast on vacation mode in August. It ain't happening. According to Comcast I have to take my vacations when they allow me to. If not I will have to pay few price until I return. Being on a fixed income, laying out $600 for nothing is not good financial planning.

I agree with your displeasure Tom. It make no sense that Comcast institutes a window where starting vacation can take place. I have not checked, but I wonder if this window is built for "seasonal" residents and the window is just the opposite in MA (places up north), i.e., must start vacation before Dec 1??

Like said before, just return the stuff, cancel the service and ponder what to get upon return. I am so tied to the high speed Internet for work in TV, I have not dared to try a different service YET.

We have Comcast Cable only, so far, in the Villages, since we are part timers.
I spoke to Comcast back in March about a "Vacation Hold" and was told that the timeline was April 1st - July 15th to request a vacation hold. So I chose to start it April 1st for a 2 to 6 month period ending December 8th, for a one time fee of $60.00, was also told that the price in the Villages is different than elsewhere, also depends on the type of setup one has, ie HD DVR, etc. NOTE: YOU not only pay a one time fee, you also pay a monthly fee for the Cable Box/HD DVR. So needless to say that by mid April we had decided that we would be needing the cable back on, because we planned an unexpected trip to the villages in May, so we had Comcast remove the Vacation Hold for April 1st, we had already paid the 60.00 dollars and our next bill was for 2 months (April & May minus the $60.00) for a total of $203.00. We are now back on Vacation Hold which started June 1st. We will no doubt get another bill for the June 1st Vacation Hold (60.00), plus taxes/fees/charges for cable box/DVR. I VERY MUCH DISLIKE HAVING TO PAY OUTLANDISH AMOUNTS FOR CABLE SERVICES, TAXES, FEES AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY CAN TACK ON!!! I know my story rambles on and on, however if it appears confusing to you, then you know how confused I am about this whole process!!!

We are closing on our house in CT on Aug. 31 (fingers crossed). We are spending a few days in our Buttonwood home over Labor Day weekend. During that weekend, we are having our DirecTV installed on Saturday, September 3.

My question is about bringing our current DirecTV HD receiver/DVR to TV. We are flying into Orlando on September 2. I assume we can't take our DVR/Receiver on the plane.

Has any DirecTV user encountered this situation and how did you solve it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Why couldn't you take it on a plane??

Maybe you can but it seems that a black electronic box in the possession of a passenger might be cause for concern. If we can take it, we will.

lou and carolyn c. -

you posted, "...needless to say that by mid April we had decided that we would be needing the cable back on, because we planned an unexpected trip to the villages in May..."

if your service is like my friend's comcast triple play bundle [village of silver lake] your cable service is still connected and live when on vacation mode - BUT - it only offers the basic service plan. so if/when you have short, surprise visits to tv after your cable goes 'on vacation' and IF you can abide having only basic channels, you can disconnect the digital box and connect the cable directly to the television for service! no cost for reversing and restarting the 'vacation' mode and no need to call comcast during the short trip.

your 'on vacation' phone is also available for use to make outgoing calls - BUT - only in the local calling area - no long distance available!

njbchubum:
We only have Cable in the Villages. What you stated here is very informative, I did not think about just the basic cable part of our service when planning on our return trip, very interesting to say the least. Thank you for this information, I will keep it in memory (hopefully) if and when this happens to us again.

I had DirecTV in Ohio and continued it in TV. I'm into HD and it's better than Dish or cable. Using Comcast only for Internet ($35.95/mo). Bought my own modem for 50 bucks so I avoid the rental fee. Using OOMA for phone service. Purchase the unit for about $200 and starting the second year pay an annual fed tax of about $12. That's the only cost...no monthly like Vonage. If you're a snowbird, you can use your OOMA anywhere you have an internet connection.

I thought that OOMA couldn't be used in Canada. Has this changed, do you know?

I'm thrilled with Direct TV and, for now, we have Comcast for out internet service. I also purchased OOMA for our phone service and it has worked flawlessly with no degradation in voice quality as compared to Comcast. Other than a small tax, we do not have a monthly telephone bill.

Once my contract with Comcast is up, I plan to change to Century Link for internet service. I believe there is an additional $5 credit for bundling both Century link and Direct TV ( I'm not sure who provides the credit ).

Worse case: UPS them down to your place in TV a day or two before you leave. You'll beat them down there since you're flying.

Bill :)

Not sure about Canada

We currently have COMCAST for TV, but I am looking at other options such as DISH or DIRECTV ... we have 4 TVs and my understanding is that you have to have (and pay for) multiple receivers (4?) and may have to do some rewiring of the cable runs ... IF this is true, what does it end up costing and is it worth it?