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?