So as I’ve mentioned on this board in another thread, I switched from Comcast Voice to Ooma. My old phone number fully works on Ooma, proven multiple times, and I returned my cable modem to a Comcast store. Further, my rundown on Comcast’s website shows only TV and Internet — no phone. Yet when I go to the page for shopping for services and take a look at my current bill breakdown, the phone service, modem, and non-listed number service are still listed on my bill.
Now, I’m not too concerned about that yet, especially considering that my bill for last month isn’t even fully due yet. What I’m wondering is this: when I went to return the modem last week Saturday, I asked about switching to a TV/Internet only bundle. But the service guy told me the porting was still in progress, and he didn’t want to screw anything up. He suggested calling next Tuesday to change my bundle.
My questions are: given y’all’s experience with Comcast, should I go in to the store to change my bundle anyway, just in case the porting still isn’t done? When should I do so to maximize the chances it’s done? And by what method am I most likely to get the best deal (I’m planning on threatening to cut off TV too, leaving only Internet, without a good one; I’m perfectly happy following through if need be)?
My experience with all the cable companies I’ve dealt with is that it takes them about two billing months to get the billing straightened out. Usually, since I’ve been cancelling service completely, I just ignore the bill until the cancellation is figured in, and then pay what’s due. In your case, I’d pay the cable and internet, and ignore the phone. I would suggest that you immediately complain: “Why are you billing me for phone?” Then just don’t pay the phone part. Repeat as needed. Eventually, it’ll get straightened out.
Good point. Part of my dilemma is that I’m not 100% sure whether the number port officially cancelled my phone service or not. I’ve gotten conflicting info on it (Ooma says it doesn’t, but I realized that they’d have to say that regardless, lest they get blamed if something screws up). That’s why I was wondering whether and when to approach Comcast about a new bundle.
Plus, I want to pay less for my remaining services anyway.
In case anyone cares, I made the call today. After confirming that my phone service was finished porting, I got a new bundle. It comes with a contract, but the cancellation fee goes down with each month that passes, and I had no plans to switch as an Internet provider anyway. AND it comes with a couple of new perks on TV (HBO and their streaming video service).
Total cost is about $100 less per month than I was paying before. It feels good.
… And now that I check out the agreement through my account on the Web, the charge in it is, by my sole recollection, $10/month higher than was quoted to me on the phone.
It’s still a lot cheaper than what I was paying before, and cheaper than what I would’ve paid with the other option I was presented, but now I’m wondering how much of a fuss I should make and whether it’d make a difference. (I know, I know, that’s what Comcast and companies like them count on, but still, I think you see my point.)
If it were me, I would make enough fuss to get the $10 taken off. But I am experienced in the process of being absolutely relentless in nagging and nagging and nagging and making it absolutely clear that I will never give up until I get what I want.
Never get angry, never raise your voice, never take No for an answer.
Two years, and I have a reminder on my iPad. :). If nothing else, it gives me time to judge whether I truly want to keep TV. And either way, I’m no longer paying over fifty bucks to them, so I’m still ahead.