Comcast Install Nightmare

We moved into the Broadlands about a month ago. I thought I'd share a bit of our experience with Comcast. In short, it has and continues to be a nightmare. I don't think I have experienced a worse experience before. We were scheduled for cable/internet/phone install on 25 May. It is still not complete. We have had literally 7 visits from different Comcast technicians/contractors. We still today have a temporary coax line that runs across our neighbors lawn for 4 weeks now that was supposed to be buried 3 weeks ago. We had a cable box installed that did not update. We had poor signal performance. The story goes on and on and on. I am seriously considering getting out of my 12 month contract. It is not worth the bundled price that I thought was a good deal at the time. I guess there was a good reason the previous owner had satellite.

 

We moved in this past April and have had nothing but problems with Comcast as well. We've had 3 technician visits because of probelms with their boxes going bad. I've had to call 4 or 5 times to get a signal sent to the box because I lose different features such as HD channels or DVR. It's getting to be rediculous! I can't wait for Verizon FIOS to get here....it couldn't possibly be this bad!

 

Talk to people in Brambleton about how much fun it was/is dealing with Verizon FIOS customer service to get service set up! Trust me, it can be that bad.

Although, the techs who come to the house are great.

 

Comcast NONinstall nightmare!

My husband just bought Tivo HD, which only works with cable. (It is not compatible with both Dish and cable, like the older Tivo.) He cancelled Dish effective November 9, which was the same day that Comcast was supposed to come deliver and install the cable card. Comcast was supposed to come between 9am and 12, but instead called at about 11am to say they didn't have the equipment in stock.

The same thing happened TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES, even though Comcast "confirmed" ahead of time that they had the equipment. After the 3rd failed appointment, my husband was tired of missing work, desperate for some kind of TV, and very frustrated. He asked Comcast if he could lease one of their own basic DVR machines in place of the cable card -- thinking that he could get the cable card (which offers better features and superior technology) at a later date. Comcast assured him this wouldn't be a problem. However, they didn't show up for the FOURTH TIME. When we insisted on speaking with a manager, the customer disservice rep said that none were available and that she would have a manager call us back in 15 minutes. That was yesterday and we haven't heard from anyone.

Believe me, if there were other cable TV options, we'd have quickly signed up for one of them. I'm still trying to convince my husband to put the new HD Tivo away for the time being and reactivate the Dish service we had before, even if it means buying or leasing the equipment again, but he's reluctant to do that.

Anyone hear of any updates on breaking up the cable monopolies? As soon as we have another option, I'd give up Comcast in a heartbeat!

 

Have you tried visiting the local office for comcast? When I have had to swap out equipment, it has seemed that they have hundreds of DVRs in various states. The only thing that takes time is getting the disservice rep to acknowledge your existence.

You might even try to re-broach the cablecard issue, but I think that there is some rule about them needing to be the ones to do the install.....

 

One word for your experiences....

TYPICAL!!!

 

Exactly! That's what happens when you have a monopoly...

 

Thanks for the advice to visit the Red Rum office ... Believe it or not, my husband scheduled a 5th service call with them tomorrow. If they don't show again, maybe he should show up at their office. Do they let customers in easily? You'd think a place like Comcast, with their reputation for frustrating customers, would have bullet proof glass and security guards to keep people out!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702359.html?hpid=artslot

 

How about Dish Networks HD DVR? We have used Dish DVR's for years and recently upgraded to the HD DVR and are really happy with them.

 

Dish's DVR doesn't compare well to the TiVo. DirecTV used to have a DirecTivo that supported HD but they have given up on it for their own version similar to Dish. Lots of people are bailing from DirecTV because of the TiVo issue. I have two HD DirecTiVos that I use and hope I can hold out without the new channels until FiOS comes to the area. At that point I'll switch to the HD TiVo and FiOS too.