Hack or trash a Comcast DVR

crabby_bob

Why do more damage to yourself by fighting with them? I agree, Comcast sucks. I couldn't change that and neither can you, but fighting with them is not going to fix anything. I returned the box and took advantage of the opportunity to tell a Comcast rep face to face, as opposed to over the phone, exactly what I believe is wrong with their company. I left feeling a little better and have never regretted kicking them out of my house. Just give them back their box and walk away knowing you've done the right thing.

crabby_bob

I believe it's a feeling of helplessness. At least for me it was. When I first signed up with Comcast I felt I was getting a good deal. But over the years the price went up and stations went away to be replaced by stations I didn't care to watch. I had no choice but to accept theses new terms or terminate my contract. I live in a fringe area so analog reception was not great and digital reception is horrible. I tried to drop them once but after experimenting with OTA I went back. After a few more rate hikes and channel changes I decided OTA was preferable to being jerked around by Comcast. It ticked me off that I had no other choices. I don't consider Satellite to be a good replacement for cable. I was angry with Comcast not because I felt entitled to free cable but because I was frustrated with not being allowed to negotiate a package that would suite my needs. They simply dismissed my requests. I thought of fighting with them over the box because it was the only thing I could do to get their attention but decided it wasn't worth the aggravation.

Chicagoman

I can understand your frustration with Comcast. Two years ago they said that on a certain date they were going to stop sending analog through the cable to analog tvs. They were giving, rental free, digital converter boxes for the older sets. I called and ordered one. They gave me a delivery date from DHL (Yeah, Right). Waited all day because I had to sign for it but no converter. Called DHL who said Comcast never gave them the package to deliver so I ordered another. When it arrived (another day) I crawled around on the floor and hooked it up. Then called to activate it. I was told to wait an hour or two for the activation to go through. Nothing. Called again and was told to wait a day or two. Nothing. After almost a week, with no service, I called again and they said it was because of my wiring or equipment and they sent a tech (another day). When he came I explained the problem and he laughed and said there was nothing wrong with my wiring or equipment. He wasn't even going to check it. The problem was all in the office. The Comcast computers or "headers"(?), that do the activations, were terribly underpowered and overloaded and it was taking days for them to get to each activation command. The CS people at Comcast knew this but were lying to customers who called to buy time with phoney tech calls. He suggested unplugging the box ...because.... actually digital conversion hadn't taken place on the date specified in the letter sent out! The signal was still all analog!!!!. I disconnected the box and sure enough had service again. Weeks later I lost the analog signal, reconnected the converter and was able to activate it.
I reported my inconvenience and aggravation, shared by a whole city, to the local newpaper "The Chicago Sun-Times". Their technology reporter contacted me wanting copies of letters, dates, times and the names of CS people at Comcast I had talked to. He took that information and similair city-wide stories and scheduled a meeting with Kevin J. Martin, then Chairman of the FCC. Nothing ever came of that meeting. The reporter never called me back and the paper never printed a word. Since then Mr. Martin has resigned (January 2009) after an investigation into his relationship with the cable companies. 'Google' it if you don't believe me.
So...bottom line; I've moved on and so should you. Mail back the damn box with 'delivery confirmation'. It's not worth any further hassel. Keeping the box will only lead to legal action that you can't win. Protect your health and sanity by avoiding any personal interaction with Comcast. I now pay my bill and hang up on them when they call to sell me more services. When Comcast works it works but when it doesn't....it's pure Hell!

bicker

But why now, and not 50 years ago? Helplessness hasn't increased in real terms. We're just less suited or willing to accept the limitations and restrictions we face, graciously.

crabby_bob

People have always felt helpless when faced with monopolies such as the phone company, the electric company, City Hall, etc. It's frustrating to talk to someone unwilling to listen or unable to help. It always comes down to "If you don't like it go someplace else." The natural response is "OK, I'll go someplace else, bite me." (not you, the monopoly). The level of frustration is inversely proportional to the availability of alternatives and that's why it's more pronounced when cable companies are involved. There is 0 chance that I'll ever be able to buy cable service from anyone but Comcast.

bicker

You can choose to move to a place where you can have alternatives -- someplace in the town you live in now. Every municipality in the United States has a competitive market for subscription television. Accusations about monopoly is just FUD -- ask the SEC if you doubt it.

You have options. Can you afford all the options available? That's on you. Have you made other decisions that remove some or all of your available options? That's on you. In the end, blaming a service provider because you value their services too much to do without but still want to pay less, or to have the services provided another way, is just an excuse.

crabby_bob

Sorry, Comcast is a monopoly. I'm sure there's all sorts of FUD about competition but the bottom line is this: I can't get cable from anyone but Comcast. The city sold them the contract and I don't recall reading anything in the paper where the contract was up for bid and any company other than Comcast was bidding.

I'm not going to move because of Comcast. There are more important reasons why I live where I do. Comcast sucks but I'm not blaming them. They aren't a charity and have no obligation to give a rat's ass about their customers as long as they can keep them. I'm explaining why some people like the original poster felt angry enough to do something irrational. I obviously don't value Comcast services as much as they do since I don't use them. And, considering how poor my reception has become with DTV, that's saying a lot about how little I value them. After looking at all the alternatives OTA was the one I chose as being the most reasonable. It had nothing to do with affording one thing or another. It had to do with value, and their unwilligness to offer a better more affordable programming package. I'm not going to buy their crap just because their the only company allowed to sell cable services in town. I'm sorry if I upset you. I was just trying to bring some common sense to an irrational thread.

P.S.: My family likes to point out that if I had spent the money I've "invested" on OTA equipment on basic cable I could have bought a 5 year subscription and still had money left over. But it was never a question purely of cost.

bicker

Sorry, Comcast is not a monopoly in any municipality in the United States. I know you want to be able to justify your frustration by saying that they are a monopoly, but they're not. Again, what you're saying is FUD. If you disagree, check with the SEC.

One person's own personal problems don't affect the reality of the marketplace. You don't have to buy my anything; it is going to govern the reality you deal with regardless of whether you buy it or not.

crabby_bob

Comcast is a monopoly. I can't subscribe to any other cable provider.

I've said all I have to say. A post was made. The poster was dumped on. I offered him some advice based on my experience. I'm done. Much like dealing with Comcast I don't need the aggravation.

bicker

Gosh you really live up to your user name.

Comcast is a monopoly in the realm of Crabby Bob... that's it. Again, if you disagree, get the SEC to ratify your opinions.

DoctorCAD

Man up and pay your bills.

Or you could return the device and be done with it.

Only cowards cheap out on their signed contracts.

rjordan392

The original poster's contract may be differant then in other parts of the Country. The cable company can ask for their receiver box after cancellations but these boxes are normally delivered and installed by the technician. I don't believe they have the right to tell anyone to physically return the box. If they want the box, let them come and get it. The homeowner must allow the cable company access to retrieve their box. That's what Comcast does in Philadelphia, Pa.

I can understand the poster's frustrations as I also had disagreements with Direct TV on everything from the ordering process to the installation. They would not negoiate. And you are locked in on a two year contract, which I say is outragious.
So I cancelled my order.

I am now awaiting installation by Comcast. Their contract is better then DTV. I believe some government authority should step in and look over everything in these contracts because customers have to agree to unreasonable demands or questionable fees in order to receive service.

I use to have Comcast years ago. Reception was excellent but their service would go down about two times a year but not enough to make me cancel. I cancelled due to the double digit increases. Right now, Comcast looks better then the Satellite companys.

bicker

You're right that things can be different where the OP lives, but I bet it isn't, because this is one of the few things that is very consistent from coast-to-coast.

Generally, for a fee, which may or may not have been waived, but even if the installation fee was waived, there was nothing every promised to anyone that disconnection would be free.

Do keep in mind that the OP could have had Comcast pick up the box... he just would have been liable for the cost of a truck roll. It is clear in notices that the customer has received at least once a year that there is a fee for a truck roll

Frustration is understandable. Not living up to your obligations because you're frustrated that someone else's obligations aren't what you wanted them to be isn't. That's really the crux of many consumer issues. Consumers want. They foster expectations based on what they want. Suppliers offer. They make offers based on what's most profitable, what best serves their owners' best interests. Consumers take the next step: They accept the supplier's offer but they fail to adopt expectations in line with what they just accepted! They still operate as if the world is structured based on what they want, rather than operating based on the reality.

And prices will sky-rocket, like whenever government gets involved and starts imposing unfunded mandates. Some of us actually like prices lower, and are willing to do our part to support that. The rest of you can pay the extra fees and get the extra level of service you want.

And it is great that we have a competitive marketplace where you are assured of getting the best price for value, because you have the choices you have.

rjordan392

I read "Comcast's" customer agreement and there is nothing in it about payable cost of truck rolls to the customer. However just like all business's, it is hidden under "Other Charges" leaving it open to interpretation. This is business's way of merchandizing to keep customer knowledge of cost's to a minimum so that they do not lose their competitive edge with the competition.

It is obvious from your reply that you are all pro-business. It is pro-business ideas that started "Unfair Trade" between us and the rest of the world. This has cost millions of manufacturing & white collar jobs. And now our country is over 13 trillion in debt, thanks to pro-business.

Everything in these business contracts or agreements protects the business. Where is the consumer contract? How about them receiving fee's for lousey service? Its all one sided in business favor.

bicker

Then you didn't read the notices.

I have it right here in front of me. Go to you local office and pick up the price sheet, if you have lost your bill from the last time they published all the fees, and stop making excuses for your failures.

I'm an American capitalist, not a socialist.