Cable & Internet rate negotiation thread.

I steal wireless internet from my neighbors and pay nothing. I know I shouldn't, but am I really hurting anyone?

REPPED. Like it. I will call and ask about that service. )

any good negotiated deals with ?

1) CHARTER INTERNET CABLE - SO CA region
2) ATT DRY LOOP DSL - SO CA region

Don't have Cable. Verizon Internet contract up in August - current contract: 6mo. free $19.99 thereafter for 768 DSL. Negotiated new contract with their retention dept. - upgrade speed to 1MB, one month free and $14.99/mo. for the remaining 11 months. Can change contract if they come up w smth. better.

gargamel51 said: Cerdo said: I'd be happy to pay A-LA-CARTE programming, but they won't offer it until enough people are fed up.
You can reasonably approximate à la carte programming with a combination of Hulu/Netflix (for "renting" shows) and Amazon VOD/iTunes (for "buying" them).

Or bittorent (for "stealing" them.)

I am categorically opposed to ever paying full list prices for tv/internet, but my only viable option for those services is Comcast since there is no fiber network in my area yet, the maximum DSL speed available is 1.5mbps and satellite, even with promotional prices and the famous AAA discount, still ends up being way more expensive than Comcast's promotional price.

As most of us know, Comcast's retention deals are always YMMV, since they depend on the area, the rep and your telephone skills. I've always been able to get these deals but it's generally a hassle. Well, our latest promo was set to expire in a few days and I got Comcast's retention to give us the new customer promo again without any hassle whatsoever -- $29.99 for 12 months for Digital Starter with free HBO and High Definition, $9.95 for 12 months for HD DVR and 2 free digital converter boxes plus $19.99 for 6 months for their Performance internet (up to 15mpbs with power boost -- we've been getting about 10mpbs-12mbps). Of course, there's no contract.

Frankly, I don't know how much of this is attributable to the economy and how much is to dumb luck, but it seems to make sense that in a tough economy people would be cutting out "luxuries," such as cable, which would cause companies like Comcast to relax their retention rules even in the absence of any real competition from other providers.

Too bad AT&T doesn't offer retention deals on landline service and I refuse to cut out the landline since our burglar and fire alarm can't operate on VoIP (our homeowner's insurance discounts for having monitored burglar and fire alarm more than pay for landline cost), a landline is convenient and landline voice quality is soooooooo much higher than cell phone quality.

ppatin said: I steal wireless internet from my neighbors and pay nothing. I know I shouldn't, but am I really hurting anyone?
Yes, you are hurting this thread by posting useless info on it.

This has been mentioned in other threads, but one approach that works well with Comcast HSI (after the initial 1 yr. promo) is to reduce service to qualify for a new promo. The steps are something like this:

1. Get HSI with basic cable for $19.99/mo. for 12 months + ~$8 for cable and get $100-$150 rebate
2. Drop basic cable (those channels are still available anyway)
3. $19.99/mo promo expires and go back to paying full price for a short time
4. Call and reduce service to slower HSI (1Mbs instead of 12 or 15Mbs) for $24.99/mo
5. Call back in a few days and cancel or ask for promo and get the full-speed internet back with $19.99/mo. promo again for 6-12 months

The point is that once the first promo expires, they are unlikely to give another one until the service is reduced to the slower speed first. Of course, YMMV.

It's been a few years, but I recall the hispanics getting offered much better deals by Comcast. One such plan was CableLatino which offered all the basic digital Channels, Digital Tuner, On Demand and a few other add ons for about $20 per month.

I also found that local sales reps are more in tune with what deals can be had for Comcast. The local rep found pricing plans that the 800# customer service denied existing.

The Hot Deals forum is full of Comcast, Verizon and DirecTV threads. Do we really need another one?

davegolden99 said: Anyone got any Fios negotiations? I can't seem to get anywhere. (Silver Spring, MD) Thanks!

Its tough, Silver Spring is where the Verizon main division is and the area is doing much better as compared to the rest of the country. Dont think they'll offer much but you should keep trying, you never know.

Comcast- Standard internet only $68month. Given $19.99 for 6 months

I live in greater Los Angeles and have Time Warner. I have no idea what my price for cable would be normally, but maybe what I am paying will at least help someone.

I have 100+ cable channels (it's less than the one that they advertise with packages in their flyer, but it has all you need, even duplicates once you hit the 100's) plus 1mbps internet for $49.95 a month. TW offered it as a Spanish package, but did it for me in English (trust me, they weren't doing me any favors.. I had the exact same package NORMALLY in English about a year before at my old place). I also have free Showtime for a year and HBO for $5/month. I also pay $10 a month for HD-DVR instead of the normal $15. I've had to have FOUR freaking HD-DVR boxes in 6 months because they keep breaking so every time I call and complain they take money off my bill (last time they took $21 off) so it saves me even more. TW is total crap in my area, but we have no other choice. Might as well get it for as cheap as possible!

I am tired of calling up my cable company, waiting a half-hour on the phone every 6 or 12 months to beg and/or threaten them to get me in on a new promo rather than rake me over the coals with their so called normal price. There are only a couple of dozens stations I watch. I want them in HD. I have one series on HBO and the other Showtime. And since I won't subscribe to their phone service, its like pulling teeth to get them to do anything without tacking on the phone service (i can't get reliable, fast internet service from them now, why would I sign up for their phone service. Good to know I am not the only one unhappy paying for 200+ channels I rarely watch.

dimka448 said: Worked for me! Was paying trough the roof for Optimum triple play (Cablevision - NJ area) after 1 yr promotional period expired. Called them, said that want to switch to FIOS and got $10 off the phone bill (currently pay $35), $15 off the cable internet (currently $49.95) and also $20 off cable including free HBO and Showtime for next 3 month.

Thanks fasttimes for an idea!!!

You were lucky. Most of the time, Cablevision will not budge unless you have already put in an order for FIOS. Saying you plan to do it rarely works. First time I tried, it was a no go. Second time, after actually ordering FIOS ( cablevision asked for a FIOS install date before doing anything), it was like pulling teeth, but they basically matched the price of the FIOS package.

Have tried to get Charter to lower prices to no avail. Was serious about canceling and had even scheduled a date for shut off but they wouldn't budge. Due to my budget, it's probable that I will be canceling service in the next month. They are not interested in retaining me as a customer.

I just moved to central VA. Comcast is the only cable game in town. I found a promotion on the website for conversion from brodcast tv to cable as part of the DTV transition. It was limited basic plus economy light internet for $24.95/month for 12 months. Normally limited basic is anywhere from $15-20/month, and internet is generally at least $40.
(For those of you unfamiliar, limited basic is network only TV and is a mandated offering by the FCC to help people out who have trouble getting signal through an antenna. You may have to ask specifically for it and cite the FCC rule to get some cable companies to admit to offering this plan).
Several times I have purchased limited basic plus internet. Every time I have gotten full cable (all the channels, minus premium ones). I think it is difficult to filter out the regular cable without messing up the internet. Or perhaps I am just super nice to the cable guy (thanking them for coming on time even if they are late, and always offering them food and drink). Friends of mine have also successfully used this strategy.

gatzdon said: I also found that local sales reps are more in tune with what deals can be had for Comcast. The local rep found pricing plans that the 800# customer service denied existing.
How do you find these sales reps? I would pay someone not to have to use that horrid comcast chat.

There are two channels I like: CNBC and ESPN

CNBC is available on the Internet for $9.99/mo
ESPN is not, they are only available through cable. So, F**K ESPN!! The few sports games that are a "must see" I'll just go to the local restaurant, I have to eat anyways and can use a coupon.

I called Comcast customer service earlier today (before I read this thread) and got my bill reduced from $200 to $170. I have triple play (no HBO, no other premium movie channels), 2 HD DVRs and $30 for international programming. After seeing what OP got, I think I need to call the cancellation department this time!!