What are you guys being charged for CableCard rentals? - Page 2

Well that's an option once I get the computer working. But my wife and daughter love OnDemand.

Build your own OnDemand Library of mkv's!!

What is on-demand that is not available else where?

Between HULU Desktop integration, and actually setting to record shows that you want to watch, there is no real need for on-demand.

If they are "renting" movies from on-demand, you have a much better, and cost effective alternative with Netflix integration, or just go the piratebay way.

More hilarity. Believe it or not, some people have a life. You've obviously never checked out On-Demand. My wife has already said to pull the pin on it.

That's really helpful. I only have 30-40 TB of HD space in my house.

Really?

I have 18TB and over 200 movies and over 100 TV episodes to choose from. How much do you need?

I'd rather buy another HDD than spend $25/month to rent Charter's DVR so I can get VOD.

If you use OnDemand I guess you're stuck renting a box. But I've never seen anything OnDemand worth 25 cents, much less 25 bucks. I'd say many of us go the cable card route to avoid DVR fees and can easily live without OnDemand or find much cheaper alternatives.

I should correct this..

It is $5/month for the STB if I use my Prime for DVR stuff, but still the Prime works great and like said above there isn't much on demand that I'm interested in. I'd rather develop my own library of on demand content.

I almost never use it. Occasionally my DVR for some reason doesn't record a program. In a few days many new shows are available on OD. Anyway we're going to drop it. Not everything is available on the intertubz or netflix.

Believe it or not, some people do indeed have a life. We are just getting through recordings made last year.

$1.10. Should be free though because it's the first one. ComCast, Western Washington.

This sounds wrong. I too am in the Atlanta area and just got my cablecard yesterday. It was free per the 'first one is free' and additional are $1.99. I don't have a DVR but I did keep the HDMI cablebox (to use it for on demand). It sounds like he wanted to charge you the additional outlet fee of $9.95 while giving you the cablecard for free, but the outlet fee shouldn't apply (or I'd be paying it as well in my scenario). But as said, why not get rid of the DVR and exchange it for a HDMI one, if it is indeed the DVR causing the additional outlet fee? You'll use your computer to record, instead, and be able to fit virtually limitless shows on it, as you are only limited by the number of HDs you install. I'd call again or go to your local Comcast service center.
Edited by jrwalte - 8/22/12 at 8:22am

$7.50 a month per CableCard. I have 2 of them. Former Adelphia area now Comcast. Pittsburgh PA.

Why does Comcrap have the balls to charge $9.95 for HD Technology? BTW $3.99 CC rental from Verizon FiOS in New Jersey (yeah it sucks).

Do they charge that to CableCARD customers? Charter only charges for the CableCARD and under their new pricing I think they dropped the HD Technology Fee altogether but ding customers $20 for a DVR fee for 1 through 4 DVR's. If you have two their new pricing is actually lower than before.

TWC charges $9.95 for the HD content ability as well . Cable "M" card is $ 2.00 per month rental .

Charging for HD is just wrong! Install a TV antenna for OTA any you got your HDTV. Can you still buy a SD TV set?

No ESPN, etc.

While I was activating my card, the rep noted that I was charged $1.50, the charge for a second card. She said the 1st was free. I'll wait till I see my next bill.

Comcast card billing is all over the map and entirely depends on your local area practices and/or CSR. In the ATL you can usually get a couple of cards for $1.50 (or free for first), but after that you get charged a full outlet fee. Minus a $2.50 credit for each card. I have 3 cards - first free, second $1.50, third $9.95, minus $7.50 in credits for a net of about $4. Sometimes the trick to getting the second card at $1.50 is to tell them it's going into the same device.

People in other areas say they get hit with the bogus 'HD Tech fee' of $10 or so even if they don't have Comcast boxes. Or all cards are free, or each card after the first gets the outlet fee. Or sometimes cards are $1.10 each, with no credits.

I think all of this is an FCC violation because cards are supposed to be charged a universal rental fee for a given cable operator, but I and others have filed complaints that have gone nowhere. Pretty much every MSO other than Comcast has a standard rental fee.

YMMV.
Edited by slowbiscuit - 8/25/12 at 8:22am

The same thing happened to me but when I caught it after several months Comcast credited me for all charges. They were willing to eliminate the fee at the time when I only had one card going forward but it would have required re-pairing the card. This was almost two years ago when Comcast didn't allow self install (Denver area), and I didn't want to risk potential down time from re-pairing problems so I just let the charge remain while getting re-credited every few months until I got my second card installed three weeks ago. Now I'm paying the right amount ($1.10 per month) for two cards with no technology or HD access fees, and I also get the $2.50 per month local equipment credit. I know a lot of AVS members have expressed annoyance with their cable providers but I have to say Comcast's service has been very good for me overall. Their prices have been reasonable (especially at present), their internet and TV service reliable, and the quality decent for both services. Indeed, when I recently visited a local office to turn in some equipment the rep at the counter volunteered a substantial price drop on my existing TV charge with no inquiry from me.

My gosh....What would we do without Cupcake Wars?

Excuse me?

I get charged a $9/month "HD access fee" and then a certain amount per month for my dual cable card. However, since I returned my HD box, the woman told me one of the cable card rental fees would also be replaced, so I'm getting charged for one cable card (not sure how much it is, though, since the current bill was amazingly hard to read since they added and subtracted a bunch of fees; I also dropped voice and got rid of their modem/wireless/phone box at the the same time).

Sarcasm directed at cable co’s…

In Atlanta Comcast gives me $2.50/month credit for customer owned equipment. All I have with them is one outlet and one cablecard, plus their internet service. If you want another box just get a media center extender/Xbox 360 Slim. The total bill is simply the TV service minus $2.50 plus internet service. I do not have an HD technology fee, but do receive all the HD channels. Too bad I don't get a credit for owning the cable modem.

No credit because you pay separately for the cable modem rental and it is not included within the cost of the internet fee, whereas with cable your fee includes the first cable box.