Chicago, IL - Comcast - Page 102

Anyone else notice the billing games that Comcast has been playing recently?

My January bill indicated that my Digital Silver Package would increase from $64.99 / month to $69.99 / month. In reviewing my February 2005 billing statement I noticed that I was charged $71.99 from my package. Where did this additional $2 come form? The CSR I spoke with indicated that everyone was "upgraded" to On-Demand packages and that represented the $2 increase.

I NEVER requested an "upgrade" to my Digital Silver Package. What's even more interesting is that all current Comcast advertising is promoting On Demand as a "free service" they are providing to their customers. What am I missing here??

I don't have extra $2 charge. Here is my statement for this mont (3/1 - 3/31)

03/01 - 03/31 Digital Silver Package 69.99
Includes: Basic and Expanded Basic, Digital Basic, Digital Basic 2, Digital Music, Encore Encore Plex, HBO and HBO Plex.
03/01 - 03/31 Additional Outlet .00
03/01 - 03/31 Cable Guard 1.49
03/01 - 03/31 Dual Tuner DVR Service 9.99
03/01 - 03/31 Premier Tier 5.00

Monthly Charge(s)
03/01 - 03/31 Stnd Cable + Dgtl Plus 61.98
03/01 - 03/31 Additional Outlet .00
03/01 - 03/31 DVR Service 9.95
Subtotal 71.93

I have two boxes...a 6208 and an older General Instruments/Motorola DCT-2000

Jack G

After playing CSR roulette, I finally got to the bottom of my issue:

Early this year I was having the same Cinemax-HD issues that GOV had posted about here earlier. After several calls related to those issues, a "helpful" CSR offered to swap the STARZ! channels for the Cinemax channels. Unfortunately, she didn't tell me that would kill my grandfathered Digital Silver package. Thanks to Carla in the Tinley Park call center, I am finally being put back to where I was.

Scary thing is that one CSR actually told me the $2 increase in my bill was for the use of On-Demand.

Although Comcast can be a pain to deal with, I have found that if you keep calling back you'll eventually get someone who is willing to straighten things out.

Unfortunately, Cinemax-HD is still problematic, but atleast I am only paying $5 a month for it (well supposed to be that is!)

I'm looking to rent the HD box from Comcast for $5 p/mth. Do they allow self installs or do they have to come out to do it? I'd like to go pick it up and do it myself as I have a very erratic schedule.

They don't allow it in my area. They want their $16 install fee and $16 upgrade fee. They wouldn't even allow me to stop by to swap one hd box for another. THEY WANT THE $16 INSTALL FEE!

The kicker is that I don't let these guys touch my equipment (even though I am hospitable) when they enter my house. I essentially pay them $16 to hand me the box.

Did anyone else wake up to a message on their box this mourning? It appears International News will be turning into AZN an Asian channel, and the part I'm real excited about, Channel 200 will be Comcast Sports Net HD. It appears they are going to a full time channel, just in time for baseball season.

That install fee is a rip off. I downgraded from their 6208 HD-DVR to just basic cable with HD and they charged me $15.99 "change of service fee" AND then a $15.99 HDTV install fee. I called them and asked them how they could charge a $15.99 HDTV install fee when I already had HDTV and was just downgrading to a non-DVR version. They willingly credited both install charges (and another misc. charge for my dish buy back)

Has anyone in the Chicago area received the 9.15 update on their 6412? I'm ready getting tired of this analog channel lockup problem.

Still 9.12 here. My box has worked relatively flawlessly, except that I don't get VOD. My neighbor with a standard digital box does get vod.

I'm getting a 6412 installed in Hoffman on Saturday. Supposedly from their "new" shipment. Will let you know when I know what firmware is on it.

it won't matter what firmware will be on that box. once it connects and downloads from the headend, it will get what everyone currently has (9.12).

So, do you need digital cable to get HD? Can I just get the basic $10 /month sevice and then the HD box for $5 extra?

Also, let's say I want digital cable in the living room (no HD), but just HD in a bedroom, would I have to pay as an additional receiver?

Since there's discussion of firmware versions, I'll jump in with a question. I have a 6200 that is still on 7.07. Shouldn't I be on a newer version? Should I be upset? Will a CSR have a clue what I am complaining about?

While we're at it, anybody know when I can expect to see the new user guide? I hate the current one.

Thanks.

Yes, you can get the cheapest/basic service and lease the hdbox for 5. You may have to talk to a few CSRs before you get what you want, but many people (including me) have this exact setup.

This would make your first question obsolete. You would now be paying for digital cable service (which will include a non-hd digital box free), plus $5 for hd box lease. I highly recommend paying 10/month and getting the hd dvr.

Yes - I received that message last night. Very good news. It only makes sense - now they won't have to interrrupt one of the INHD channels to show a game. I was doubtful that this would happen, but Comcast came through.

Wow only one person as excited as i am huh? Must not be to many baseball fans in here

I think it's more likely that most of us haven't seen the message just yet. As of last night it didn't show up on my box - maybe by the end of the week.

Msg still not on any of my boxes.

Weird it always seems like I'm one of the last ppl to get anything from Comcast. Oh well maybe they are tying to make it up to me. Hah yeah I know I'm dreaming, oh well.

I just got a message on my STB saying that as of April 1st Comcast Sportsnet HD will be available on Comcast (at least here in Chicago) on Channel 200. Well, it's not the HD announcement I was hoping for....but it is another HD channel.

CSN has really good HD picture quality baseball for the O's, and I guess we'll get some Nats games too, Angelos and MLB are still working on that. We also get some Wizards home games in HD (would have had Caps if...).

So that's great, you should get some good stuff.

Rich N.

Yeah, we've been getting all of the Bulls home games in HD but they've been playing them on INHD2 instead of their own channel. Once baseball starts we'll have Cubs, Sox, and Bulls in HD....Woo Hoo!

I care a lot about baseball (esp. HD & Cubs), although no message here.

Also, been too busy to even read the thread much this week: working at a church, this tends to be one of our busy times.

tim

And blackhawks when the season if ever starts

CSN provides the best PQ among all sports channels, at least in my area.

Threads merged.

I wonder if CSN HD getting it's own channel means they'll do Sportsnite or something in HD too. I know they got that new studio, but I'm not sure if it's an HD studio


Thanks so much for the response! This is such great news, now that I know it's possible, those CSRs better watch out

Doubtful - Wirtz still doesn't allow the home games to be televised in Chicago.