Comcast Triple Play?

[Ralph]

Should I do this? Right now we pay about $100 for Internet and Digital Cable, $20 for a Verizon home phone, and $20 for AT&T long distance that hardly ever gets used. So the offer is $100 for all of these for a year, so that's about a $40 per month savings for a one year savings of $about 400 (there are some fees, so I subtracted the $80).

Besides not wanting to monkey with my home phone and possibly lose my number I've had for 20 years, what are the other downsides? One is where will I be next year when I have to pay regular Comcast rates? It seems like the savings will probably just about disappear. Another is there appears to be a limitation on cable connections - we now have three TVs, but only one has the digital converter and remote, so maybe that's all they mean.

Anyway, I've also been tempted by Verizon's lifetime DSL for $19.99 per month. But I couldn't be happier with the SERVICE from Comcast, but I of course am quite unhappy with the $50 COST of Comcast. I briefly had Verizon DSL and their billing department was a TOTAL frustration.

[sweeps]

The Triple Play is a good deal for one year... but after that, the standard rate is not good at all.

Don't forget to factor in the extras that Comcast will charge you. Rental fee for tuners/DVRs, rental fee for phone equipment, rental fee for cable modem, extra charge for HD if you want that, extra charge for expanded channels (not to mention premium channels). Comcast even charges .50/month for the remote.

Try to negotiate discounted or free installation. Also plan on something going wrong during installation.

On the plus side, you should be able to keep your phone number. As you point out, you do save a little bit of money for that first introductory year. Also by leaving your phone company, that should leave you eligible for "new customer" deals after the year is up.

[poundwise]

I'm not familiar with Comcast, however, it seems to me that most of the three-in-one deals are good during the promo and lousy thereafter. Particularly the digital phone service. Here, with Time-Warner cable, customers can get Internet, TV, and digital phone for $99. At some point, however, I know that the digital phone plan goes up to $40 by itself. That's ridiculous, especially since you can unlimited VOIP calling through Vonage for $25. at any time.

Also, the Internet speed typically offered in the package deal is usually the 768kbps or sometimes the 1.5mbps. The latter is tolerable, the former is pretty weak. As soon as you want to bump up to a higher speed, they hit you with the $45 tag, and that's IF you keep the bundle.

I'm sure these details change from time-to-time, and Comcast is surely different that Time-Warner, just as Time-Warner is likely different in different markets, however, in general, I'm not a fan of the three-in-one deals. Or, at the least, I'd plan to do something different when the promo rate ends.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by poundwise

especially since you can unlimited VOIP calling through Vonage for $25. at any time.

I'm not sure how Vonage works, but the nice thing about Comcast's phone service is it gets routed through your existing phone jacks. You use your phones the exact same way you would use them with the traditional phone company, no need for special adapters or phones.

Originally Posted by poundwise

Also, the Internet speed typically offered in the package deal is usually the 768kbps or sometimes the 1.5mbps. The latter is tolerable, the former is pretty weak. As soon as you want to bump up to a higher speed, they hit you with the $45 tag, and that's IF you keep the bundle.

You get 6mbps plus so-called "power boost" up to 12mbps with Comcast. Slowness is definitely not one of the negatives of choosing Comcast.

Originally Posted by poundwise

I'd plan to do something different when the promo rate ends.

No argument there. If you can't renegotiate the promo rate at the end of the term, you're going to pay through the nose.

[poundwise]

Originally Posted by sweeps

I'm not sure how Vonage works, but the nice thing about Comcast's phone service is it gets routed through your existing phone jacks. You use your phones the exact same way you would use them with the traditional phone company, no need for special adapters or phones.

This is really nothing special. That is, you can easily set up virtually any VOIP provider, Vonage included, so that your current home phone jacks all work over the service. There are several Wiki/How-To sites that detail this. It is quite simple. I suppose all that Comcast does is this same sort of thing when they perform the install. Still, it is a nice selling point for them, I suppose.

You get 6mbps plus so-called "power boost" up to 12mbps with Comcast. Slowness is definitely not one of the negatives of choosing Comcast.

You get 6mbps with the $99. deal? That's pretty sweet.

No argument there. If you can't renegotiate the promo rate at the end of the term, you're going to pay through the nose.

You were definitely right to point out that the cable companies like to rental charge/fee you to death if you aren't careful. The promo is great, afterwards, I'd almost certainly not want all three services from the cable company. YMMV.

[atomicrc11]

The Triple Play from Comcast without any extras is about $112/month. After it does go up, but usually you can get them to renew the promotion. In my area, they actually allow you to sign a 2 year contract to keep the $99 promotional rate, which also protects you against cable rate hikes for two years. I find the Digital Voice to be a good product, and unlike Vonage, there isn't any change of finger pointing since it is all Comcast, not Vonage running over a Comcast connection. To me that is worth a little extra per months.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ralph

$20 for AT&T long distance that hardly ever gets used.

I don't know if you should do the Comcast deal, but I do know you should cancel this. Why pay $20/month for a service you don't need and don't use. If you have a cell phone plan that includes long distance, that's all you need. If you don't, then get a free long distance service. You should be able to get something for 3 to 5 cents/minute with no monthly fee. We use our cell phones now, but also still have our 3-cent plan for when we forget to grab our cells to make calls.

[KatieNK]

After your year is up, call Comcast and tell them you want to cancel because you can't afford it anymore. If you tell them really nicely, they may offer it to you for another year. My sister works for Comcast and she says the reps have the power to do that and will if you ask nicely. She does it all the time.

This goes for all companies, ask nicely and hopefully you shall receive! I work for T-Mobile (from home) and have the power to do all sorts of stuff but won't if someone is mean to me.

[webguru]

I don't know if my friend caved too easily, but he didn't have any luck after his 1 year Comcast triple play deal expired. Basically, the rate was going to be $200 so he cancelled and signed up for Verizon's package deal (I forget what it's called).

[LuckyRobin]

We do the Comcast triple play only because its the best option in our area to do. But we pay a total of $122 a month because we wanted more than one tv hooked in and each little box after the first one is $5. So, with taxes and one box it's $112, not really $99. They've told us that they will probably be running this "special" indefinitely and if they are to ask when it expires and its likely we'll get the same rate again.

[webguru]

Originally Posted by LuckyRobin

We do the Comcast triple play only because its the best option in our area to do. But we pay a total of $122 a month because we wanted more than one tv hooked in and each little box after the first one is $5. So, with taxes and one box it's $112, not really $99. They've told us that they will probably be running this "special" indefinitely and if they are to ask when it expires and its likely we'll get the same rate again.

"probably... likely..."

good luck - hope it all works out for the best!

[bjl584]

I am growing increasingly irritated with Comcast. They keep taking channels away and raising my rates. Their internet service has been good, but it is a little pricey. I am seriously considering getting rid of them. I'm hardly ever home to watch tv anyway.

[peanutbutter8204]

I have Comcast. I wish RCN would step their game up. I would switch to them if they did.

[topwaystosave]

That whats scares me. I have heard people say if you lose power all three are out. I can understand the tv and internet because they need power, but I like the phone for emegencies.

Also if my computer goes out or my cable I would still like to use the others which I have doubts about with cable companies.

[Greg]

Ralph,
Before the promotional period ends call Comcast and negogiate a deal for the triple play package.
My promotional deal was $68.99 including HBO,I now have the same package for $99.00 a month.
As far as your home number you will not lose it when you transfer it to comcast. All the technician does is disconnect the Verizon wiring in your house and then connects your number to the comcast network. Also you will have free caller ID which will appear on your TV screen. You can monitor your calls while watching TV. Also, if you dont have an answering machine, Comcast has a voice mail application you can setup. Hope this helps.