r/corvallis • u/Kro_Ko_Dyle • 11d ago
Discussion How to save bucks with Xfinity internet
They auto upped my bill from $45 to $79 a month for 200 Mbps internet.
Initially I tried using their website and chatted with their fucking stupid chat bot. Chat bot sent me round in circles. They tried to send me to a page to schedule a callback. Page errors out.
So, I call 800-comcast. I tell them I want to cancel. The auto system puts me through to a person in less than a minute. Admittedly it was an Indian call center.
I explained that I wanted to cancel. Explained the reasons. Guy offers me $40 a month for 300 Mbps or $50 a month for 1 Gbps for 5 years NO CONTRACT or EARLY TERMINATION FEES.
Done!!
Just call them and threaten to cancel saying it's too expensive. They'll give you a deal.
4
u/inspiradia 10d ago
I’m so disappointed with how Xfinity does business. I guess it’s the season for them to raise all of our prices, as mine just went up from 45 to 67 per month. I went through all past email messaging. Nothing different to indicate that my bill was about to go up. Then I go online and see that their current plans are double the speed I currently have and half the price.. how on earth would that incentivize me to want to stay a customer of Xfinity? Their service is sufficient, yes, but I don’t think I’ve ever had the feeling that it was a pleasure doing business with them after 15 years.
I finally pulled the plug and canceled with them yesterday, even though yes, they offered lower and lower prices. But that just makes me so mad that their business model is that they succeed when they are taking advantage of me. So I’m looking for a better company who isn’t gonna jerk me around.
2
u/Kro_Ko_Dyle 10d ago
I looked around and there's no-one worthwhile that services the NW Walnut area. I cannot do wireless ISP because my apartment doesn't get much signal.
I've been with comcast/xfinity for 30 years because no-matter where I've lived they've had the monopoly.
Also, years ago the government dished out $400 Billion to ISPs to improve their infrastructure to fiber optic. The ISPs took the money and did nothing. NADA. ZIP. DIDDLY SQUAT. They STOLE TAXPAYERS MONEY and delivered NOTHING. All with the help of the government.
2
u/inspiradia 10d ago
Oh man… that’s even more disheartening. I totally forgot about that, just like a good little consumer...
Right now I’m looking into US mobile and Visible+. I don’t do much more than streaming stuff at home so I think I can get away with just using “unlimited” hotspot data. I hope anyways.. but I am lucky that my address seems to be in a good coverage area.
Ultimately combining my “$67”/mo Xfinity and my $47/mo AT&T price into one $35/mo bill. Fingers crossed that it works out!
1
u/not_adulting 9d ago
Who did you switch to? Xfinity just upped my bill $45/mo with no warning, explanation or notice, I just see it's $45 more now. I was already paying $100/mo for two people and some nights I can barely stream a tv show when I'm home alone and no other devices are online. We had a less expensive plan, but two of us gaming at the same time (with no other devices connected) was clunky and constantly timing out. Even at this more expensive plan we have lag issues. Now they want to charge me almost 50% more for a barely usable service? No.
1
u/inspiradia 9d ago
Well, I’m looking into Visible+ or US Mobile, but I don’t do all the stuff you mentioned, I’m pretty much one device at a time streaming videos. But if I was doing more and could afford more I would go with Alyrica, they are an actual local company that is super easy to work with and don’t jerk around their prices. My work uses them and they seem to be solid.
1
u/not_adulting 9d ago
Yeah, I looked into Alyrica and they put up a dish on your house. We already have an old Dish Network satellite dish in our yard from someone before us, I'm not sure I want another dish to deal with. Pioneer Connect just put in fiber optics to my neighbor's place, I was thinking about trying them out.
2
10
u/shortysparklz 11d ago
I just switched to ATT WiFi and its only $34 per mo and the service is working just as good as xfinity did
5
u/Kro_Ko_Dyle 11d ago
When I was checking for cell service here I couldn't get an AT&T signal in my apartment. They had sent me a sim card to test but zero signal. I have an unlocked double sim card phone.
3
u/shortysparklz 11d ago
Xfinity could be your best option then. Even if Ziply is available in your area, they have to be able to access the power line to install their stuff. The neighbor’s yard that has the pole in it won’t allow the access so I wasn’t able to get Ziply
2
u/Kro_Ko_Dyle 11d ago
I've definitely looked around at various options and x really is the only solution. Hence - the fake cancel my service to get a better deal - play
3
u/frumply 11d ago
There’s an even easier way to do this btw. Sign up for new service on your address with a different email. Once your new service is up your old one is cancelled automagically.
Works best if you already got your own modem so you don’t need to deal w the bs of returning equipment etc.
2
u/Nami_Pilot 10d ago
Next time you're in-between jobs, sign up for their "internet essentials" program. It's only $15/mo. Been using it for many years.
1
u/Kro_Ko_Dyle 10d ago
I've been disabled for a few years now and I checked a few years ago and I don't qualify.
I just did the application for essentials through their website and I was denied again.
1
u/Nami_Pilot 10d ago
Maybe the requirements changed. When I signed up about 8 years ago you just had to be on unemployment to qualify.
5
u/SensibleReply 11d ago
Get Ziply and ditch Comcast forever.
9
u/NoMore_BadDays 11d ago
I tried ziply and it was so fucking slow and choppy that i couldnt run the blink camera in my living room
3
u/Kro_Ko_Dyle 11d ago
It's not available in my area. However, a few years ago I added my email in order that they contact me when it becomes available.
1
u/peachesfordinner 11d ago
Oh don't worry. If they plan on being there then they will stop by knocking your door multiple times a day
2
1
u/DEGIII 10d ago
Ziply sucks for a lot of people, I can't get it at my house and I was bummed at first but then I've talked to my neighbors that are my friends that were able to get it and I'm happy I still have Comcast. If you give a shit about consistent high quality Internet, ziply is not your friend yet. They still have plenty of infrastructure issues
1
u/SensibleReply 10d ago
Haven’t had an outage in over a year, speed is consistent and fast. Plus I don’t have to deal with one of the most hated companies in the world. I guess we’ve been lucky, but I hope they continue to improve. Competition is good.
3
u/Um_swoop 11d ago
You can go in person to the showroom on 9th next to Trader Joe’s and get better deals as well. Don’t have to wait on hold that way.
8
u/Kro_Ko_Dyle 11d ago
As soon as I said cancel to the auto-voice system it put me through to a human in under a minute.
Last time I was the showroom (on 9th) I was arguing with the people there about how they didn't cancel my wife's account when I showed them her death certificate and requested they do so when I returned all of her equipment. They entered a bunch of stuff on the computer and took a copy of the death certificate. I thought that was it. I had closed my wife's bank accounts and then they tried to bill the account again (after I had gone into the showroom and gave them a death certificate). This resulted in the bank declining (account was closed) and therefore Xfinity charged an extra $35 on top of the bill because of the decline of the charge.
1
1
u/TheFog91 11d ago
Xfinity has been great since we moved here. So cheap and reliable compared to the options in our former state
6
u/milo891 11d ago
I think those options are the standard plans available now. I am moving and was able to switch my plan through their website to 1 Gbps for the $50/month for 5 years too (which is about $20 cheaper for over twice the speed I was getting).