Originally published at: Cut the Cord? You May Still Face a Hidden Cost for Cable TV
Cord-cutting is at an all-time high, but millions of Americans are still footing the bill for cable TV and they don’t even know it. While the average cable TV bill keeps increasing and streaming apps dominate the market, companies like Comcast and Spectrum are managing to hold on. How? Through deals that force customers to…
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Interesting. I use Comcast Cable. The internet is second to none, but television just plain stinks. Am hoping to cut out TV, and stay with date for streaming. System is VPN covered. I hope they don’t try to squeeze me, or I will leave altogether.
I, sadly am one of these individuals. Bought a condo last October. Included in the things that my monthly HOA fee pays for, yep, basic cable. I called Comcast, I was directed to contact the HOA. Contacted them, and was told that there isn’t anything that can be done, as it is a bulk contract. I also, pay monthly for 1Gig of internet to ensure I can stream without buffering. I will be trying to get on the Board of my HOA, and see if I can’t effect some change, but for now, sadly, nothing can be done.
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Same goes for us. We moved into a seniors complex and it comes with a basic cable package and the equipment of course. It is part of our rental cost and even though we don’t, and won’t, use the cable and box we still have to pay for it. Thank heavens we don’t have to pay for water, sewer, heat or hydro. Now they want their equipment back I want the entire equipment fee refunded from day one. They want it back and I simply told them to kiss my donkey, I pay for it I keep it.
Have a wonderful long weekend everyone.
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For over 25 years I have been forced to deal with Comcast/Xfinity as they were the only game in my neighborhood of 95051 for cable and Internet. I absolutely hate dealing with them. I brought TIVO’s and my wifi/router because I didn’t want to give them a penny more than I had to. I was paying for 1Gig internet just so I could get a shade over 400mb. All for the low low price of $283 a month. I know, right! Xfinity provided me 3 cable cards included in that price. 2 months ago one of the cable cards failed and I found out they don’t support them any longer. Dang. My TiVo happiness was coming to an end and I was not happy.
What’s that I hear? There is someone knocking at the door. It’s AT&T Fiber and it’s only $65 a month for 500mb. Yippie!!!
I pay for Fiber and MAX for a total of $85 a month. My son has had Google TV for over 2 years… I had no idea that was in my house. He uses my Fiber and I use his Google TV and together we went the the Xfinity place and told them to pound sand all the way up there arse’s. That was one of the best days in recent history. After 25 plus years of being treated indifferent by those people, they are gone forever.
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That’s what we did Bailjumper. We stopped the cable and only have internet with them.
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Verizon gave me a deal on 5G internet. Will try it for a week or so before I kick out Compost! My phone says I do not have 5G at my home, but Verizon always knows best! We hope!
I don’t know what streaming devices or streaming you do, but I basically only watch TV shows. I use Stremio, Trakt and Real Debrid for that.
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Been using XCIPT from Ottrun.com. Was using IPTV Smarters, but had too many buffering issues. May look at Stremio as an alternative. Use Frndly and one of the Troypoint listed “questionables” for services. Love watching ME TV, and its sister services, ME TV +, ME TV TOONS, CATCHY, and HEROES and ICONS, with some LAFF, and Antenna TV.
Compost only gives us ME TV, Antenna TV, and Laff. Live in a narrow valley where no OTA possible. Must stream of use cable or satellite. Satellite moves to quickly abd costly to keep up with. Have a big ugly dish, but GG ave nit used for about ten years. Took a lightening hit some years back.
When I was buying what I hope will be my last home 32 years ago, I purposefully avoided any subdivisions with HOAs. I never thought about a mandatory cable tv subscription as another potential charge on a monthly homeowners association fee. But it makes sense that HOAs would do this to bury a bunch of other costs they assess to homeowners. In my area, there are HOAs charging $300 to $450 per month which do not include any golf club or athletic club membership. This makes home ownership with an HOA as bad, if not worse than owning a timeshare!
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I HATE COMCAST ! When T mobile came out with their cell tower internet several years ago, I jumped on it and have NEVER looked back. It took a bit to find the sweet spot in my house for the unit and alittle bit of setup but I love it. $50 a month and great service. and no more comcast.
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I just got an email from comcast to upgrade my router Free of charge to get faster speeds for Free? Do you know if theirs something fishy about this?
It’s Comcast. Of course there’s something fishy about it. 
I need a real answer if anyone can help Not a Comedian answer.
ISPs are always wanting you to upgrade equipment. For some there is an end of life and are so old they need upgrading. Others just want to flog cheap modems and charge more. I guess it’s up to you to decide how to handle your ISP and if they are honest and helpful or not. Impossible to give help without having experienced your ISP for myself.
I would suggest you buy a quality modem/router of your choice and cut out paying monthly rental charges to your ISP. Just make sure the model you want to buy is compatible with and approved for use by your provider.
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My exact sentiments. I have always said that the day that I returned all of Comcast rental boxes etc. was one of the happiest days of my life.
Stream on my friend.
Cheers
Rick Sleeman ( Troypoint patron )
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I absolutely agree. I could not wait for this day as well. I just had to wait 30 years for AT&T Fiber to come into the neighborhood and I couldn’t be happier.
I just cut the Compost cord this past Saturday. Said I was just retired, and needed to cut costs. He offered to reduce my speeds slightly, dropped my costs by about 10 bucks a month. Streaming working decently, thanks to TroyPoint articles and boards like this. THANKS!!