What's the deal, folks?!
Written: Jun 12 '00 (Updated Jun 12 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: uh.... I'm thinkin' here....
Cons: cost!
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| bops_mom's Full Review: AT&T (TCI) |
Because my family and I wish to get at least one channel on television, we subscribe to AT&T Cable Services. Yes, I'm serious. We can't get even one channel without cable in our town. And, to top it off AT&T Cable was our only option when we decided it was time to at least have the possibility of watching television.
Now, I really can't say a whole heck of a lot about AT&T Cable Services in and of itself. I have never had to call their customer service line, so I can't tell you about how they are about things in that manner. And, I really can't say that our cable has gone out on us - ever, unless the power was out, in which case, who cares if you can't watch television (as if we would even know if the cable was out).
What I do not like about AT&T Cable is the price, and they just raised the cost this month. What is with that?! Sorry, folks, but I feel it's outrageous to be spending nearly $50 a month when we just have normal cable and only subscribe to one extra channel (that channel being HBO).
Here's our monthly fees:
Basic cable - $13.85
Expanded Service - $16.90
HBO - $12.99
Basic cable - this allows us to get the local Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. channels. All those channels many people get for free in their area.
Extended Service - this is where you get channels such as MTV, Nick, A&E and the Fox News Channel to name a few. It is only recently that AT&T Cable has started to give us the Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and VH1 within this "extended service".
HBO - you know what HBO is. =) Honestly, we love HBO and while we're not happy the price went up on it this month, my husband and I both feel that $12.99 is still worth it. We watch many of the original television series which HBO has, not to mention the money we 'save' by not having to rent most movies.
Now, I cannot pretend to be an expert on cable services; but here is my 'beef' with AT&T, and why I'm writing this review. A few weeks ago I was watching a local news program where they did a story on how our cable would be going up soon (which it did this month) and they talked about how the city/county negotiates a deal with cable companies, and this is what determines what channels we get (or in my case, don't get) and how much we have to pay. My own city/county apparently did a horrible job at this, which is why I'm paying a whopping $46.78 a month (that's with taxes) to get a whole 30 television channels.
One more thing that gets to me is, a friend of mine in Pennsylvania pays a whole $20 a month for her cable and she gets around 90 channels. Yes, she would have to pay an extra $10 if she wanted HBO, but even so! $20 is so much more reasonable than what AT&T is charging!
While I can understand that this is a business for AT&T I also have to wonder just how badly they're planning on taking advantage of us poor saps? Why do we have pay for the city/county's screw ups? Is it really right that thanks to AT&T Cable Services the county above mine only pays half the price I do for twice as many channels? Is there no right and wrong in business? Can I really blame AT&T for my having to pay so darn much, or is these great locals who cut this horrible deal that I should be upset at?
All I can say is, if I had the choice to go with another cable company I would. Yes, based on cost alone. And I can only hope these wonderful officials can get us a better deal on cable when it comes time to renew the contract.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
bops_mom
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 in Wellness & Beauty |
 - Top 100 |
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Member: Melissa S.
Location: California
Reviews written: 625
Trusted by: 734 members
About Me:
Caught up on SAP's - if you need something added e-mail me.
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