COMCAST SUCKS
Some call it the worst company ever and I don't disagree.


SUBSCRIPTION COST AND FEES
Unfortunately, cable television has developed into an oligopoly industry and is approaching monopoly status. Due to a severe lack of competition in the industry, Comcast can charge very high prices for their offerings. The company has raised cable TV prices three times in the past year, and there is no end of rate hikes in sight. Moreover, there are many hidden fees not directly revealed to the customer until the bill arrives, including something called a "franchise fee" for $5 per month. There are other similar charges -- 20 cents for a remote control, $3.80 for a converter, and many other ways which Comcast squeezes its customer base. I've inquired directly at Comcast about these hidden charges, but they've given me generic answers that these are normal expenses which are billed to all customers.

I received a products and services price list from Comcast in the mail not too long ago. I went through the enormous list of fees, just for grins. It turns out that they offer a zillion packages, including Limited Basic, Standard Cable, Expanded Cable, Digital Classic, Classic Plus, Digital Silver, Digital Gold, Digital Platinum, and so on and so on. You get the idea. There's a ton of Comcast television packages, none of which are really worth the price. The Digital Platinum package goes for $111.99 per month, or $1,343.88 per year -- and that's not including all the junk fees which inevitably will be charged!

About a month ago, I asked Comcast about ways to reduce my $50 monthly bill. I explained that I wanted only channels 2 through 80. The Comcast customer service rep explained that the "Expanded Basic" was the only real option, and that I would have to continue paying $53.90 per month, not including extra fees, to receive any channels above 34. Since I watch ESPN, TBS, TNT and CNN regularly, I had no choice but to continue with this offering. It's possible to downgrade to the "Limited Basic Services" for $13.33 per month, but this only gives viewers channels 2 through 34, most of which are worthless for me (QVC, CSPAN, HSN) or free with a rabbit ears antenna.

It's hard to watch television and not see annoying Comcast commercials. Through their continual blitz of advertisements, the company offers many teaser rates on products. However, after the promotion period is over, rates increase dramatically. The current promotion is a three product bundle with cable television, high-speed Internet, and phone service for $33 each per month. However, after the trial period ends, rates increase to a jacked-up $50 or more per offering, not including the plethora of hidden crap fees. Consumers should not be fooled by Comcast's advertising -- the products are much more expensive than touted.

Comcast offers other products offered besides cable television, including DVRs, HDTV Boxes, CableCARDs, and other equipment. All products cost extra money, of course. Get ready to be fleeced if you want these upgrades.


CUSTOMER (DIS)SERVICE
Dialing up customer service requires long wait times to speak with unqualified and unhelpful representatives. I've experienced hold times of more than 30 minutes on several attempts. I've called regarding problems with billing charges, service downgrades, and picture quality. On most occasions, my calls to Comcast have left me entirely dissatisfied. On a few occasions, telephone customer support has completely failed to assist me and I've actually gone into the local branch to work out billing or service problems.

There is a tidal wave of complaints every year to Consumer Affairs and the Better Business Bureau about Comcast. Moreover, the pace of complaints seems to be accelerating quickly as their subscriber base increases and as they delve into telephone and Internet products. If you're already whining about their subscription fees and service problems to the BBB, be prepared to wait in line since Comcast is famous for being poorly run.


PICTURE QUALITY
In terms of picture quality, sometimes the video or audio skags out. During one somewhat humorous incident, I was left with no video at all, except a message bluntly stating "This channel will be available shortly." I turned off my television and cable TV box, and returned a few hours later only to find the identical screen with the "call Comcast" message. Calling the support center and having them renew the feed resolved this problem, but I should have not needed to call in the first place. I've compared the picture quality to DirecTV, and Comcast's video seems washed-out and therefore inferior, although this is a matter of opinion.


ON-DEMAND NETWORK
Sadly, there's not too many good things to say about Comcast cable TV, but I'll put in a decent word about the On-Demand service. Comcast's On-Demand network offers hundreds of programs and movies, and is more or less free of charge for digital cable customers. It's not really free, since you still have to be a subscriber in the first place. There is usually something decent to watch through Comcast's On-Demand network.


PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I've been a long time Comcast subscriber since they have provided service to the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. I absolutely detest dealing with them, but I find that there are no better options. The veins in my neck start popping out and my blood pressure skyrockets when I have a problem and need to contact this deplorable corporation.

DirecTV and Dish Network are the other established alternatives for pay television in this area. DirecTV has similar monthly costs to Comcast, perhaps as a result of price fixing in the industry. Basically, pay TV providers know they have the viewers over a barrel. I don't know much about the Dish Network, but I've been told it's no better than Comcast. There's always rabbit ears, and I might resort to this option when I don't need ESPN during the offseason for baseball.

In terms of reducing costs, it's possible to haggle your Comcast cable TV bill down substantially. Usually if you inquire about promotions or threaten to cancel, they will offer a better rate. From Comcast's perspective, some money is better than no money when it comes to bleeding their customer base. They are not being generous. It costs Comcast virtually nothing to flip a switch in the office and send a TV signal to your home.

If you want other examples of how bad Comcast really can be, check out this link: http://tags.consumerist.com/consumer/comcast/
There are numerous horror stories, many of which are just plain laughable unless you happen to be one the countless unfortunate people who Comcast is screwing over.


CONCLUSION:
In sum, Comcast is a repugnant and evil corporation, but they are unlikely to change or improve due the competitive landscape of cable TV. Price gouging is severe and Comcast's customer service is really more of a disservice. However, for many subscribers, Comcast might be the only game in town due to the monopolistic nature of the industry.

I don't recommend Comcast for anybody. If you have a better option for cable television, I strongly suggest avoiding Comcast altogether.



Recommended: No

Amount Paid (US$): 54