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why is there a 100 dollar install fee?

iceturkee said:

why is there a 100 dollar install fee?

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Because they can get away with it because people are willing to pay it. This fee is completely over the top for the work being done just like the Lightning install fee. Now this large fee at least does have a decent amount of legitimate work compared to the Lightning fee. Now this is just my own humble opinion based on the fact that highly trained IT Network techs don't get that kind of money. Lets be honest and say that I doubt these techs are anywhere close to as educated compared to a network tech who is Network+ and Cisco Certified (CCNA). I wish I got that kind of money for just replacing a few boxes and installing a few devices and calling in to authorize services. Either the tech is getting most of that extra money "or" the company is keeping it. My guess is that the tech isn't getting jack for this and I refuse to give "THAT" kind of money to BHN itself. Now this information applies to the Tampa Bay market but may be different for Central Florida once it launches.

LonghornXP said:

Because they can get away with it because people are willing to pay it. This fee is completely over the top for the work being done just like the Lightning install fee. Now this large fee at least does have a decent amount of legitimate work compared to the Lightning fee. Now this is just my own humble opinion based on the fact that highly trained IT Network techs don't get that kind of money. Lets be honest and say that I doubt these techs are anywhere close to as educated compared to a network tech who is Network+ and Cisco Certified (CCNA). I wish I got that kind of money for just replacing a few boxes and installing a few devices and calling in to authorize services. Either the tech is getting most of that extra money "or" the company is keeping it. My guess is that the tech isn't getting jack for this and I refuse to give "THAT" kind of money to BHN itself. Now this information applies to the Tampa Bay market but may be different for Central Florida once it launches.

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I had lightning installed today here in Michigan and they got me for 50.00. For all of 15 minutes of their time.

Hey even employees get stuck with that install fee. For something I could of done myself. They are trying to recover the massive cost to upgrade the network

The Insider said:

Hey even employees get stuck with that install fee. For something I could of done myself. They are trying to recover the massive cost to upgrade the network

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I thought that is what the extra 30 bucks a month was for. Last I checked I could get an entire internet account for not much more than that. They charge the install fee because they can. I don't believe for one second that a tech is needed to hook up a box for highend customers. Lets be honest and agree that only the higher end and educated technology customers would even consider paying the extra money for Lightning. So with that said I'm pretty sure these customers can hook up a simple box and use the splitter provided if needed. In the case of major signal strength issues this would cause the tech to completely rewire the room if not the entire house. Well last I checked if you order Turbo Plus and have signal issues they won't charge you 50 bucks to cover "if" you have signal issues. I also firmly believe that signal issues that would keep Lightning from working would also create problems for Turbo Plus and maybe even HD channels and On Demand. All of these would be fixed at no extra cost.

Again I understand the cost of a truck roll but I don't understand why Lightning and Whole Home DVR (the two newest services) are the only services that have an install fee. This seems to be the new trend from BHN to make additional money. I always believed that install fees cover the cost of the truck roll and hardware and really aren't intended to create a profit stream. So I don't believe that a basic install tech, gas, van, etc warrants 100 bucks "if" they aren't trying to make a profit out of install fees. If it does cost that much they are paying way too much. Now if they are sending Knight people than you are being robbed blindly considering what those guys are paid. Now if its a BHN employee that might cost a bit more but come on not 100 bucks for a job that would take on average no more than 1 hour and 15 minutes. I can go to a customers location and do a complete install of Windows 7, do all windows updates, install anti-malware software, create the first system backup etc which takes me just about 2 full hours onsite. I charge 149.99 for this service now because of the economy and considering the cost of gas, car and other expenses I can easily make a profit. I don't want to hear that BHN cannot charge less when they are getting a monthly income which is something I don't get.

Now this is just my humble opinion and maybe I'm wrong but this fee puts a bad taste in peoples mouths when they see how little the tech does and how little time it takes. People don't like to feel like they are getting robbed and it's how I felt after the Lightning tech left. I had a plumber come in and fix a pipe that took a solid hour and required "far" more training and knowledge than a BHN install tech and this cost me 79.99. Heck auto guys charge 80 bucks an hour but at least they also have far greater training than BHN techs. I'm sorry but the cost to work ratio isn't in line with other jobs that require far more education and experience.

i thought the fifty for a lightning install was totally absurd. tech wasn't here any longer than hooking up a modem for the first time. after a month i cancelled. i totally refuse to pay the 100 for whole home, especially when i already have the correct boxes. bhn keeps muttering something about changing the wiring outside. this isn't satellite people so how frickin complicated can it get. even a tech told me i shouldn't have to pay the entire fee because i already had the newer boxes. so, i totally agree with you L!!