Cable bill to go to $1,950 per year

[jcarrera]

Just received an email. My promo rate is going to expire. My payments will go from $1,715 per year to about $1,950 per year. Am I getting nearly $2000 value from my cable hookup (TV+internet)? NO! $2000? You have got to be kidding me.

Most of the time when I have the TV on, we are flipping through cr** channels showing cr** programming. Yet, there are a few--a very few--that I would like to keep. But that option does not exist. You have to pay outrageous bills to bring 100s of channels of useless cr** into your house in order to have access to a few good ones (about 8 channels). I have to do something. It will be painful.

I see no way to reduce the outlay so long as I insist on retaining the channels I like. In essence, I am paying $2000 for 8 channels and internet. There being no way to pay less for those 8 channels and internet, the only remaining option is to cut the cord. Which is sensible: to pay outrageously or get news/entertainment by smartphone (it is $2,300/year--so double whammy), radio, OTA TV, and low speed internet? Smartphone plus cable over $4000/year...I am crazy.

But I can become uncrazy. $4000 per year! How have they done that to me and I let them? How good would I feel when the bill goes up to call and cancel everything but internet, and reduce it to the lowest cost available? You know, that would be very good.

And you know what? I wouldn't die from OTA TV. I really wouldn't. I am feeling better and better about this. In fact, I am feeling really good that getting that cr** out of my house would be a positive thing. Can you see my smile now?

 

[Islandguy43]

Just received an email. My promo rate is going to expire. My payments will go from $1,715 per year to about $1,950 per year. Am I getting nearly $2000 value from my cable hookup (TV+internet)? NO! $2000? You have got to be kidding me.

Most of the time when I have the TV on, we are flipping through cr** channels showing cr** programming. Yet, there are a few--a very few--that I would like to keep. But that option does not exist. You have to pay outrageous bills to bring 100s of channels of useless cr** into your house in order to have access to a few good ones (about 8 channels). I have to do something. It will be painful.

I see no way to reduce the outlay so long as I insist on retaining the channels I like. In essence, I am paying $2000 for 8 channels and internet. There being no way to pay less for those 8 channels and internet, the only remaining option is to cut the cord. Which is sensible: to pay outrageously or get news/entertainment by smartphone (it is $2,300/year--so double whammy), radio, OTA TV, and low speed internet? Smartphone plus cable over $4000/year...I am crazy.

But I can become uncrazy. $4000 per year! How have they done that to me and I let them? How good would I feel when the bill goes up to call and cancel everything but internet, and reduce it to the lowest cost available? You know, that would be very good.

And you know what? I wouldn't die from OTA TV. I really wouldn't. I am feeling better and better about this. In fact, I am feeling really good that getting that cr** out of my house would be a positive thing. Can you see my smile now?

What are the 8 channels you watch?

 

[yaz96]

Just received an email. My promo rate is going to expire. My payments will go from $1,715 per year to about $1,950 per year. Am I getting nearly $2000 value from my cable hookup (TV+internet)? NO! $2000? You have got to be kidding me.

Most of the time when I have the TV on, we are flipping through cr** channels showing cr** programming. Yet, there are a few--a very few--that I would like to keep. But that option does not exist. You have to pay outrageous bills to bring 100s of channels of useless cr** into your house in order to have access to a few good ones (about 8 channels). I have to do something. It will be painful.

I see no way to reduce the outlay so long as I insist on retaining the channels I like. In essence, I am paying $2000 for 8 channels and internet. There being no way to pay less for those 8 channels and internet, the only remaining option is to cut the cord. Which is sensible: to pay outrageously or get news/entertainment by smartphone (it is $2,300/year--so double whammy), radio, OTA TV, and low speed internet? Smartphone plus cable over $4000/year...I am crazy.

But I can become uncrazy. $4000 per year! How have they done that to me and I let them? How good would I feel when the bill goes up to call and cancel everything but internet, and reduce it to the lowest cost available? You know, that would be very good.

And you know what? I wouldn't die from OTA TV. I really wouldn't. I am feeling better and better about this. In fact, I am feeling really good that getting that cr** out of my house would be a positive thing. Can you see my smile now?

Why don't you act like a reasonable person instead of a crazy, and call them and tell them if they want to keep you, they must reduce the bill. OR, cancel, wait 30 days and re-sign up for another promo.

And what kind of TV/Int package is $143 a month at promo price? Sounds like you have Premium package TV and Higher tier internet.

 

[iceturkee]

does the op realize he can call and see if they can put him on a different promo?

 

[jcarrera]

What are the 8 channels you watch?

Why does that make a difference? Some are available OTA (network stations); most are in the non-basic tier--whatever the correct name is for that.

 

[jcarrera]

Why don't you act like a reasonable person instead of a crazy...

Why, thank you for your kindness and classy response.

And what kind of TV/Int package is $143 a month at promo price? Sounds like you have Premium package TV and Higher tier internet.

I have higher level internet. Tried to reduce the service level once, and they said it would cost me MORE. There is a thread here about that. I have no Premium packages like the movie/sports ones--just what used to be called the digital tier. I have one DVR and two other STB's in bedrooms.

 

[Steve Mehs]

Buy every episode of every show you watch on those 8 channels for 3 bucks a pop on iTunes, cancel cable and then see how much more money you’re spending watching TV that way as opposed to cable.

 

[jcarrera]

Buy every episode of every show you watch on those 8 channels for 3 bucks a pop on iTunes, cancel cable and then see how much more money you’re spending watching TV that way as opposed to cable.

Well, that would be stupid too. Perhaps the conclusion is that information/entertainment delivered via TV is simply vastly overpriced. Well, I guess it would be more accurate to say "it is overpriced for ME."

If $2000 per year to have access to 8 channels (or MORE if accessed through other means) fits your definition of acceptable value, then it is fine--for YOU. I assume your income can handle the $2000 outlay and you have no other more important use for that money. Neither of those conditions is true for me.

Please understand: I am not saying it is 'wrong;' I am saying it is wrong for me--and I suspect for many others who probably do have a better use for that $2000.

We are in this position because it used to not cost so much, and we kept on paying the higher and higher rates as they were laid in without really contemplating how much is going out the door on an annual basis. "It's only $10 (plus tax) more." "It's only $6.95 (plus tax) more." "It's only $8 (plus tax) more." "It's only $15 (plus tax) more." At least that is what happened to me. When I got the increase notice, it prompted me to multiply my monthly by 12, and I was shocked.

 

[The Insider]

if you dont watch the premium channels you can get your bill down to under 120$ a month. that would be with 1 dvr and you would lose the 2 other boxes.. if you want to keep them it would put you around 140-150 a month.

 

[harshness]

I have higher level internet.

If the $1950 includes Internet, you're not being truthful about how much you're paying for TV.

The simple answer is to see if you can't find a different setup where you can get the service you need. You're probably not going to be able to convince another cable company to duke it out with Brighthouse when their franchise comes up.

When someone asks you what channels you want, tell them the names of the channels, not some indeterminate classification. We can't help you if you're determined not to tell us what you need.

 

[jcarrera]

if you dont watch the premium channels you can get your bill down to under 120$ a month. that would be with 1 dvr and you would lose the 2 other boxes.. if you want to keep them it would put you around 140-150 a month.

Exactly. And my decision process is: is $1440/yr (your quoted 120/mo) with no bedroom TV, or some number more than that with bedroom TV, worth it to me. Right now, the answer is no.

Some level of internet is necessary, but extra speed is just a luxury and not necessary.

 

[jcarrera]

If the $1950 includes Internet, you're not being truthful about how much you're paying for TV...

I was truthful about the annual outlay. Yes, it includes internet. Yes, I said that. My discussions centered on TV because internet is so highly desired as to not be in the equation for dropping, and because the TV cost is way higher than the internet part.

I also noted that I had previously tried to drop the internet service level and was told it would cost MORE to do so because I would go off of a promo.

 

[harshness]

There are many difficulties with the presentation of your issue:

1. The yearly rate may have shocked you to the core, but it isn't how most of us think about our cable bills. We think in terms of the monthly rate and what we can do about it.

2. If your Internet portion of the bill is untouchable, it doesn't do any good to include it in the consideration. It is best to consider only what you can change and not cultivate an ulcer over the rest. You also need to subtract out the monthly fees for the cable modem/gateway and any cable boxes/Cablecards that you're paying for as you probably can't impact those fees either.

3. If you're looking at paying around $120/month for TV, that's not extraordinary.

Concentrate on what you can change and see if Brighthouse has any options. It doesn't appear that they have lots of options with their TV offerings but the bundling may pay off.

If you're just ranting and don't really plan to do anything about it, please say so.

 

[yaz96]

Without providing the specifics requested, he just seems to present a rant (not his first time, BTW) about Bright House.

I don't understand why you need higher internet speeds - what do you do?

AS far as the TV packages, there are a few different ones to choose from, if you choose not to lower your package, then you only have yourself to blame for your costs.

 

[jcarrera]

...I don't understand why you need higher internet speeds - what do you do?...

Do you not read before you type? I said: "Some level of internet is necessary, but extra speed is just a luxury and not necessary."

I would be happy to talk about just the TV portion of the cost, but BHN does not show the components of the cost when you have a bundle rate--only the total bundle cost.

This is a combined issue, which I believe my previous posts have made clear, but I will try again...

1. Total cost is, FOR MY BUDGET, AND INCOME, AND MY SENSE OF VALUE, excessive.

2. Internet is necessary. It does not have to be fast. Last time I tried to "downsize" it, I was told that would cost more. Clear?

3. TV: Any way of reducing it (within BHN offerings) cuts deeply into the parts I would "like to" keep--even though there is 95% of it that I would gladly do without.

Thus, there is a quandary--
as is, value received not nearly worth the cost
there is no way within BHN's offerings to reduce without cutting into the things "liked"
(possible exception would be internet speed reduction if that NOW can result in lower, not higher, cost)
It is clear to me that even choosing a lower plan would still leave me in a state of "value received less than cost"--I can't cut only the things I do not value.

At first, I resented you characterizing this only as a rant. I have presented the situation. It is real--everything I said is a fact. Trying to solve it presents a quandary (see above) as there seems to be a null (acceptable) set of actions...yet you, being satisfied with how much you pay, characterize my statement of how I feel about it as a rant. So, someone saying they are displeased with the price of something are automatically a ranter? Well, maybe so. So, yes, I guess I am ranting about prices that are too high FOR THE SERVICE I WANT (channels desired + bottom level internet).

It seems, since you are satisfied with what you pay, you can't believe anyone else is justified in not being satisfied, and in being undecided about selecting from "fixes" that result in the loss of things "liked." Life is like that: you seldom get everything you want at the price you want to pay. That is the situation I am in, and am stating it in the form of "what I want costs too much." More accurately, "what I have includes what I want, but costs to much--but what I can change to that doesn't cost too much, doesn't include what I want." So, to myself I say, c'est la vie. To you I say, learn to be a bit more sympathetic to others' dilemmas.

 

[The Insider]

Exactly. And my decision process is: is $1440/yr (your quoted 120/mo) with no bedroom TV, or some number more than that with bedroom TV, worth it to me. Right now, the answer is no.

Some level of internet is necessary, but extra speed is just a luxury and not necessary.

For that 120 a month all the tvs in your house would have TV btw. Just not boxes.

 

[harshness]

At first, I resented you characterizing this only as a rant.

A rant typically isn't fictitious. To be a rant, there simply has to be someone screaming bloody murder about what some evil company has wrought upon them without demonstrating a decided willingness to do anything about it.

The best rants are where all suggestions for improvement are dismissed for one reason or another.

 

[jcarrera]

For that 120 a month all the tvs in your house would have TV btw. Just not boxes.

Well, That directly contradicts what you previously said: "if you dont watch the premium channels you can get your bill down to under 120$ a month. that would be with 1 dvr and you would lose the 2 other boxes..

so, which of your posts should I believe?

OH, I see. TV direct from cable--but no box. So, what channels do you get that way?

 

[harshness]

Well, That directly contradicts what you previously said: "if you dont watch the premium channels you can get your bill down to under 120$ a month. that would be with 1 dvr and you would lose the 2 other boxes..

The presumption (likely invalid) is that your other TVs don't need a box to get non-premium programming. In this day and age of digital cable, there is often no falling back to analog programming packages and all but the lifeline programming requires some manner of access validation (STB or CableCard).

 

[jcarrera]

A rant typically isn't fictitious. To be a rant, there simply has to be someone screaming bloody murder

[Kind of did that]

about what some evil company has wrought upon them

[never called BHN evil. They can set their prices at whatever they want.]

without demonstrating a decided willingness to do anything about it.

[Well gee; I am certainly willing to do something about it, if there was an aceptable path. The whole discussion was lamenting that there was no ACCEPTABLE solution. I am expressing dismay that, even though 95% of what I am paying for is unwanted, I cannot cut that out without cutting out at major parts of what I "like" and want to keep.]

The best rants are where all suggestions for improvement are dismissed for one reason or another.

[OK, finally here you hit the nail on the head. I have not seen an acceptable "suggestion for improvement", thus indeed everything has been dismissed; you seem to feel 'without reason' (wrong). Give me a suggestion that reduces the cost substantially, and keeps low level internet and the few channels I want, in three rooms, and I guarantee I will accept it. So far, the closest thing I have come up with is an OTA antenna and whatever the cheapest internet is I can get (say 3Mbps or above). With that, I still lose some of the channels I want, but getting all of the 8 or so channels I want seems to mean "pay the $2000 per year."]

Regarding that last paragraph, I cannot help but believe that is an intentional design of BHN. Spread out the most desired channels so that the highest price must be paid to get them. Again, it is perfectly their right to do that. And it is my right to try to find a way to cut the cost.