Charter claims they are going to provide better pricing

[John2021]

were paying 45.00 a month for there gig service. the rep told us thar promo was for 3 years!!! i thought it was for a year i was wrong.. . i use our own modem and router and not there crap...

 

[John2021]

To rent a cable box from charter next month is going up from 13.50 to 14.50

 

[harshness]

To rent a cable box from charter next month is going up from 13.50 to 14.50

This is especially painful given that they've more or less done away with alternatives to using their STBs. Spectrum no longer offers CableCARDs (they still provide replacement/updated cards for those already registered.

 

[comfortably_numb]

they've more or less done away with alternatives to using their STBs

Don't they have a way to stream their programming the same way DirecTV does? My parents have Spectrum and their full lineup appears to be available through the Spectrum app on Roku.

 

[harshness]

Don't they have a way to stream their programming the same way DirecTV does?

Spectrum is a partner in the Xumo project. They offer the Xumo box for $60 up-front or $5/month.

The Streaming product isn't a 1:1 analog of the Cable product.

 

[comfortably_numb]

The Streaming product isn't a 1:1 analog of the Cable product.

It's pretty darm close if not exact IIRC. I looked at my parents' account on the Spectrum Roku app last time I was home and all of the channels were there, even the OTA ones, although some are greyed out unless the Roku is on the same subnet as the Spectrum gateway.

 

[Bruce]

Spectrum is a partner in the Xumo project. They offer the Xumo box for $60 up-front or $5/month.

The Streaming product isn't a 1:1 analog of the Cable product.

They offer the option of using a Roku ( I assume other devices also), so you do not have to purchase/rent a Xumo box.

Comcast, the other partner in Xumo, offers the same option.

 

[John2021]

Comcast and spectrum might merge. Lord I hope not i like my unlimited data.

 

[rvvaquero]

I quit doing business with Spectrum years ago because of their deceptive practices. I swore I'd go without before I'd go back to them.

However, a friend recently moved to the area and wanted internet. Spectrum is the only thing available. So, I went with her yesterday to see about getting service.

Online, Spectrum offered 100 mb/s service at her address for $30 month for 2 years, 500 mb/s service for $50 month for 2 years. Since my friend is on very limited SS income, she wanted the $30 month plan and was going to move her phone to Spectrum which is advertised as free for one year.

When we arrived at the Spectrum store, I told the sales person exactly what was offered online and what we wanted. She acknowledged that it was exactly as I stated, then began to get personal info from my friend. Then, after completing the application, she says that the $30 plan was not available at that location, even though it says it was after entering the address, both on my computer and at the store. She says the cheapest plan available was $60 month for 2 years, then goes to $90. BAIT AND SWITCH, just like in the old days.

I asked if taxes and fees was included in the internet and phone line price and she said, "absolutely, one flat rate, no surprises on the bill". I asked several times and she repeated that.

While my friend was completing the process, I went over and talked to the store manager. I asked why Spectrum can't be honest and just spell out what's available without playing all these games with people. He said that there's no way the website can tell if a certain service is available until the application is completed. Nonsense.

I then asked him about the taxes and fees. He said that all plans have taxes, no way to get around that for any company. I told him that some companies include taxes and fees in their quoted price, some don't. I asked why his employee repeatedly lied about the taxes and fees when I asked her. He just looked at me stupidly.

I still feel badly today about taking my friend to Spectrum. What a sh!t company. I still feel that I would go without before doing business with them, but my friend wanted internet.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Hate to tell you this, but the other companies aren't any better. Comcast is just as bad, if not worse.

 

[harshness]

Comcast is just as bad, if not worse.

In my area, if you want to talk to Comcast, you have to take a number.