Been without a pay television for a couple months in preparation for an oft-delayed move that looks like it's finally happening in a few days (Was a Dish customer prior). The plan was to give Comcast a try because they are the only Internet provider where I am going (Except satellite Internet, which doesn't meet my needs) and I thought I might qualify for a new customer bundle by transferring my existing Internet service and adding television. Well, I called them and waited on hold for seven years or so, had a long conversation with someone who's IQ seemed to be in the single digits, and said conversation concluded with them setting up nothing for me because they couldn't get my address right (A problem I've had before at a different address, believe it or not). When I got my existing Internet service set up with Comcast years ago, it took me several missed install visits (by them), two visits to their office (by me), two visits from them to my home, a zillion phone calls, an article in the Consumerist, and other things.
I hate that Comcast has me by the balls with Internet (No FIOS or DSL where I'm going) or I wouldn't deal with them at all. But they do, so I'm going to have to call them back and make something work. But my frustrating phone call with them today reminded me that I do have a choice when it comes to my television provider. We'll see if I have more luck tomorrow, but anything short of their best new customer promo and an install date resulting from the call tomorrow and I will only deal with them for what I basically have to- Internet- out of spite (Well, out of not wanting to deal with a company that makes life way tougher than it has to be for me). I really am beginning to hate those guys. I know I shouldn't take it personally, but they remind me of stories of the old telephone monopoly.
So, that brings me to Directv.
What would the following cost with Directv?:
- One HD tv, one SD TV
- Choice programming
- The Genie thing
I mean year one and year two per month rates including all the little fees they add- receiver fees, RSN fees, setup fees, install fees, fees for paying fees, etc.. No offense to Directv, I just know that's how this entire industry works.
I don't want to sign a contract I'll regret or can't afford. I've looking at their website and seen the programming fee, but I can see from the non-specific fine print, as well as what is basically becoming common sense after dealing with other providers, that there's more to it than that. I don't want to join that $100 a month club the Dish advertisements kept mentioning on every show on every channel during my waning days with Dish.
Some days I just think "Screw it, I'll go without", but from missing a couple months of the Orioles season and having to pay to sit at a bar and watch preseason football and seeing how much that costs, I don't really want to keep going without if I can avoid it.
I hate that Comcast has me by the balls with Internet (No FIOS or DSL where I'm going) or I wouldn't deal with them at all. But they do, so I'm going to have to call them back and make something work. But my frustrating phone call with them today reminded me that I do have a choice when it comes to my television provider. We'll see if I have more luck tomorrow, but anything short of their best new customer promo and an install date resulting from the call tomorrow and I will only deal with them for what I basically have to- Internet- out of spite (Well, out of not wanting to deal with a company that makes life way tougher than it has to be for me). I really am beginning to hate those guys. I know I shouldn't take it personally, but they remind me of stories of the old telephone monopoly.
So, that brings me to Directv.
What would the following cost with Directv?:
- One HD tv, one SD TV
- Choice programming
- The Genie thing
I mean year one and year two per month rates including all the little fees they add- receiver fees, RSN fees, setup fees, install fees, fees for paying fees, etc.. No offense to Directv, I just know that's how this entire industry works.
I don't want to sign a contract I'll regret or can't afford. I've looking at their website and seen the programming fee, but I can see from the non-specific fine print, as well as what is basically becoming common sense after dealing with other providers, that there's more to it than that. I don't want to join that $100 a month club the Dish advertisements kept mentioning on every show on every channel during my waning days with Dish. Some days I just think "Screw it, I'll go without", but from missing a couple months of the Orioles season and having to pay to sit at a bar and watch preseason football and seeing how much that costs, I don't really want to keep going without if I can avoid it.
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