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Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems
Adelphia customers are welcomed to the Comcast family officially....
07:06PM Thursday Jan 10 2008 by Karl
tags: prices · business · hardware · cable · Comcast
The Consumerist notes that some former Adelphia customers who are now under the Comcast umbrella are being charged the $3 rental fee even if they own their modem. Comcast says they're having a hard time determining if users rent or own their modems on account of poor record keeping (we assume on the part of Adelphia). Some users are being told there's nothing Comcast can do unless they can show proof of purchase for the modem.
I was told that Adelphia offered a free lease program to its customers, a service that Comcast didn't have. The records, however, weren't good enough to determine who had the free lease program and who had their own modem, so they decided to just charge everybody and let the customers figure it out for themselves. I was also told that I needed to prove that I purchased this modem by presenting a receipt (on an 18 month old modem I could just have easily purchased off of Craigslist or from a friend).
Proving to Comcast that you own your modem has popped up as an occasional but consistent issue in our forums for years. This isn't an Adelphia issue, as customers who've always been with Comcast face the same problem. While such complaints are common, most customers say Comcast is usually quick to fix the error when you bring it to their attention (though users say the erroneous charges sometimes return later). It's always a good idea to double check your bill if you've purchased your modem elsewhere.

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Oleg @ 10th Jan 06:49PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

Don't Comcast has a record in the database who rented the modem?
reply
en102 @ 10th Jan 06:49PM:
charging for something they down own ?

Umm ... How about Comcast can't charge you for a modem that they can't prove that they own.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

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Eddyisgreat @ 10th Jan 06:50PM:
Such Trash

I hate it when companies this think kind of crap is cool. This is a joke, specially considering the fee can add up. While I agree it is on the consumers part to atleast look at the bill (i've found some surprises too :mad:) , we shouldn't have to do their job and keep extremely detailed records, including information we don't have access to (what was moved from aldephia to comcast).

Can I request a "doing your job for you?" credit on my acct?
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newview @ 10th Jan 06:53PM:
Pot, kettle, black

quote:
Comcast says they're having a hard time determining if users rent or own their modems on account of poor record keeping (we assume on the part of Adelphia).
Comcast has ALWAYS had a problem keeping track of modems owned by their customers.

Twice in 3 years I've had modem rental charges show up on my bill, when I've owned my own modem ever since they gave me a crummy RCA modem that had a power cable that wouldn't stay in (remember those?)

We see the same posts about this in the Comcast HSI forum regularly. Comcast, don't point fingers at Adelphia about poor record keeping until your own house is in order.
--

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OSUGoose @ 10th Jan 06:59PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

How about just going out the best buy, buying a modem, and presenting that as our proof, then promptly return the modem, if you guys cant find a reciept.
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Camelot One @ 10th Jan 07:01PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

Its the Adelphia customers that are being hit by this. And I'm sure Adelphia made it look like they owned the modems, more assets and all.

But I agree. Don't ask me to prove I own my modem, prove I don't.....or that you do, if you want to charge me money for it.

It's not a bad idea though. I think tomorrow I'll bill my neighbors for lawn more rental, claiming I own them all. It will be up to them to prove I don't. :)
--
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anon @ 10th Jan 07:04PM:
Nothing new here..

This is old news, nothing new here. This has been going on since @home days.
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newview @ 10th Jan 07:08PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

As far as I'm concerned, that's fraud . . . or at least misrepresentation.

IANAL
reply
Mike @ 10th Jan 07:15PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

If you read the article.. or even the title, it was imported from Adelphia.
reply
drakenon @ 10th Jan 07:17PM:
Rate codes

Adelphia had a special rate code that showed up on your bill as an Owned modem. Comcast must've conveniently lost that info when importing the data.
--
"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue."
Scott Adams

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koma3504 @ 10th Jan 07:21PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

And could they do this by looking up there purchase records from adelphia and comparing the mac??
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devnuller @ 10th Jan 07:31PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

Fraud is a pretty strong word. This happened to me as well as a Charter customer. I call it a mistake, but perhaps those that want to keep kicking Comcast will find ways to make a "mountain" out of everything and nothing...

Karl do you work for Kevin Martin?
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Camelot One @ 10th Jan 07:32PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

They are saying the issue is caused by adelphia's records not being accurate. Thus technically Comcast is just going off of the records they were provided in the buyout. But you can't really complain to adelphia at this point.
--
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r81984 @ 10th Jan 07:35PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

A mistake???

This is not a mistake, they are charging people for rental without any proof they are renting. This is on purpose and clearly fraud.
--
»www.ryanoneill.us

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en102 @ 10th Jan 07:39PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

That's not far from what Comcast is doing..
Instead of going to Best Buy and purchasing a modem, and claimed that the in-use modem was theirs,
Comcast went out and purchased Adelphia and claimed that all Adelphia's customers modems were theirs.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

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panth1 @ 10th Jan 07:48PM:
Adelphia claimed my modem as well

I started receiving the modem rental fee one month and had to go to the local office and show them my receipt for my modem before they would remove the charge. Calling them on the phone was of no use.

I will have to watch my bill again to see if Comcast tries to claim it again.
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newview @ 10th Jan 07:52PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

said by en102 :

That's not far from what Comcast is doing..
I agree 100% . . . but I would never sink that low.
Comcast obviously doesn't have those scruples.
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cabana @ 10th Jan 07:54PM:
Re: Adelphia claimed my modem as well

still bites me every month that I pay .25 for the use of my remote control on my cable - :uhh: No its not alot of money -- but what good is the box without the remote. sigh.
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ebubman @ 10th Jan 07:58PM:
rental fee for owned modems???

what??? comcast has found yet another way to reach into the consumer's wallet???? say it ain't so! i've said before that they will one day have a meter on our pcs & will charge for the very air we breath when online. go ahead LOL.
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i1me2ao @ 10th Jan 07:58PM:
sweet

do not research but just assume and charge 3.00. great plan crookcast..
--
»www.thereligionofpeace.com/

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ebubman @ 10th Jan 08:00PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

said by en102 :

Umm ... How about Comcast can't charge you for a modem that they can't prove that they own.
ummm, it's called the "golden rule"; those with the gold (i.e. comcastigold), rule.
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Camelot One @ 10th Jan 08:02PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

I thought the rule was "A Comcast customer fool and his money will soon be separated.
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en102 @ 10th Jan 08:02PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

Its corporate culture. They assumed that when they bought Adelphia, it was ALL theirs unless somebody (court/lawyer, etc) tells Comcast corporate otherwise.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

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CableTool @ 10th Jan 08:06PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

said by Oleg :

Don't Comcast has a record in the database who rented the modem?
said by Mike :

If you read the article.. or even the title, it was imported from Adelphia.
Reading and comprehension are two different things. Apparently grammar is as well.
--
CableTechs.org/"Horrible People with Integrity"

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Yaco @ 10th Jan 08:06PM:
Who wants a reciept ?????

Hell people just get one from a friend tell them you got it on craigslist. Email of transaction will suffice
Jeez
:)
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gatorkram @ 10th Jan 08:10PM:
Funny

The best thing about this whole thing, is that their default is to just charge everyone the fee, and wait for the end users to complain.

Typical corp. greed.

Why not just let everyone have their modems, owned or not, and then start fresh with new accounts.. Wow, is that logical?
--
Give me bandwidth or give me death!
»/testhistory/661871/4f240

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ccb056 @ 10th Jan 08:12PM:
Reset Contract

Whats stopping people from canceling the contract with Comcast, keeping the modem, and starting a new contract without leasing a modem?

This would be a solution because when you sign up for the contract Comcast will record in your file that you are not renting a modem.

I've been doing this with Charter for their promotional deals, just cancel the contract at the end of the promotion and renew with the new promotion, if you're nice on the phone they wont charge you any service/installation fees.
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Oleg @ 10th Jan 08:22PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

said by CableTool :

said by Oleg :

Don't Comcast has a record in the database who rented the modem?
said by Mike :

If you read the article.. or even the title, it was imported from Adelphia.
Reading and comprehension are two different things. Apparently grammar is as well.
What kind of nick name Is CableTool do you sell cable tools or something?
reply
Skeedatl @ 10th Jan 08:24PM:
They did that to me after the AT&T takeover

Comcast tried to charge me for my modem that I owned when I was ATTBi when I cancelled (never was charged any rental fee). I had to fax them a copy of my Compuplus receipt from 2 years prior before they would finally let it go. And this was AFTER call after call AND faxing them a copy of my original ATTBi workorder that said very plainly "CUSTOMER OWNED EQUIPMENT".

Garbage in garbage out. Someone somwhere entered the info wrong or it's carried over wrong and they stick it to ya. And of course it's always up to the CUSTOMER to prove they own their own property, never the dumbasses Comcast to prove that the modem was theirs. After making you jump through hoop after hoop and even sending collection agents after ya, they finally end with oops, you don't owe us the money after all.

No sh!t Sherlock, been telling ya that for 2 months, a dozen phone calls and faxes.
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Skeedatl @ 10th Jan 08:25PM:
Re: Rate codes

They figure you just won't miss another $3. With all the video rate increases, what's another 3 bucks.
reply
Ramster @ 10th Jan 08:31PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

They had started charging me rent for the modem I bought, and I have been a Comcast customer all along! Had I not saved the paperwork from 6 Years ago, I would have been in deep do-do ... because they said when they switched systems, they could not find any record of my having bought the modem in teh first place.

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ltjordan @ 10th Jan 08:32PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

Comcast is able to get away with it for three main reasons; One, because people don't pay attention to their bills. Two, people don't keep that sort of information for too long. They just want to make sure that the product they purchased works and then they get rid of it. Three, most people aren't even going to fight it because they figure it's only a few bucks. But you compound that monthly by a few hundred thousand customers and Comcast is making themselves quite a nice little profit. Customers need to band together and hit their ass with a Class Action Lawsuit.
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Enlightener @ 10th Jan 08:36PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

No. An accident would be if a few modems were misclassified. But if they ( as the article suggests ) simply decided to charge every single customer a lease fee knowing that many are owned by the customer then it is clearly fraud.
reply
skrupowies @ 10th Jan 08:39PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

said by Mike :

If you read the article.. or even the title, it was imported from Adelphia.
Actually if YOU read the article you would have seen "This isn't an Adelphia issue, as customers who've always been with Comcast face the same problem." So it's a Comcast issue. Probably just another way for them to make some extra money. Slip that fee on the bill and hope the customer doesn't notice. If they do then simply say "oops, sorry we'll take that right off."
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Jameson @ 10th Jan 08:56PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

said by Oleg :

What kind of nick name Is CableTool do you sell cable tools or something?
HAHAHAHAHA comment of the month!
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TwKs @ 10th Jan 09:02PM:
Similar issue with RoadRunner...

...afer my area was taken over by them from Adelphia.

I have owned the same modem for years and after the TWC took over, I was charged a rental modem fee for a modem that I indeed owned outright. After a call to customer service, it was ironed out right away and there hasn't been a repeat of the issue. :)
reply
jammmin @ 10th Jan 09:16PM:
comcrap

I had my own modem for years until Comcast "mistakenly' started charging me for it.
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MrMoody @ 10th Jan 09:21PM:
Fees

Customer-owned Modem Fee ..... $3
reply
maxpower @ 10th Jan 09:23PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

quote:
Reading and comprehension are two different things. Apparently grammar is as well.

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Syian @ 10th Jan 09:26PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

*ahem*
"i'm in ur database, rentin' ur modemz".

okay, i know. it was a bad joke. but it HAD to be made.
reply
gaforces @ 10th Jan 09:49PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

said by Oleg :

What kind of nick name Is CableTool do you sell cable tools or something?
"The word "tool" may be used as an insult, describing someone who is being used by an establishment willingly (as a sycophant), or unwillingly (as one who blindly conforms). Alternatively, the insult tool can imply that a person is unable (or unwilling) to form an independent opinion on a given topic."
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_%28insult%29
Cable and Tool, hrmm, on a broadband forum ... couldn't be he likes cable.
--
‘Do ye, quieting in your bosoms your strong hearts,
Who of many good things have had your fill even to surfeit,
With what is moderate nourish your mighty desire; for neither will
We yield, nor shall you have all else as you wish.’
Solon

reply
DataDoc @ 10th Jan 10:02PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

said by Camelot One :

I thought the rule was "A Comcast customer fool and his money will soon be separated.
You're thinking of "A fool and his money are some party!"
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burgerwars @ 10th Jan 10:12PM:
Someone take them to court.

I can't see any small claims court siding with Comcast if a customer brought them to court. It's up to Comcast to prove they purchased the modem, or Adelphia, not the other way around.

It's like me walking over to a neighbor's garage and telling them the lawnmower they have is mine, and I'm going to take it. I'll only return it if they can show a receipt that they purchased it. Same thing, if you ask me.
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anon @ 10th Jan 10:13PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

said by Oleg :

What kind of nick name Is CableTool do you sell cable tools or something?
What kind of nick name is Oleg2003? Were you born in 2003?
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bear73 @ 10th Jan 10:13PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

what ever happened to "possession is 9/10ths of the law"?
--
If ya gotta go, Go with a SMILE!

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KrK @ 10th Jan 10:37PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

said by newview :

As far as I'm concerned, that's fraud . . . or at least misrepresentation.
Same could be said of Comcast's actions... and sometimes, you have to fight fire with fire.
reply
anon @ 10th Jan 11:31PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

comcast records are screwed up! they are charging for a modem they are saying I did not return. 40bucks. I told them I have the modem. they will send a prepaid DHL box and I will send them a brick back. shipping back and forth=40. I will then claim I send them a modem and it is up to them to prove otherwise.
reply
anon @ 10th Jan 11:31PM:
ComCrap sucks!!!

Comcast records are screwed up! They are charging for a modem they are saying I did not return. Service was terminated 3 yrs ago. $40. Tried to be nice to see if I can get this waived. Never possible with ComCrap. After this, I infomed them that I had the modem. I asked them to send DHL box and I will send them a brick in their box. Shipping back and forth=$40. I will then claim that I sent modem and it is up to them to prove otherwise.
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drakenon @ 11th Jan 12:10AM:
Re: Reset Contract

Because all cable companies force you to turn in "rental" equipment.
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ANWDREW @ 11th Jan 12:19AM:
Re: ComCrap sucks!!!

Adelphia tried to charge me for my own modem
I called they took it off my bill
Comcast bought Adelphia, I just recently had Comcast
bill come in with the $3 charge. I called and they took it off my bill I was told, Or I will be on the phone with them again.
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Diaboyos @ 11th Jan 12:49AM:
They did the same thing to me

Comcast did the same thing here when they took over TWC. I noticed the modem rental fee on my bill and complained time and time again and all I ever got was "we're going to escalate your problem to a level-2 tech". The level-2 techs never called me back like they were supposed to. I went to the local branch and they did the same thing to me in person. Said they'd look into it and get back to me. Then they never got back to me.

After months of this runaround I finally filed a complaint against them with the BBB. Wouldn't you know it, a week after that a corporate representative contacts me. He changed it to show the modem as being owned by me in my file and no more charges. They still never reimbursed me for the several months I paid the charge however. But I decided to leave it alone.
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Diaboyos @ 11th Jan 12:53AM:
Re: Reset Contract

Comcast doesn't stop billing you until you turn in the modem to them if they think you are renting it.
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tc1uscg @ 11th Jan 01:09AM:
Nothing has changed..

Back when Comcrap carried @Home, the initial installation stated 3 year modem rental. After that, no more rental charges and the modem was yours. Then, when CC took over @Home, started seeing modem rental charge again. CC said any agreement with @Home was null/void so welcome to CC.. I got a modem off ebay, poured a can of sprite into the modem for CC and told them to come get it (ended up dropping it off) because it didn't work. They tried to get me take their "approved" modem but I still use that modem today on WOW. :uhh:
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acid343211 @ 11th Jan 01:29AM:
receipt

Provide your receipt of purchase to them no issues.
--
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karlmarx @ 11th Jan 02:12AM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

Exactly. Comcast has to show a receipt (you DID sign a receipt when it was installed, right) that you are renting the modem. It's up to THEM to prove you are renting, it's not your job to show you're not. This is just another abusive attempt by a megacorp to nickle and dime to death all their users.
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megahz01 @ 11th Jan 03:14AM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

There is a brand of CATV tools called CableTool
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GoodyearMark @ 11th Jan 05:33AM:
hmm

I have nothing constructive to add other than to say I'm glad I don't have to use CrapCast any more. Of course this comment alone is worth more than 5 of those Oleg posts combined.
--
»hackThatPhone.com

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rob_in_chatt @ 11th Jan 06:37AM:
modems

hey former Adelphia customers..............welcome to Comcast. it only gets better from this point.
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KD4CVR @ 11th Jan 08:22AM:
The next additional charges on your bill.

Once they get the modems all figured out, they will start charging for all of those TVs they bought from Adelphia. Yea there really was not any records on who had what TV, but they bought the complete system (Coax, Modems,& TVs.) I've got to go and dig out my receipt for my 1958 Philco Predicta Model UG-4654, I know its here somewhere.
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Nsane_iceman @ 11th Jan 08:56AM:
Re: Adelphia claimed my modem as well

The front panel nav buttons...
:(
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Bordruh @ 11th Jan 08:58AM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

Not to mention they are sending the bills through the U.S. Postal Service (Mail Fraud). Well it worked on Al Capone.
--
Can a man drown in the fountain of eternal life?

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n2jtx @ 11th Jan 09:01AM:
Cablevision

Something similar has happened to Cablevision customers. Up until around 2002-2003 IIRC, Optimum Online customers had to purchase their modems, as I did. Then Cablevision started giving them out free to use as long as you were a customer. Well when some people who owned their modems canceled service or upgraded to voice and needed to do a modem swap they got dinged for failing to return their modem. As long as you had your proof of purchase you were/are okay. I have my 6 1/2 year old receipt and modem swap receipt (they took back my SB4100 and replaced it with an SB5100 for higher speeds) and those are all I need to prove I own the modem should there ever be any questions.
--
I support the right to keep and arm bears.

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anon @ 11th Jan 09:34AM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

There is one little flag in boxfile that tells if its a Comcast modem or a customer owned modem. When the idiots that do the data migrations into cabledata add a corp or combine corps they always seem to screw something up with the rate codes. Wouldnt you think they would check boxfile to see verify which modem the customers have?
Nope... Lets just make more work for the call centers because they were to lazy and sloppy to verify the data migrations.

This happens EVERY time Comcast takes over another provider and the customers suffer in the end for it.

Let some real people that know Oracle do your data migrations instead of causing your new customers to hate you over not having their information correct.
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anon @ 11th Jan 09:42AM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

I have worked telco for 40yrs- all the records can be wrong at times, but billing records rarely are- if they can get the buck they will. Sounds like Comcast is looking to get a little "free" cash then say I'm sorry but it was their (Adelphia's) fault.
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fuziwuzi @ 11th Jan 10:39AM:
Re: receipt

said by acid343211 :

Provide your receipt of purchase to them no issues.
That doesn't always work with Comcast. I bought my modem at Circuit City, got the self-install kit for Comcast, too. From the first bill, they started charging me $3 for modem rental. Talking on the phone did nothing, had to drive 24 miles round-trip to their nearest office to show them the receipt for the modem. They say it will be corrected. For the next month, still a $3 charge. I again make the 24 mile drive with receipt. I have to do this 6 months in a row before it is finally corrected. And in that time I refused to pay the $3 per month charge, and so they claimed my bill was past-due and made a notation on my credit report. And, even though the error was theirs and their incompetence made it worse, they wouldn't take the notation off of my credit report until I got a lawyer to threaten them.

So, Comcast blaming faulty record keeping on Adelphia is a complete and utter joke and a big fat lie.
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cabana @ 11th Jan 11:14AM:
Re: Adelphia claimed my modem as well

said by Nsane_iceman :

The front panel nav buttons...
:(
doesn't have any on the front buttons :) ... its on top of the box which makes it miserable because you would have to remove it every time from the cabinet :p

sure ... technically you can keep using the box but since I can't use the remote my tv came with because I am using the cable service stacked with three thousand fees and the US governments says bunny rabbit tv will no longer be an option in a year you must have digital then they should offer me ... a remote subsidy ;) :D ... I am more making the statement that EVERYTHING is up for a fee... :huh:
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rlindsay @ 11th Jan 11:45AM:
Typical comcast

I NEVER rented a modem from them, yet TWICE they
suddenly started charging me for modem rental on my
bill. Of course they will refund it if you call and complain.
It's just another 'revenue stream' that they hope you won't notice.

COMCAST: If you catch us stealing, we will give it back.
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anon @ 11th Jan 01:15PM:
Re: Typical comcast

It's endemic to all of Comcast. This Aldephia purchase may have been a catalyst with a sudden surge of new customers but overall, it's just a indicator of just how bad record keeping is in the industry.

I had a $3 charge randomly showed up on my bill last month after 3 years of service.

I was unable to resolve it over the phone so I drove 20 miles last weekend with my modem and with my receipt and the representative says the receipt was dated three years ago and corrections had to be done 30 days from purchase.

The rep confirmed that Comcast does not use the d-link modem I had, she confirmed that it was not their modem, she confirmed that on my install record it shows it was my modem "Customer Provided", she confirmed with a call to their support department that my MAC address is correct and it's currently not connected, she confirmed that she will continue to bill for a rental since I cannot confirm that I am not currently using their rental.

After looking that I was about to go balistic, the manager overhead the conversation and was able to override the system. He appologize for the mistake and a credit was issued.
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jhacker @ 11th Jan 12:56PM:
Going To Comcast Makes Me Wonder

I am an Insight customer where the cable system is transitioning to Comcast. As of now, I'm on my fourth payment for the SURFboard 5120 modem. It is supposed to be a rent-to-own deal at $3.95/month for 10 months. This makes me wonder if I shouldn't just hurry and pay this off so I can get a receipt. From the posts I've seen already, maybe this wouldn't be a bad idea.
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anon @ 11th Jan 01:11PM:
Same in Colorado

They've done the same thing in Colorado, even after returning a rental modem and buying one from an electronic store. I manage about 30 sites and every time I replace one I get a receipt from Comcast with the MAC written on it. A few bills later it's still on the bill. I did a test one time with one site. I waited 6 months and they never removed it. They also stated they never received the rental modem back, but luckily I have the receipt from them. I visited their payment centers and demanded that they remove it or I would file a written complaint with the Public Utilities Commission and the Attorney General about fraudulent and deceptive business practices.

Something needs to be done about it since their Customer Service seems to not care.

- M -
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offspring07 @ 11th Jan 01:12PM:
Comcast are crooks

Its sound to me like Comcast is looking for some easy money. What a bunch of crooks Comcast are. It would have been better for them to assume that all of Adelphia customers owned their modems unless Comcast could prove otherwise.
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Ebolla @ 11th Jan 02:00PM:
Re: receipt

since when is a late cable bill reported to credit agencies. I have never seen anything get sent out to credit agency. Once services have been disconnected for 6months with still owing money then the charges sent to a collection agency THEY will report to credit agency or not. A $3.00 charge skipped per month as past due, I dont see how that would hit credit agency's.
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bobjohnson @ 11th Jan 02:27PM:
Re: Pot, kettle, black

Most people i know that had adelphia own their modems... Especially in the smaller areas because they had really bad modems and you eventually would have to buy your own because adelphia would say you broke the modem and charge you for it... That was how their free lease program worked... Comcrap should know that though and it seems like they are just making the few extra $ by charging everyone... I just got a rental fee on my bill and I own my modem
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ImBatman @ 11th Jan 03:00PM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

said by en102 :

Umm ... How about Comcast can't charge you for a modem that they can't prove that they own.
My exact sentiments.
That would clear up any poor records from, uh, Adelphia.
(Man, that sounds like Jon Lovitz, doesn't it? "Yeah, we have to charge you for the modem, because we don't have records. Yeah, that's it. Adelphia didn't keep good records. Yeah. Thats the ticket.).
Gimme a break. Thats the biggest load of crap Ive heard from the cable companies. And, there's a lot of crap being flung from them.
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anon @ 11th Jan 03:34PM:
Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

I subscribed to Adelphia HSI in September 2001, Adelphia supplied a Motorola SB4100. I received a notice in July 2002 that Adelphia would be charging $5.00 per month as of August. I immediately purchased a Motorola SB4200 from Best Buy and returned the SB4100 to Adelphia. In July of 2003 I noticed that my bill increased over $5.00 per month. When I examined the bill I saw that I was being charged $5.00 for the modem that I owned. I contacted Adelphia and was advised that I had to send them a receipt showing that I had purchased the modem. I was frustrated because I could not immediately find the receipt. I called Motorola because I had registered the modem and received the rebate. The Motorola representative advised me that at the time they were receiving a lot of calls from customers about the same matter. The representative also stated that Motorola Management could not understand why the problem. Because the Modem had an FCC registration number Motorola had to keep a record to what dealer or ISP each modem was sold to by serial number. Each modem vendor should be able to provide Comcast with a list of serial numbers for modems sold to Comcast or Adelphia. Any modem not sold to a Cable ISP must have been sold through a Retail Distribution Channel like Circuit City or Best Buy. I guess that the only reason they do not want to do that is that it takes work. By the way, I later found my receipt and had to FAX it to Adelphia before they would remove the charge from my bill.

Regards
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burner50 @ 11th Jan 05:26PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

hmmmmm for some reason i think he likes cable and works for comcast ;)
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dentman42 @ 11th Jan 09:55PM:
Re: Rate codes

said by drakenon :

Adelphia had a special rate code that showed up on your bill as an Owned modem. Comcast must've conveniently lost that info when importing the data.
In that case, I'd think an Adelphia bill showing that it was a customer owned modem would be sufficient, even if it required taking them to small claims court. You have more proof than them at that point. You've got documentation from the company they bought saying you didn't have a company owned modem, Comcast has nothing but an allegation.
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crankerchick @ 11th Jan 10:52PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

i have nothing constructive to add except that they did the same thing to me. Comcast had long been in my area for a good 5 years or more when it happened. I moved from one county to another, and was told for the move that I had to cancel my account in the one county and sign up for a new account in the new county. My new account, first month lo and behold a modem charge. I had to call and give them my modem type and I think the serial number and they immediately credited me and stopped charging me the rental fee. As an aside, at least since I had to sign up for the new account, I got all the new sign-up promotions that I wouldn't have been available if I was able to transfer my service.
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fuziwuzi @ 12th Jan 10:41AM:
Re: receipt

said by Ebolla :

since when is a late cable bill reported to credit agencies. I have never seen anything get sent out to credit agency. Once services have been disconnected for 6months with still owing money then the charges sent to a collection agency THEY will report to credit agency or not. A $3.00 charge skipped per month as past due, I dont see how that would hit credit agency's.
They began reporting it to Experian after the third month. I paid the bills except for the $3 per month, so even though the majority of the bill was paid, that $9 they claimed I owed them got reported. While they're too incompetent to manage their modem inventory, they have no problem when it comes to being quick on the draw against customers.
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qworster @ 12th Jan 01:02PM:
It seems to me...

It seems to me that if Comcast is unsure who owns the modem being used, then they should give the CUSTOMER the benefit of the doubt!

Of course, being Comcast they believe that the customer is there to serve THEM, instead of the reverse.

I guess that Comcast's attitude is: "The customer is always WRONG, unless they can PROVE they are right!"

Personally, when I had Adelphia Internet I bought my Terayon modem from them for 99 cents. At the time they had a limited amount of modems for sale at that price each month, but you had to go to their office and ask for them.
Also, they did not publicize this.
They were supposed to be refurbished ones, but mine was brand new.
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crischen @ 12th Jan 03:23PM:
Re: Adelphia claimed my modem as well

Purchase a universal remote from your favorite local bigbox store. ;) Then send that evil 25 cent a month remote back and tell 'em to shove it.
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crischen @ 12th Jan 03:32PM:
former insight customer

I guess this Arris modem I got from Insight that I don't pay for is going to start incurring a $3 fee as soon as the billing systems are switched over.

I guess I'll be purchasing my own modem shortly after.
--
-Kinsey
Geeky chix0r

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Brother G @ 13th Jan 06:09AM:
Re: Rate codes

said by drakenon :

Adelphia had a special rate code that showed up on your bill as an Owned modem. Comcast must've conveniently lost that info when importing the data.
Comcast still has that rate code as well. $0.00 dollars for owned modem, $3.00 for a leased modem and $5.00 for a leased wireless gateway (router). Worked for them up until november of 2007. Customers calling saying they owned the modem when their bills in the comcast computer system saying otherwise was a huge issue all the way up to my departure. You need to prove that you bought the modem by faxing in a receipt or going to one of their service centers with a receipt, proving that you purchased the modem. Without one your out of luck! Usually to offset your convience they would give you a 20 credit towards your bill for all your troubles.
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sphinxguy18 @ 13th Jan 08:42AM:
Comcast does suck!

I'm glad I don't have Comcast and feel bad for the people that do, but what I have to say is why doesn't Comcast just eat the $3 bucks a month since they've been going this long w/o knowing why now start to charge consumers. They should just eat the cost, but of course they rather screw the customer over instead.

Go figure!
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crashd990 @ 13th Jan 10:15AM:
Oh what a tangled web they weave...

Of course they're not going to eat the three bucks.
3.00 x 1000s = BIG BUCKS.
-------------------------------
I suffered with comcast for years. They had a cable modem
with an A/B side. Some channels were on the A side and some
channels were on the B side.
This made their modem necessary.

In preparation for a future channel line-up change all the channels
were moved to the A side.
comcast never put out the word that the modem was no longer needed.

I unplugged the dual coax cable from the modem, and put the
one side with the channels directly into the TV.

I returned the modem to comcast and no longer had to pay their friggin' rent. That was a very happy day.

Can you imagine the THOUSANDS of people who didn't figure that out
and continue to pay rent, probably until this very day?
-------------------------------------
I have a tech-phobic computer client, says she wants to wait
until FIOS comes to her neighborhood before she gets it.
I told her to get cable NOW. The difference between dial-up
and cable is as a jet aircraft to a horse.
But, for the average surfer, the difference between cable
and FIOS is negligible.

I would not move for FIOS, given that I could get cable.
That being said, I've had FIOS fo two years now.
SOLID, 15.4MB down, 1.82 up, time after time, every test I've
ever run shows its rock solid.

1. Dial-up sucks
2. Cable is better than dial-up by far
3. FIOS ROCKS, 2.6GB download in 20 minutes!! But I wouldn't move for it.
I could live with cable internet.
4. Any company, municipality, government will come back and try to
re-collect, I always keep receipts.
Washington D.C. tried to recollect a two year old ticket,
I had a copy of the canceled check.

AOL (I had it for testing for a customer!) tried to come back and
say I owed two years. I kept a copy of their cancellation
confirmation, shut that collection agency right up.

File folders are cheap, just gotta put the stuff in them.
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FLATLINE @ 13th Jan 06:17PM:
Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

I had this issue with Adelphia before the TW changover. They asked me to produce a reciept. I told them to prove this modem belonged to them. Done deal. Just because they are the Big corporation doesnt mean jack.
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meister_sd @ 24th Jan 11:41AM:
Re: charging for something they down own ?

said by en102 :

Umm ... How about Comcast can't charge you for a modem that they can't prove that they own.
That is the first thing that came to mind. I'd put this back on them, make THEM prove it's their's. Show ME the initial installation records with the MAC address of the modem YOU provided. From there, just escalate the heck out of it.

I rented my modem from Cox for about 6 months. Went to Fry's and bought my own because I knew I'd have cable internet for a long time. Now if Cox decided that modem was theirs, I couldn't produce the receipt after all these years. I would make them go through the billing records and show me where I stopped paying rental fees and have them explain that. Apparently Adelphia had some sort of special program - so that would be much harder to explain/prove.
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JerryTimes @ 2nd Feb 06:56PM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

The thing that's funny here is that if you own the modem, then it shouldn't be hard to prove. It's not Comcast's fault that Adelphia didn't keep proper records of who owned what. If you really own the modem, shouldn't an old Adelphia bill show that, and also, if it did, wouldn't that be proof? Yes it would.
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FLATLINE @ 20th Feb 10:12AM:
Re: Comcast Charging Rental Fee For Owned Modems

Time Warner bought Adelphia where I live and yes showing them a reciept would have been something I could have done But why is my time less valuable than theirs? They wanted me to drive down to the office in the city where I never go for any reason with reciept in hand to prove to them something I dont need to prove. I dont care whos fault it was. It wasnt my problem. Which is the same answer Time Warner gave me numerous times. Your internet is slower now after we took over? Not our problem. Your new Cable box sucks? Not our problem. You miss your NFL network and we wont even let you pay for it as an addon? Not our problem.
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