Thieves!!!!!

I have had internet service with Charter for about 8 years as well and
their prices are pretty competitive. I think it is your responsibility
to know what you are getting into when you sign up for these "SPECIAL"
deals. If you ask them what your payments will be after the special
offer time period expires, they will tell you. Whenever my finances
are tight and I cannot afford my payments, I call them and they are
always willing to work with me to give me a price cut for 3 to 6
month.

I have had internet service with Charter for about 8 years as well and
their prices are pretty competitive. I think it is your responsibility
to know what you are getting into when you sign up for these "SPECIAL"
deals. If you ask them what your payments will be after the special
offer time period expires, they will tell you. Whenever my finances
are tight and I cannot afford my payments, I call them and they are
always willing to work with me to give me a price cut for 3 to 6
month.

I think the thing to do is switch every 6 months, why not save 600 or
so a year.

My Charter Cable, Internet and phone just went from $160 to $225, I
told them I was switching to ATT / Dish and they said do you want to
cancel now, No I'll call back after they get me set up.

ATT internet is $30 for 3 meg, $50 for two line unlimited calling and
voice mail, $55 for 3 TV's 200 channels plus a DVR you can use in two
rooms. (didn't have this before) Not listed as a special rate, but if
they raise the price I'll shop again.

Once you've had the initial install done, getting re-hooked up only
takes a few minuets.

They play this new customer game and so can you.

As you said there is lots of competition and the cable company has
every right to charge what they want, and you as the customer have the
right to go elsewhere.

Are my husband and I the only ones in the world without a bundle?

This doesn't sound out of the norm to me. We have Cox Communications
here & I actually just spoke with them a few days ago and they told me
I could get their slowest internet package for $20 (for 6 months) and
"preferred basic" for "just a dollar!" for 2 months. I guess they bank
on people not asking what the regular prices are, but I did & it turns
out after 2 months with a $21 bill, it would go up to $68. And then 4
months later, it would be $78. So from $21 to $78 is a huge jump, and
a lot to deal with, had I not ASKED.

Television is inundated with various "package deals" from cable
networks/phone companies, etc.
Its hard to tell them apart because most of them have that bright
orange/green colors in their ads which just goes to show you how
competitative they are.

I dropped cable over 16yrs ago and never went back and before you say
I am archaic I just have no interest in it.
I view DVD's read books or just relax and listen to music in the
evenings or on weekends when not entertaining or going out.
My son wanted to get cable and I always told him if he can afford it
he could have it.
He now lives with some friends and none of them have cable because
they all think its an extravagance and not a necessity.
They too rent or go out to the movies...guess something good did rub
off on him..LOL!

Unfortunately this situation is not limited to Charter. The cable
provider for most areas has a monopoly on service so can do what they
want.

I recently moved into a new home and seeing the cost of cable decided
to go with satellite, only to find out I had too many trees in my yard
to get a dish. So my ONLY option is cable TV at those outrageous
prices. But I have no choice other than NO cable. How would I keep
up with American Idol?

So although you are not the exception, I would avoid attacking them.

Ok this letter is titled thieves but gets through the pfb censorship
and goes to a company. Go figure.

They are not stealing from you. If you do not like the rates cancel.

i have charter as well. my promotion i had for a year recently expired
and my bill went from around $115 a month for internet, cable and
phone to $160. i called and they didn't have a promotion i thought was
acceptable so i said maybe i'll cancel my phone service to lower my
bill. they immediately transferred me to retentions and they offered
me all my services for $125 a month after taxes. and i also got HBO
and cinemax out of the deal.

I don't know about Michigan, but here both BrightHouse/Time Warner and
Verizon offer $99 deals for TV, Phone and Internet combined that are
NOT specials with a fixed term. That said, Verizon is taking a huge
backlash right now for "hidden fees", but that aside, the basic fee
remains the same, it's not an "introductory rate".

DirecTV and Dish often do offer introductory rates that last only 3 or
6 months and lots of "hidden extras", so be careful.

Btw, I feel your pain. Here Brighthouse offered a good introductory
rate on cable TV alone (I already had phone and Internet service that
I was happy with) but ONLY to customers of DirecTV and Dish. They
wouldn't offer me the same deal as a "new customer" with no other
service (at my new home), and were incredibly snotty about it when I
asked.

It amazes me too that these companies, in such fierce competition with
one another, aren't more flexible. I think in the case of the cable
companies, they're so used to being monopolies, they're not used to
having to be responsive to customers. That's what Verizon is facing
right now. There was huge front-page story about it yesterday's
newspaper. That has to be great for business! :)

It's just that this guy is as irritating as fingernails on a
blackboard.

I will just place him on "ignore" for the future.

Wow..calling them thieves is really the way to go if you want
something from them. It sure would motivate me to give you what you
want...NOT!

This is the way it works all over. New customers get the introductory
rate for a certain period of time and then it goes up. It will be the
same if you sign up for Dish or Direct TV.

Ah, but don't you see? The new customer specials are for a limited
time. Just like you, once you've gone beyond the time limit of the
special (maybe 6 months), the price goes up.

This is standard. Offer a heavily discounted price to attract new
customers and then raise the prices.

This is all spelled out somewhere. I get ads from my cable company
all of the time and they always include "...for 6 months" or "after
one year, our 'standard' rates apply." Yes, you have to ask what the
standard rates are, but they'll tell you. I know. I've asked.

Don't be fooled into think others are paying less than you. Just like
you, they got a lower price at the beginning... and it'll go up.

Have you noticed that the price of everything has gone up accordingly?




Good Day

How motivated would you be to do me a favor?