Saying Goodbye to Time Warner (Star: transfer, neighborhood, live)

[Jake Ryan]

Free at last!!! I just recently finished up my 2 year commitment on a "Bundle package" and the ever so gracious Time Warner rolled me into a new plan with the same stuff for $40.00 more a month which was well over $200 for phone, internet, and cable. Now, they're charging equipment fees and all sorts of extras.

I called them to discuss this ridiculousness, and was interested in reducing my bill not increasing it and was transferred, kept on hold, hung up on and spoken to rudely. When I finally got tired and started surfing the Directv website while on hold with them, I decided right then and there to let them know I was cancelling. They don't care and only seem to be interested in getting new customers, not retaining existing ones.

It's unfortunate since I have been happy with their service up to this point, I wasn't happy with the price but made it work. OH WELL, I am glad I put some extra cash in my poscket by making this switch!!!

[crestliner]

Good for you. I am also tired of paying too much to those con artist and will be dumping them soon.

[frewroad]

Cut the cord/dish completely.

[vmaxnc]

Originally Posted by frewroad

Cut the cord/dish completely.

Won't work for many people/families.

[frewroad]

Originally Posted by vmaxnc

Won't work for many people/families.

Well.... it does work for plenty of families. Netflix (streaming version) for example, just this past week, surpassed HBO in # of subscribers.

Cordcutters Starter Guide

[NCproud]

I got fed up with the cost and went antenna a couple of years ago. Supplementing with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Etc have worked out fine. The kids complain at times, but I've found we watch way less TV which is huge plus.
Unfortunately, you'll find that DTV will pull the same price increases over the years. By the time you get a package that satisfies everyone, and add in Internet and phone, you'll be right back at that $200+ range again.
Go grab a $50 dollar antenna and check it out. Most channels are HD digital and are actually better quality than cable or dish. $9 a month for Netflix. It's been at least 2 years for us and we have survived, not to mention $2400+ richer in that time frame.

[Feltdesigner]

Originally Posted by vmaxnc

Won't work for many people/families.

When Netflix or Roku get the NFL package I will cut the chord... $120 for Internet and cable with showtime, stars, MLB, NFLN, NBA, big10 network and 5 to 7 other sports south channels in HD with a DVR is too good to pass up.

[paulosfm]

One of the things that is pushing the bundle price up is ESPN and demands they place on the carriers, i.e., TW, ATT Uverse, Direct TV. We have ATT Uverse for the second time in nearly three years. We tried TW, without a contract, for six LONG months and we back to ATT. We are reading more these days and the TV is staying off. The next time the ATT contract comes up, early next year, either we get a sizable retention deal or we're out of here. Someone mentioned a $50 antenna, but if you have any hands on skills, go to YouTube and search for coat hanger (whisker) HDTV antenna. You can build one for less than $10 and get 25 to 30 stations (many sub band stations) depending on where you live. I built one, just for grins, and it worked like a charm. It picks up 22-24 stations and I'm down in a very low place in my neighborhood - meaning line of sight to TV towers is a bit of an issue.

[frewroad]

Before you sign a contract with Dish or Directv, make sure you understand what it is going to cost you to turn off their service once you decide you don't want them anymore. I'm not talking about breaking a contract. Dish requires you to send back each receiver, remote and the LNB from the actual Dish at your expense, or they will charge you full retail price for them which is in the $100s of dollars/unit. There is no local place to turn them in. Dish will sell you a shipping box at the price of $17/receiver. You will need to make sure it's tracked so you can prove they get it. They don't explain this when you sign up for their service.

Don't let them screw a satellite dish directly into your roof. It slowly leaks and causes wood rot.

[vmaxnc]

Originally Posted by frewroad

Well.... it does work for plenty of families. Netflix (streaming version) for example, just this past week, surpassed HBO in # of subscribers.

Cordcutters Starter Guide

As soon as you go past one TV, it gets much more complicated and hardware intensive. Not to mention wanting to watch more than one show at a time, whether it's live or recorded. There are numerous factors to consider.

Netflix has an enormously vast range of available programming, while HBO is primarily a small group of TV channels. They're two different services.