Snowbird needs TV/Internet/Phone bundle for 6 months (Phoenix, Mesa: condo, houses)

[dan9657]

Any provider in Phoenix offering 6 month package for TV/internet/Phone?

[madmmac]

I know with Cox I can shut down and start my internet with a phone call at anytime. Not sure about the other services though.

[Jkgourmet]

We Are sunbirds and have a cox bundle plan for all three services. When we depart for the summer, they have a suspension program for everything. This doesn't eliminate the bill entirely, but reduces the cost substantially. To keep our phone number active, we were required to get cox voicemail at $3/month.

However, I believe there is a limit on the length of time the service can be suspended - 3 months maybe? You'll need to call them.

Frankly, if I didn't need a fax and got a better Cellular signal inside my home, I'd dump the landline entirely and just go with cellphones.

Some additional info: there are also suspension services available for certain utilities, like trash, water, sewer. We have landscaping and we have somebody pop over to flush the toilets and run water thru the dishwasher and washing machine, so we don't shut off the water. But we do take advantage if the trash suspension. And pull the plugs on the TV, turn off hot water heater, leave our a/c at 85, etc.

[Stokes172]

I didn't bother with a land line, I picked up one of those cheap Trac phones at Walmart. 10 bucks for the phone and you simply buy time cards. You can dial long distance from your phone as well with no extra charges. LD and local calls can be less than 10 cents a minute depending what size of time card you buy.

[Stokes172]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

Some additional info: there are also suspension services available for certain utilities, like trash, water, sewer. We have landscaping and we have somebody pop over to flush the toilets and run water thru the dishwasher and washing machine, so we don't shut off the water. But we do take advantage if the trash suspension. And pull the plugs on the TV, turn off hot water heater, leave our a/c at 85, etc.

?????

I have never heard of suspension services for utilities such as water sewer and trash? Can you elaborate?

Trash service suspension would be a plus. Is that through Phoenix Government or is yours a private company ie ..condo?

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by Stokes172

?????

I have never heard of suspension services for utilities such as water sewer and trash? Can you elaborate?

Trash service suspension would be a plus. Is that through Phoenix Government or is yours a private company ie ..condo?

We get these services through the City of Mesa. I've no idea what other cities offer, but we definitely are able (and do) to do a suspension of our trash for 3 months and it saves us a bit of money. I don't know if it's available for a longer period of time.

We also use the managed payment plan for electric. Since we are gone for the summer, the a/c is barely used (thermostat set to 85 degrees). So our monthly cost over the year is balanced and cheap. We have a local pet sitter to pop in every two weeks to flush all the toilets, water the plants, and run a lite wash to keep the dishwasher and clothes washer gaskets from drying up. (we live in NE Mesa, and are happy to recommend these folks for this service or pet sitting. They also do popper scooping. PM me if you want the info.)

[Stokes172]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

We get these services through the City of Mesa. I've no idea what other cities offer, but we definitely are able (and do) to do a suspension of our trash for 3 months and it saves us a bit of money. I don't know if it's available for a longer period of time.

We also use the managed payment plan for electric. Since we are gone for the summer, the a/c is barely used (thermostat set to 85 degrees). So our monthly cost over the year is balanced and cheap. We have a local pet sitter to pop in every two weeks to flush all the toilets, water the plants, and run a lite wash to keep the dishwasher and clothes washer gaskets from drying up. (we live in NE Mesa, and are happy to recommend these folks for this service or pet sitting. They also do popper scooping. PM me if you want the info.)

I am almost positive you cannot suspend services if you have City of Phoenix as a provider....unless they neglected to tell me that. I leave my water on but I think leaving the AC on is a real waste of money.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by Stokes172

I am almost positive you cannot suspend services if you have City of Phoenix as a provider....unless they neglected to tell me that. I leave my water on but I think leaving the AC on is a real waste of money.

Depends on what you have in the house. We don't want our wood drying out and cracking when the interior temps reach 100+ degrees day after day. Nor do we want things to melt under those same conditions. Which is exactly what happened the first year we went away for the summer, hence our desire to protect our property with a small expense of a thermostat set at 85 degrees.

YMMV.

[gtbguy]

Originally Posted by Stokes172

but I think leaving the AC on is a real waste of money.

This will be a big mistake.

[deckdoc]

I just disconnect my service during the summer. The connect costs are less than a one month bill and usually get a 6 month introductory rate much less than ongoing charges. My internet bill through quest was 19.99/month last year. My DISH recievers are carried back and forth and only need to be hooked up as both houses have the dish installed. Haven't had a landline phone for years~ my cell is always in my pocket and number doesn't change...far easier than puting your landline on vacation and lots cheaper