Renters Rejoice - No More Locked in Cable in NC (Raleigh: apartment complex, leasing agent)

[saturnfan]

As anyone renting in some apartments has learned, some rotten landlords were making money off them each month by locking them into only certain internet and phone providers.

One large building in North Hills charges outrageous rents and adds insult to injury by not allowing Time-Warner but requiring tenants to use a little known, overpriced provider.

If your current landlord is doing this, tell them time's up for this ripoff.

My landlord has Time-Warner wiring but lets you do whatever you want.

Wow, the Feds finally did something for us!

Feds End Exclusive Telecom Deals in Apartment Buildings

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Interesting. When I rented here in Raleigh my complex allowed me to us whoever I wanted for phone, cable, and internet. I guess it does depend on who you rent from as you pointed out. I did not know this was an issue for some. Good post.

[JJingle]

I didn't even realize apartments were still allowed to do that. My first apt in NC years ago automatically included basic cable in the rent. Of course, it was marketed as free and an amenity. If you wanted more channels than the ones included, you had to go to the provider and pay. As I remember, it was expensive.

Good to hear that things have changed. Thanks for the post SF.

[saturnfan]

By the way, some builders and HOA's have played this game with owners too.

One S/D prohibited Bell South from wiring the community for landline service and left homeowners with a useless unknown provider.

Until the community was built out and the builder lost control of the HOA, the owners were forced into second rate service.

It's a shame what creeps like these will do to make a few bucks off you every month.

[miamiblue]

The apartment complex I used to rent from "includes" cable in the price of rent and it is Time Warner only. I didn't have a choice of NOT having cable at all, which really peeved me off. We also paid for recycling even though there were no recycling receptacles on the property.

I have heard that this same complex (and all of the complexes under the same management company) now charge a mandatory garbage collection fee for someone to take your garbage from your doorstep. You can only set the garbage out in a certain container during a certain window on a certain day (that happens to be a time when most people are at work). To top it off, the complex can fine you if your garbage container is outside your door during any time outside of that garbage collection window. You cannot even opt out of this if you want to take your own darn garbage out! R-I-P O-F-F

[StoneOne]

Now if the feds would only end cable companies' ability to force customers into expensive package deals full of channels they don't want and let them choose which channels the want a la carte!

[saturnfan]

Originally Posted by miamiblue

The apartment complex I used to rent from "includes" cable in the price of rent and it is Time Warner only. I didn't have a choice of NOT having cable at all, which really peeved me off. We also paid for recycling even though there were no recycling receptacles on the property.

I have heard that this same complex (and all of the complexes under the same management company) now charge a mandatory garbage collection fee for someone to take your garbage from your doorstep. You can only set the garbage out in a certain container during a certain window on a certain day (that happens to be a time when most people are at work). To top it off, the complex can fine you if your garbage container is outside your door during any time outside of that garbage collection window. You cannot even opt out of this if you want to take your own darn garbage out! R-I-P O-F-F

So, the good garbage fairy flits by to collect your refuse? I heard of this "valet trash" service and laughed my backside off.

People should surely reject this company's apartments and tell the leasing agent the reason.

These vermin want to fool you with a lower rent rate and then "nickle and dime" you to the price they really want to collect.

Bullfeathers!

[SP2SCV]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

As anyone renting in some apartments has learned, some rotten landlords were making money off them each month by locking them into only certain internet and phone providers.

One large building in North Hills charges outrageous rents and adds insult to injury by not allowing Time-Warner but requiring tenants to use a little known, overpriced provider.

If your current landlord is doing this, tell them time's up for this ripoff.

My landlord has Time-Warner wiring but lets you do whatever you want.

Wow, the Feds finally did something for us!

Feds End Exclusive Telecom Deals in Apartment Buildings

Just another great reason why you should own and not rent. Personally, I could never have to bow to a landlord who gets to decide every move I make, without having any say in it myself. That's why I like owning in an HOA. I get to pick which HOA I want to live in and then be part of the HOA, to be part of the decision making process. I just can't imagine having no say over my own home.

[miamiblue]

Originally Posted by SP2SCV

Just another great reason why you should own and not rent. Personally, I could never have to bow to a landlord who gets to decide every move I make, without having any say in it myself. That's why I like owning in an HOA. I get to pick which HOA I want to live in and then be part of the HOA, to be part of the decision making process. I just can't imagine having no say over my own home.

You know, I hear this so often from posters on this board. Believe it or not, there are some people that enjoy renting because of the flexibility to get up and move at their whim (among other things), and kudos to them because they are happy with their situation. But to come out and tell renters that they "should own and not rent" is so shortsighted. I would say that most renters would probably love to own their own home, but there are many reasons why they don't/cant.

Obviously you've never been in a position where you could not own - lucky you, you have been blessed. Or perhaps you've never experienced not being able to buy something that is as nice as where you rent in the same area for the same or lower cost. This is the case for the majority of renters, so telling them they "should" do something they cannot do is sort of a waste of time, dontcha think?

There will always be and has always been people who cannot own their own home. Therefore, there needs to be protection for their rights as well, because they have to live somewhere.

[SP2SCV]

Originally Posted by miamiblue

You know, I hear this so often from posters on this board. Believe it or not, there are some people that enjoy renting because of the flexibility to get up and move at their whim (among other things), and kudos to them because they are happy with their situation. But to come out and tell renters that they "should own and not rent" is so shortsighted. I would say that most renters would probably love to own their own home, but there are many reasons why they don't/cant.

Obviously you've never been in a position where you could not own - lucky you, you have been blessed. Or perhaps you've never experienced not being able to buy something that is as nice as where you rent in the same area for the same or lower cost. This is the case for the majority of renters, so telling them they "should" do something they cannot do is sort of a waste of time, dontcha think?

There will always be and has always been people who cannot own their own home. Therefore, there needs to be protection for their rights as well, because they have to live somewhere.

Your assumptions on my positions are completely wrong. I spent many many years not being able to own. When I could own, I started small and worked my way up to medium. So I have been in the shoes of everyone who rents.

Also, I never said everyone should own. I said it's one REASON to own. If I want cable or satellite, it's my choice, not the landlords.

Finally, it has been proven over and over and over that it is just as cheap or cheaper to own like kind properties than to rent. Owning gives one more control over their situation than renting. It's up to each individual to decide what they want.