My Cable Company Charges Too Much Money
By bostonphil
@bostonphil (4459)
United States
September 14, 2011 1:31pm CST
I am bundled with my Cable Company. I get high speed internet, a home land line which allows me to call anywhere in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico 24/7, and my Cable TV. I have all the premium channels.
I mostly like what I have. The problem is that it is too much money. I am paying just over $181 each month for these services.
For the most part, my service is reliable and dependable. And for the most part, tech support and customer service are good. There have been some problems with services and tech / customer support. But I would give all of this an eight on a scale of 10. I am somewhat satisfied.
The problem is the television programming. I have 500 or so channels. I have several premium channels - mostly movie ones. Often there are some very good movies and special on. But other times, I can not find anything to watch. I can not find anything that I want to watch. There are always lots of programs and movies but not necessarily anything that interests me. Some of the movies are old. Some I have already seen. others are mediocre one or two star movies. And some are not my kind of movie.
There are many times when despite all my channels, I can not find anything that i want to watch on my Cable TV or Premium Channels.
I am mostly satisfied but I feel the cost is too high. I think $140 a month total would be reasonable but $181 is too much. To be fair to my Cable Company, the cost is not all their fault. About $20 or so is taxes and government fees. Nevertheless, I think that they need to reduce their cost to where the entire bill is $140.00. I think that that would be a fair amount to the consumer and still allow them a decent profit.
2 people like this
5 responses
@diala84 (138)
• United States
14 Sep 11
This is the old way of thinking, things are evolving and you can enjoy many financial benefits from it all.
The internet makes it convenient to enjoy many of the luxuries as having cable television. Some services like Netflix.com streaming and Hulu.com streaming can provide may shows and movies for much less money. Netflix will be about $8/mo for streaming, Hulu is free or $8 per month with more selection. You can also check out the websites for many channels in order to see recent episodes such as FoodNetwork and HGTV. Youtube.com is also a good place to watch online series and clips.
If you can't break the cable tv habit maybe you could decrease your plan and also use one of the services I have mentioned above to help fill in the gap in entertainment.
That is not all, the internet can eliminate the need for a land line as well if you know what you are doing. Skype.com is a site that allows you to call people through your computer you can use the free feature or pay for unlimited calling in the US and Canada for much less than your average phone line. All you need is a head set (headphone/microphone)to attach to your computer.
I pay $65 for cable internet and $8 for Netflix, Hulu for free and $14 for Blockbuster to send 2 dvd/video games at a time per month. That is $87 a month for TV and internet. I also have a cell phone for $40 per month with no land line. That is $127 a month total. If I really wanted I could drop the cell phone and go with skype for $5 per month but I prefer having the cell phone convenience.
Here are a lot of ideas to cut your bill down without much sacrifice.
2 people like this
@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
15 Sep 11
You're exactly right, Diala. I got rid of my cable when I bought a blue ray player capable of netflix. Because I kept my Internet, and have a paypal account, I've been able to streamline programs and movies from netflix at $7.99 per month.
I also love Hulu to watch programs, but sometimes I can't always find what I'm looking for! But still, it's better than the outrageous prices of the cable company. And Satellite's worse!
I am guessing in the near future that we will be seeing less of cable services as streamlining to devices from the Internet becomes more proficiently common. Currently, there are TVs out there right now that allow for 3D, and some allow the TV's to hook right up to certain computer models.
So far, streamlining can be done through external media devices such as blueray players, WII, and Playstation 3. Some even allow for HuluPlus and Netflix. I think HuluPlus is about $8.00 a month.
I bought my blueray player and my router from Walmart a year ago. So far, it's been NICE. And no high cable bill! I've also gotten rid of my old telephone service which was $50.00 a month, and switched to Magic Jack. Though there are some cons...it's nice not to have a bill every month.
So there are some ways to save money on bills. :)
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
17 Sep 11
With all the alternatives out there, maybe cable will be forced to go down on their price. I still like receiving one bill and being with one company for all my services. it is simpler and more convenient.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
14 Sep 11
I know others who use alternatives to what I have. For now, I prefer to keep what I have but there may be a time when I am forced to give up some of my services. And seek alternatives.
I like what I have but I feel that it costs too much. I wish that it was less money but my wishing so is not going to make it happen.
@SpikeTheLobster (6399)
•
14 Sep 11
Hey Phil. You could always use the scare tactic: tell them you're going to change providers. When they ask why, say it's because they're too expensive. Most companies will offer you a deal to keep your business (though you're kinda stuffed if they say "go ahead").
Personally, I pay £25 a month for broadband and telephone, though I never use the phone. I don't watch TV. I pick up DVDs on eBay for a maximum of £1 a time with free delivery and, if they're rubbish, I just resell them. Life's a lot cheaper for me. 
2 people like this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
15 Sep 11
You might be surprised to find out that I am on promotion. I have been with my cable company for years. When one promotion runs out, I am offered another. Promotions run for about two years and they are always a really good deal in the beginning. But part of the promotion expires after one year. When I first signed up for this promotion, I paid $168.00. Next April, they will offer me another promotion.
I love what I have but it is too expensive.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
16 Sep 11
I'm over here in Northern Va and I get both my cable and internet for about 140! I don't use a phone unless it is an emergency.But mine was a special. Each year my sister calls and sees what special includes HBO, Showtime and internet and we do it for a year. Call your cable company. They may have a package that is cheaper. Suggestion, if you can live without the premium channelsa like HBO , see if there is a package without it! Good Luck.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
16 Sep 11
I agree that if I could live with the premium channels, my cable costs would be much lower. The truth is I can live without them. I will not die if I have to give them up. But I really like TV and I enjoy my premium channels. Nevertheless, I still feel the costs are too high for what I am getting. I wish there was better programing or lower costs.
I am on promotion. I get a new promotion every two years. My promotion begins as a very good deal but part of it expires after the first year. My promotion began at about $168.00. Now it is $181.00. It will run out next April and then I will begin a new promotion.
The problem is not entirely my cable company's fault. Government taxes went up as well as fees.
1 person likes this
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
14 Sep 11
Me and my family have a bundle as well. We get the cable, phone, and internet all in one bill. However, ours is only about $118 a month.
What company are you with? Maybe you should switch to mine! lol 
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
14 Sep 11
I am with Time Warner. I do not have any other cable choice in my complex. I could change to AT &T but it will not be much of a difference.
We may have different TV packages. I have digital cable plus I get HBO, Showtime,, Cinemax, Starz and The Movie Channel.
Who are with and what cable package do you have?
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
15 Sep 11
I am with Charter, and I have the Charter bundle. We did have all of those movie channels up in the 500's channels... but we cut them out and now just have channels up to about 77. But, our bill has never been $180 or even close to it.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
15 Sep 11
We haven't ever had a TV, but inherited my mom's with her house. We don't use it for anything but watching videos. I don't have time to watch TV and the only time we really miss it is during the election season. Now we have a group where we can watch the debates with someone else, which is nice, because you can discuss them together afterwards. I bundle my landline and DSL, and have a different and cheaper provider for my cell phone. I wish it were all less expensive, but it isn't, so that's that. I should probably use my cell phone for long distance business calls, but I always forget. I'm used to using it only to call on the road in case of emergenies or from the market or somewhere from which I need to ask my husband something. I use Skype for overseas calling and love it. There's nothing like free international calling.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
15 Sep 11
Without going into a lot of detail, I need what I have. I am 66 years old who lives alone. There is almost no family and I have only a few people in my life. All that I have, as far as technology goes, is necessary for one reason or another. My biggest expense is my digital cable TV but it is a necessity given the complexities of my life. I work p.t. and this money pays for my technology and other luxuries.
