Comcast Charging $90 Install Fee, Even When Unnecessary Comcast is once again being...Comcast. The company has been under fire in our forums for several weeks now for changes made to the company's policy regarding its installation fees. Many users say that they no longer have the option of doing a self-install to save money, even if they already bought a modem and service has previously already been available at their address. In many instances, these users wind up paying Comcast anywhere from $60 to $90 just to come and plug the modem into the wall.

Users can sometimes avoid the installation fee if they sign up for select TV and internet bundles, but often find the fee to be unavoidable if customers purchase standalone broadband. Such policies not only generate revenue for effectively doing nothing, but by penalizing stand-alone broadband customers it's another way to deter cord cutting. The company also recently came under fire for a seemingly-new policy that involves only initially doling out speed upgrades to customers that also bundle traditional television service. Ars Technica confirmed that in many instances Comcast is now charging users the pricey fee for effectively just plugging in the modem, and that the new policy appears to be erratic. A Comcast spokesman initially tried to deny the policy shift, only to have Comcast support reps confirm it when Ars tried to schedule installation at several employee addresses. In some instances, Comcast attempts to claim that the fee is necessary because Comcast's service is just so speedy. "While we currently don't offer free installation please keep in mind that because we deliver very fast Internet speeds, a professional technician needs to ensure you're getting the guaranteed speeds of the plan you're paying for," said Comcast. Even, apparently, when Comcast techs are doing little more than watching as you unbox and plug in your new cable modem. Even, apparently, when Comcast techs are doing little more than watching as you unbox and plug in your new cable modem.







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Most recommended from 40 comments

neufuse

join:2006-12-06

James Creek, PA 951.6 36.1

14 recommendations neufuse Member stupid... It's as stupid as when they charged me an "install fee" to go to blast... then again when i went to extreme... then yet a freaking again when I went to gigabit... they never even entered my house or even came to it to start with, from all I could tell is they made a trip to the node and did some signal balancing or what not), that kind of stuff should be standard maintenance not charge customers for it... qworster

join:2001-11-25

Bryn Mawr, PA 12 recommendations qworster Member Such BS Comcrap can monitor that stuff remotely! The tech does not need to be there to: "see if you are getting all the speed that you pay for".

P Ness

You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already

Premium Member

join:2001-08-29

way way out 11 recommendations P Ness Premium Member OMG I am famous. A story written about my post!



I just wish they would have used my forum name in the story...i mean...come on how great would that be!

cowboyro

Premium Member

join:2000-10-11

Shelton, CT 7 recommendations cowboyro Premium Member The price... The price of [insert name here] is the amount someone would pay for it.

That's economy 101. They only have the fees because people are willing to pay them, and they are set to an amount that will maximize revenue between people paying and people being put off by such fees.

People shouldn't be outraged by these fees. They should be outraged that there is no real competition, which would automatically eliminate them. sd70mac

Premium Member

join:2015-10-18

Woodstock, IL 5 recommendations sd70mac Premium Member Comcast is clearly not run by industrialists Comcast is clearly not run by industrialists. “There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible.” - Henry Ford Eth_Rem

Premium Member

join:2009-06-17

Littleton, CO 875.9 41.6

ARRIS TG3482

Asus RT-AC68

2 edits 4 recommendations Eth_Rem Premium Member To be fair... Looking at the incidence of these install fees occurring, it’s happening on addresses with service. It’s quite possible that they are trying to stop people who promo hop. Like roommates that connect service with a promo then disconnect when it runs out and get a new promo. That seems to be the majority getting hit with the install fee. Others had service within the past year or so - it’s possible again that Comcast is treating that as a promo hopper between competitors.



In fact, I was one of the participants in the thread that started all of this and when I had the chat with the representative, she said to call sales and see what they can do.



A call to sales will definitely result in getting an SIK - it raises their sales numbers, and I used to do no-truck services for HSI customers who hooked up their modems all the time when I worked there because it was instant commission for me.



Promo hopping should be discouraged- existing customers end up paying for new customer acquisition costs and promo hoppers end up lowering ARPU which raises costs for the rest of us. Comcast forcing an install fee for these customers is better than what Dish policy used to be - one promo per customer for life.



If you plug in an address that doesn’t currently have service, the SIK option pops up as long as there hasn’t been a tap disco.



It also doesn’t apply on transfers to a new address, even if that address has existing service. brianiscool

join:2000-08-16

Tampa, FL 4 recommendations brianiscool Member Class action lawsuit This would make a great class action lawsuit.

Just give it time as people get scammed out of the same deal.

Barron

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Premium Member

join:2001-11-25

Litchfield Park, AZ 3 recommendations Barron Premium Member Still ComCrap I am very happy that I have never had to use them for anything. They give new meaning to the label “asshole “.