- Report: #776430
Complaint Review: Comcast - Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Reported By:
Mike -
Delray Beach, Florida, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Comcast
1701 J F. K. Blvd Philadelphia, Pennsylvani Philadelphia, 19103 Pennsylvania, United States of America
Phone:
800-266-2278
Web:
www.comcast.net
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Comcast Comcast High Speed Internet Predatory Leasing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I'm surprised this has not been reported repeatedly. Cable modems cost, wholesale $30-35, or less in large numbers. When you sign up with comcast, you can lease one, unless you already own one. Or you can buy one in a store for around 60.00.
If you choose to lease, you essentially pay forever. Or return it. You cannot buy out the lease - even after you have paid three times the cost of the modem.
This affects poor people unequally - someone who didn't have the upfront cost of a modem might well choose to lease one at $5 per month. Howver, when comcast raised the price to $7.00 a month (why? because they are a monopoly or duopoly, and can do it) the price of the modem becomes equal to 25% of the cost of the service. Your only choice is to return it.
Customer service lies about the issue, claiming the fcc forbids them from selling modems. But terminating a lease is not a sale - or does not have to be a sale, so it is irrelevant.
Since there are millions of dollars involved, I'm surprised a lawyer hasn't picked up on it. Keywords: affecting lower income people; predatory; unnecessary charges.
If you choose to lease, you essentially pay forever. Or return it. You cannot buy out the lease - even after you have paid three times the cost of the modem.
This affects poor people unequally - someone who didn't have the upfront cost of a modem might well choose to lease one at $5 per month. Howver, when comcast raised the price to $7.00 a month (why? because they are a monopoly or duopoly, and can do it) the price of the modem becomes equal to 25% of the cost of the service. Your only choice is to return it.
Customer service lies about the issue, claiming the fcc forbids them from selling modems. But terminating a lease is not a sale - or does not have to be a sale, so it is irrelevant.
Since there are millions of dollars involved, I'm surprised a lawyer hasn't picked up on it. Keywords: affecting lower income people; predatory; unnecessary charges.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
MRamos
Brooklyn,New York,
USA
Comcast also provides SUPPORT
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, September 15, 2011
If you buy a modem and it fails you are responsible for buying a new modem. If you rent it from comcast and it fails, they replace it for free. They will also upgrade your modem for free if you go to a higher tier of service where if you purchased one it may not support things such as channel bonding and docis 3.0.
Inspector
Tobyhanna,Pennsylvania,
USA
Poor people?
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, September 15, 2011
Poor people need the internet? Don't you hear how ridiculous that sounds? Maybe you are poor because you don't know how to spend your money wisely, or maybe you're spending all your money on psychics.
Stacey
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
I am confused
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, September 15, 2011
You leased a computer modem?? Jees I bought one on ebay for less than $10. BUT if Comcast take advantage of the poor then I suspect you cannot afford internet service. Internet is a luxury not a necessity.
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Difference between whiners and doers.
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, September 14, 2011
"Cable modems cost, wholesale $30-35, or less in large numbers. When you sign up with comcast, you can lease one, unless you already own one. "
If you know this to be true, why aren't you buying large numbers of modems and selling them to poor people who are (according to you) getting ripped off by existing options.
Not too long ago this would have been seen as an entreprenurial opportunity. Nowadays, it's just an excuse to whine. What a sad state of affairs.
Bottom line, if you are too poor to afford a cable modem, then high-speed Internet access is probably out of your price range. I do agree with you that renting a modem from the cable company is not cost effective, but its not a ripoff. You have the choice to supply your own equipment.
The cable company is not in the Rent-to-Own business and neither you or your mythical lawyer can force them to be in it.
Ken
Greeley,Colorado,
USA
Comcast discriminates against poor people?
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, September 14, 2011
If one is too poor to buy the modem outright, they shouldn't even be on the internet. I would guess you consider yourself "poor?"
Does the lease price include replacement if the modem fails? I'm betting it does. If so, it's not such a bad deal. I DID purchase my Century Link Router outright from Walmart, but had the option to lease. I'm not exactly rich, living on Social Security, but I don't feel discriminated against. I'm not sure what the wholesale cost of cable modems in large numbers has to do with this. Are you planning to buy/lease large numbers of them and get a lower price. Why would any company buy anything in any quantity and sell/lease it at cost? It's not a good business practice.
