I see that many here have a decent amount of technical knowledge, and industry knowledge in general. I've been grappling with trying to figure out what to do for so long, but now urgent to make some changes to allocate $$$ for urgent services. I am hoping that someone can help answer some questions, and / or offer some opinions - all would be greatly appreciated.
My current setup is Digital Cable, 50Mbps Internet, and Basic Phone with RCN. The cost had gotten out of control a few years ago, and I dropped all extra packages. At the time, I had asked a Rep what the cost would be if I dropped down a tier from the Signature to Basic (cable,) and he had given me an even higher price. When asked why this was, he replied that I was already getting a discount from when I switched to RCN a year or so earlier. Of course I stayed at the lower cost Signature but this continued to bother me, as the logic made no sense. Fast forward to the past few months. Medical costs have given me not many choices as to what I can or can't afford. I had noticed a few months ago that my RCN bill had taken yet another cost increase but what really stood out was the equipment increases. Currently, one Cable modem, one Digital Converter, and one Single Tuner. When I asked about the surprise , significant increase in the equipment, I was told that after three years, you no longer get a discount on those items - basically I was still paying the introductory price, but should have received notification prior, that there would be an increase. The representative said she had latitude to make some changes, so a few dollars were taken off. I asked her at that time for a price if I was to drop cable all together, and the amount quoted would be helpful but still significant compared to what new customer cost is, and since I do own Roku devices, if I should ever be able to 'splurge' with a streaming service, the savings would get smaller obviously.
My first question is about pricing. How come RCN is not able to provide static pricing to existing customers? It seems unfair that you can go to their website or see ads, in which they advertise what the prices for any & all services would be for new customers. As an existing customer, you don't have the freedom to look at prices for individual services or even bundles, to contemplate. You are at the mercy of whomever is on the phone at RCN, and it can get a little confusing because different numbers are being thrown at you, and it can get messy determining what is with taxes, fees, etc. If this the case with all Cable providers? It just seems odd...to me it would be like going into a restaurant looking at a menu with no prices, and you not being sure of what you may or may not be able to afford, and make a decision accordingly.
Issue number two: I have to cancel my cable service, and keep the internet, and phone services. I will not have to rent the two tuners anymore and if possible would like to eliminate the cost of the modem rental. If I am correct, my current setup is an Arris TM822, and what I believe is the MoCa bridge, an Actiontec ECB2500C (which it appears I am not billed for, so that has had me always confused.)
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Because I don't plan on staying at the 50Mbps, and keeping the phone, I have thought perhaps I could find the same modem somewhere, and swap it out, so that I may return it at the same time I return the other equipment. Is this possible or is there anything anyone else can suggest? I don't want to get a modem / router combo, as I prefer to keep the router I currently own.
In a nutshell, I need to continue to shave off cents, wherever & however I can. I can live without cable Tv, but being disabled, the internet is somewhat of a lifeline to the outside world, and a 'landline' is still something I would prefer to keep. I can't see continuing to pay $10 per month for a modem rental, when I could have probably paid for three by now.
Thanks in advance!
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