Like many cable consumers in the Great Northwest, I recently switched from Comcast cable and Internet to the Verizon offering.  It’s not because I like Verizon FIOS better or think it is a better technology.  In fact, at the time I switched I still had bad feelings about Verizon in general.  But this was mainly due to all the increased traffic they have caused in the last year from ripping up the roads in my neighborhood for the new fiber optic cables.


The reason I switched was simple.  My Comcast bill was averaging over $140 per month and Verizon FIOS had a very similar package for only $79 per month.  Prior to switching, I had called Comcast and asked them to match the FIOS price; their response was “Sorry, but No”.

It’s been a few months since switching, and as expected, the service offerings and quality are nearly identical.  But I do get a surprise mailing from Comcast at least once per month begging me to switch back.  Here is their offer:

  • $99 per month triple play – cable, Internet and phone
  • Free HD-DVR for 12 months
  • Free Starz subscription for 12 months
  • Free Installation
  • Free Upgrade to Blast (Higher speed Internet)
  • $200 Gift Check to “spend any way I wish” – I would have to spend it on the Verizon termination fee of course, something that could have been avoided if Comcast would have matched Verizon’s price *BEFORE* I switched.

I don’t care about Blast.  And I definitely don’t want a home phone, even if its free.  From the fine print, the Comcast “free” phone comes with a $29.94 activation charge and an “EMTA” charge of $3 per month.

I tried to reach Comcast to inquire about non-triple-play plans – a plan for just Internet and Cable.  On the first attempt, the 866 number on their promotional mailer failed, and directed me to a new non working telephone number.  I finally got through on the second attempt.  The end result is that for only cable and Internet plus HD-DVR (what I have now with Verizon), the price is $69.95 + $15.95 = $83.90.  It’s only a few dollars more than Verizon, but even more importantly, not worth the hassle of switching back.  And the cable/Internet only plan does not include the extras that the more expensive triple play does.  Comcast’s window to save customers ended before those customers switched.  Lowering prices now, especially to a price higher than the competition, is just pointless.  Good Bye (again) Comcast.


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