Billing

[alanakana]

I am confused as to why i would be receiving this charge. 

I am signed up for Digital Preferred which in the channel lineup card shows HD Channels.

Since the price of that package includes those channels I shouldnt have to pay another charge for it.

Seems to me as its a blatant double dip. 

[JayInAlg]

HD fees are included on some Triple Play packages, there is no Preferred package that is not a triple play package that included HD.  The HD technology fee would apply to any subscriber with HD equipment that doesn't have the Triple Play packages that specifically include HD.

Please contact Comcast billing for confirmation as no one on the forum has access to your account details.

If you have a Triple Play that includes HD then you should not be charged again.  HD is included in HD Preferred XF Triple Play and HD Preferred Plus XF Triple Play.

Channel lineup cards show all channels, if they are in your specific package or not.

[alanakana]

So in essence all packages are $10 more than they are advertised as? Seems alot like bait and switch. i am submitting to the AG to see what he says.

I know if i go buy a bucket of chicken for $12 and it says i get 2 drumsticks, 2 wings, 2 thighs, and 2 brea$ts then anything else would be false advertising. they couldnt say i have to pay a "white meat fee" to actually get the brea$ts and wings.

Comcast on the other hand list all the channels in each specific TV package whether its economy, starter, or preffered for an advertised price but yet charges another $10 to get the channles listed in said package.

This seems deceptive and probably fraudulent, similar to many fees that have been deemed illigal in many areas across the country.

Channel lineup cards show channels within each tier not all channels. i can click on any tier and get the specific listings.

Frankly i am way more irritated and motivated now than i was before after reading your response.

[i-am-nerdburg]

Yes, that is essentially correct. Comcast doesn't want to raise rates so instead they charges fees. You won't get anywhere with the AG, but you can complain to your local franchising authority. A franchising authority is the local municipal, county or other government organization that regulates certain aspects of the cable television industry at the state or local level. The name of the franchising authority may be on the front or back of your cable bill. If this information is not on your bill, contact Comcast or your local town or city hall.

[DeltaVictorBrav]

I'm filing a complaint as well-- I think the AG is a good idea. Also tempted to send the chat transcript to the CEO.. I just bought an HD Tivo-- AFTER calling Comcast and asking if I had HD in my package and hearing "Yes, you have everything you need... you'll just need the cable card." So I drop 150 on the Tivo, and sign up for the monthly listings charge. I go get the cable card and CONFIRM that it's the right one, and I will get all the channels in my line up-- confirming HD.  Then I set it up, and I get fewer channels that I got before on the straight tuner... So I now have fewer channels than I had, and not even all the stations in the "Limited Basic."

So I go in to local Comcast office and ask them to explain my lineup, and the guy cross-referenced my account page to the lineups listing, and highlighted it all... and said "If you're not getting all these, call tech support, 24/7".

So on tech support using Chat, I hear for the very first time that to actually SEE the channels I have paid for, I need to pay an additional "HD Technology Fee".  The tech person said "It's like you ordered coffee and now you have to pay for the sugar if you want sugar".... no, it's like I paid for a specific lst of channels and you promised I would get them, and now you are extorting me for more money to deliver what you promised across multiple conversations with different people.

and besides... would you go to Starbucks anymore if they started charging you extra for the sugar?

Not me.

[ZoltanZ]

Sugar fee at Starbuck's? LOL  I feel fortunate that they don't charge me rental for use of their cup.  

Thanks for the warning about Comcast's hidden fees. Nobody has mentioned yet the fortune they make on the advertising minutes they sell. There is so much advertising, every few minutes, plus the banner ads that never go away, they could easily afford not to charge us customers ANYTHING for program content. There is very little content anyway--it's mostly advertising.

I resent paying to watch TV that's mostly advertising. As long as customers meekly continue to subscribe, Comcast will keep increasing their fees, AND the total advertising time they cram in every hour.  

It's costing them a fortune to change their name from something we all recognize (Comcast) to the dorky, pseudo-tech name, "Xfinity."  First they had to pay a market research company to invent the name, then an advertising company to force us to watch it, and then they had to repaint their huge fleet of trucks. All the costs, obviously, are passed on to us customers.

Meanwhile, we can spculate that well-fed Comcast executives live in luxurious, top-floor corner suites, with leather furniture, rare teak desks and a private elevator, to protect them from the indignity of mingling with the common folk.  LOL

[beta789]

Comcast should not be charging a HD fee. About two years ago, broadcasts are required to  transmit in HD..check with the  FCC...Analog transmitters are thing of the past.

Comast is rebroadcasting signals and if you dont pay the HD fee they  filter it so the channels look like cr--.

Think about it? The Cable box filters the signal, so Comcast is manipulating and filtering a HD signal that already exists in the cable lines and out there in the airwaves.

[barbie123]

There is no requirement from the FCC for broadcasters to transmit in HD. SD broadcasts happen all the time.

[beta789]

O really? Try to find an analog signal with a regular tv. The US is transmitting in digital format. SD and HD is the same thing it's the signal that is being transmitted. You will not see a HD picture if it is not filmed in HD. When comcast charges for HD is nonsense because some video is not HD quality it is the signal transmitted over the airwaves and piped into the coaxial cable..comcast charges for a signal that is the standard now. Customers should not have to pay for so called HD when it exists... don't bother trying to explain to me the difference because I work in the industry and I probably know more about it than you... My point is comcast should not charge for a signal that is already being transmitted.

[barbie123]

The broadcasts are digital, but not always HD. Many local stations are transmitting SD digital. Yes I know that analog is gone. Comcast is a private company and can charge anything they want. They are also not a broadcaster.

[ezhunt]

Someone should start a class action lawsuit against them for this. I only have internet but if what you say is true, they should be punished. I can't see how this is legal.

[zenk]

Get an over the air antenna and watch HD for FREE.

Then call Comcast and tell them to stick it.

[Morac2]

I have a TiVo with CableCard and for a long time I didn't pay a HD fee.  Comcast started charging me a HD Technology Fee when I rented a HD cable box from them (to use on demand), but didn't remove the fee when I returned said box (since TiVO does On Demand now).   Not only that, but they charged me a $2 service change fee to return the box

I don't understand how Comcast can tack on all these fees, but still continue raising prices at least once year at rates that are nearly double the rate of inflation.

[kmfoster]

I'm done with Comcast. I have basic cable only and pay just about $100 a month.... over $20 more than what Verizon charges for their triple play. I have been a loyal customer for over 10 years, but I'm pretty much done with extra fees!