E-Mail and Xfinity Connect Help

[The_Hat_Man]

cwaumeu, you obviously didn't work for an organization like Comcast.  The qualifications and expectations for their IT people is much lower than you and I are used to.  I too retired from an IT organization and we never released changes without properly designing and testing them.  We also had a process to quickly and successfully revert to the previous version if an unanticipated problem occurred.  But then, like you, we were part of a skilled professional shop not one staffed and managed by amateurs.

If you've followed the Comcast support forums for long, you recognize that failures like this repeatedly occur and Comcast doesn't seem to care enough about their customers to change the development, testing and implementation process in order to avoid creating new problems.

[maidado]

I was able to stay signed in on my email unless I closed my computer.  Now I am having to sign in every time I go out of email and it is really annoying.  How do I stay signed in on my computer unless I shut it down?

[pbhepple]

Your e-mail function stinks. I have to continually re-enter my username & password after entering my e-mail & ultimately cannoy get there. What's up folks?

[ChrisL1210]

Add me to the list of people that can't stay logged in.  Started about 2 weeks ago, just like everyone else.  Using Google Chrome, most recent.    I'm also having the issue that someone else mentioned, that I'm unable to sort emails by "From".

[angerybird]

I mentioned two weeks ago that Comcast offered to fix this if I elevated the issue to the next technical level. I refused to pay the extra $70 + a monthly fee or whatever it was. In any case a friend tells me that she did elevate the issue and agreed to pay. Comcast did fix her login issue. So they do have a fix but we are being blackmailed.

[18joyln]

 Mine works now that I left. Strange. I aint comming back!

[The_Hat_Man]

The bugs Comcast introduced recently are sure random.  The really need to do a better job of designing, coding and testing.  Sorting on all the columns has always worked for me in IE 8 and Chrome, even now, but staying logged in only works if I avoid the Comcast home page.  The link published in this forum and another one works perfectly for me while it doesn't for others.  Comcast has some serious sloppy coding and fractured environment issues that they really need to address.  Wonder if it's because so much has been sent off shore to be done by low-paid people who have trouble communicating in American English?

[erinroseparade]

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angerybird wrote:

I mentioned two weeks ago that Comcast offered to fix this if I elevated the issue to the next technical level. I refused to pay the extra $70 + a monthly fee or whatever it was. In any case a friend tells me that she did elevate the issue and agreed to pay. Comcast did fix her login issue. So they do have a fix but we are being blackmailed.

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You gotta be joking!  

[angerybird]

No joke. Not funny.

[cwayneu]

Hit_Man said "cwaumeu, you obviously didn't work for an organization like Comcast.". Yes, I worked for a global pharmaceutical manufacturer, under FDA, GMP, GLP, .. et al regulations. However, software quality control processes is just good business, even for Comcast... ;-)

[The_Hat_Man]

It doesn't appear that they got that memo...  :-(

[4T6er]

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angerybird wrote:

I mentioned two weeks ago that Comcast offered to fix this if I elevated the issue to the next technical level. I refused to pay the extra $70 + a monthly fee or whatever it was. In any case a friend tells me that she did elevate the issue and agreed to pay. Comcast did fix her login issue. So they do have a fix but we are being blackmailed.

If you can document that, send it to your states board of public utilities or whatever state agency regulates the cable industry there, and to your state attorney generals office.  i think they would be very interested in seeing it.

[4T6er]

cwayneu wrote:

Yes, I worked for a global pharmaceutical manufacturer, under FDA, GMP, GLP, .. et al regulations. However, software quality control processes is just good business, even for Comcast... ;-)

So did I.

[MamaB8385]

I had to laugh at the poster who said he was told the word "cr*p" isn't acceptable. I am still having the problem weeks later of my log in not staying in effect despite clicking on the supposed means to have it do that, and also getting no help whatsoever from multiple emails or via phone (after a 25 minute hold time and getting cut off by the "techie" when his scripted answers of changing my password, etc. weren't accepted by me). So I posted my efforts today and got stopped for the word "id*otic" as being a "bad word". Seems to me that Comcast is going to block ANY word that just might possibly indicate a criticism of them. Since when is "id*otic" a "bad word"?

[18joyln]

Ok, so here's what you do, just for your own gratification if nothing else. You find the complete annotated works of Shakespere and hopeully a version that also has an index for his wonderfully, graphic, and numerous insults, most with out a single word nasty their  moronic system would ever catch. Then you let it flow to your heart's content. In fact, you could even allow them to think they were being complimentd and thanked, and because very few of them any any knowledg  of real, and proper English,, they'd have no clue.

[CCCarole]

I suggest you read the Posting Guidelines and the rules concerning Profanity and attempts to by pass the nanny filters.  Posting Guidelines  link. 

CC

[18joyln]

 Dear Comcast tech support team, where ever thou art, who ever thou art,Thou dissembling boil-brained mumble-news! Somewhere far away, holed up in a dark , oderous stench , in a busy corner of  a third world hovel. I say this in all due respect. We needed to be able to stay logged into the  service we are paying so dearly for.  I have no loss of peace thinking that my creative tongue may disturb your refined sense of  this, our fair language. May this service find its final  home among the world's finest of failed  enterprises, to be encased on a pedestal,  on display in the museum of  interesting but unsuccessful technology of the 21st century.

[The_Hat_Man]

And I suggest that Comcast adopt and follow some "Posting Guidelines and the rules concerning" the release of faulty coding and system changes without adequate testing and failure to expeditiously fix mistakes that are released for use by their customers.  Looks like Comcast "software engineers" (I use the term tongue in cheek) need some nanny filters on their coding and adult supervision.

Oh, and adopting the make believe name "xfinity" to replace "comcast" is merely a PR attempt to distance Comcast from their richly deserved reputation of not delivering quality service at a reasonable price. 

[18joyln]

 Shakespere couldn't have said it better,

[MamaB8385]

Dear CCCarole,

While I very much appreciate that you are a volunteer and probably need to defend Comcast if you are to remain in that status, I respectfully request you explain in what way is "id*otic" a profane word?

Thanks for your service.

Mama B

[18joyln]

 In my 1940  encyclopdia,  that word... , ( I -  DEEE ut) is a techincial word used to describe anyone with an IQ of 25 or less. Of course, there are other words in there that may be found offensive if we wrote them in this forum, although they might certainly be fitting. I don't blame you, Carole, but why would you volunteer for such a thing without being paid or being supported by them???  They need to back you up with some responsible action! I have dealt with them for 2 years, had them out many times, they never solved anything, I was always blamed, and they were NEVER on time. Where's my $20??????????????????????? No, ATT wasn't any better. Too big to fail... too big to give a s....t!

[CCCarole]

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MamaB8385 wrote:

Dear CCCarole,

While I very much appreciate that you are a volunteer and probably need to defend Comcast if you are to remain in that status, I respectfully request you explain in what way is "id*otic" a profane word?

Thanks for your service.

Mama B

---

First of all, I am under no obligation in anyway to have to defend Comcast as I am a paying customer just as you are.  My opinions are my own.  However, I also abide by the rules Comcast has set up for all Users that post in the Forums.  I will agree with you that on occassion the nanny filters reject some words that maybe you do not find offensive, but others might.  Remember too, that the Forums are public, which also means children can have access here.  Overall I think the nanny filters do a good job and when you are asked to not use a certain word when the filter alerts you, you should follow that.   

These are my opinions on the matter.

CC

[CCCarole]

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18joyln wrote:

 In my 1940  encyclopdia,  that word... , ( I -  DEEE ut) is a techincial word used to describe anyone with an IQ of 25 or less. Of course, there are other words in there that may be found offensive if we wrote them in this forum, although they might certainly be fitting. I don't blame you, Carole, but why would you volunteer for such a thing without being paid or being supported by them???  They need to back you up with some responsible action! I have dealt with them for 2 years, had them out many times, they never solved anything, I was always blamed, and they were NEVER on time. Where's my $20??????????????????????? No, ATT wasn't any better. Too big to fail... too big to give a s....t!

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I have been a volunteer on these forums for many years by choice.  I enjoy helping fellow customers when, and if I can. Having said that, it is my decison to volunteer time here, as it is anyone that chooses to post any help to assist a fellow customer.   Money has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Enough said.

Carole

[18joyln]

 Do you have access to anyone higher up in the chain who would  respond to you about this problem we are all having, Carole? I have left Comcast mail and am only still posting because I don't want to abondon those who are still trying to get the problem fixed. I figure most people, once their problem goes away, never write on here again. Mine is still misbehaving but I now use gmail. It is a mysery to me, why  the problem  fluctuates the way it does.  I wish you the best and thanks for trying to help. I'd try to help too if I knew anything about this stuff. I just want it to work because, as it is, I can't afford it, anyway.

 June

[cwayneu]

Bad to horrible customer service is a sad consequence when companies are allowed to become virtual monopolies. In Indianapolis, you use AT&T or Comcast for internet service. Yes you could go with a wireless carrier (Dish, T-Mobile, ..., even dial-up), but snail-speed technologies really aren't an option. So AT&T and Comcast really don't have to worry much about customer service ratings. If you look at companies like Amazon, TigerDirect, Newegg, etc, where 50 competitors are two mouse clicks away, their customer service will knock your socks off because it has too. If we had 20 high speed internet options at our fingertips, I promise you we would not see bad customer service, or they would be out of business.

[CCCarole]

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18joyln wrote:

 Do you have access to anyone higher up in the chain who would  respond to you about this problem we are all having, Carole? I have left Comcast mail and am only still posting because I don't want to abondon those who are still trying to get the problem fixed. I figure most people, once their problem goes away, never write on here again. Mine is still misbehaving but I now use gmail. It is a mysery to me, why  the problem  fluctuates the way it does.  I wish you the best and thanks for trying to help. I'd try to help too if I knew anything about this stuff. I just want it to work because, as it is, I can't afford it, anyway.

 June

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The Help Forums Administrator as well as the Xfinity Team are aware of the problems, and have been for quite a while.  I have no inside track and receive the same information you do in the Forums when they post.

The information has been posted in the Forums that they are working on the fixes. 

I recommend going ahead and using a real email client until the problem is fixed.  You mentioned Gmail, there is also Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail,etc. all are free.

Carole

[18joyln]

Ok, but why would anyone ever bother to return to using Comcast mail after moving their entire address book, (all my clients) over to using another mail which works just as well and stayes logged in? I can't think  of a reason in the world. For that reason, once I do it, I am also shopping for different internet provider, and  abandoning my landline as soon as I can. That can't be good for Comcast if we all do that.

[Anon39065]

It would help if someone official from Comcast actually responded with some sort of update.  The only response has been a couple posts from cc_xc responding to two individual posters, but this is obviously a widespread problem affecting a lot of customers that has gone on for over two weeks.

While I'm sure that each of us appreciate the time and effort that Carole and all the rest of the regular posters provide here, it is past time for Comcast to officially respond,  Just a blanket - "They have been informed and are aware of the issues" is not sufficient.  What are they DOING about it is what we want to know.  Most of us probably assume they are doing nothing, as there has been no update since the problem began.  Each day that passes with no information only increases our frustration.

[CCCarole]

Many customers prefer the convenience of having everything in one place.  That is especially true with Users that are coming to Comcast from places like aol or sbcglobal and have limited PC skills beyond sending email.  You would be surprised, I guess, to know many customers are not PC savvy, and do not understand they can use an email client and do not have to use Comcast just because Comcast is their ISP.  Also there are the customers who use Comcast only, and want access to their email when traveling for business or vacation via XC.  There are loads of different scenarios and customers have to be comfortable with what they choose to use.  I totally understand customers being upset when issues like this one comes up, but we don't know what the cause is, that is for the Comcast engineers to figure out and fix.

I use Outlook 2010, but also have Outlook set up to 'Leave a copy on the server'.  I also use XfinityConnect, Windows Live Mail, and Mail on my iPad3.  I do a lot of testing which is why they are all configured.

Everyone has to do what they feel comfortable with and make changes when they feel they want to.

Remember too, that you are paying for your hi speed internet service primarily, XfinityConnect is only a small part of it.

I wouldn't expect to see updates posted by Comcast employees until Comcast is ready to release a fix for this issue.

I have answered you as honestly as I can.

Carole

[18joyln]

 I am not at all pc smart. I don't know what it means to use outlook, etc. I don't understand what POP is. It is all Greek to me. My son is a computer technition and he laughed at me for using Comcast  for anything except the high speed internet connection. It is VERY fast... when it works.  I do much of my business with galleries all over the world in email. We send large images. I am  an artist and know nothing about all this stuff, which is even more why it frustrates me when it doesn't work. People who are working don't care about TV  ads or stupid videos that only take time and distract us. I do live in Italy half the year. The wireless connection I use there is slow, dsl, and not always dependable. If I get logged out on Comcast everytime I check my mail there, I will hate it. I can use gmail there, which is what all my italian friends do. SBC global was not as fast but I did have less issues, until it rained and the phone line got wet. If I could watch real , live news on Fox through Comcast while I am overseas, I might like it better. It is only recorded " old" news.... unless there is something I don't know.

[erikw]

" If I could watch real , live news on Fox"

XD

That's a good one...

[jbroderick1]

With four pages of replies I do not see mnay actual CC mods adding any info good or bad. I read the forums alot and find this a bit different as they usually add a bit of info. CCCarole please keep doing what you do no matter what anyone says or how they feel. I know you will anywys but just thought I would say it.lol If more people were lie CCCarole and watched out for newbies or those with issues we would all be better off. Now I was told in a tech chat that they DID know about this issue and was working on it. BTE I have some swamp land in Florida.. OK now that was funny.. Hope they get their act together once again soon.

[cwayneu]

jbroderick1 said

"CCCarole please keep doing what you do no matter what anyone says or how they feel.".

Ditto to that. She is a rare gem.

[CCCarole]

You both have made my day! THANK YOU so much for your kind words! It is appreciated more than you know! It is comments like this, and helping a customer with their problem is why I am here! Thank you again! Carole

[18joyln]

Carole, I am glad to know you are human. I appreciate that you try to help us.  It seems you are on here , answering 24,7. I assume you are in California. I think they should pay you!

[4T6er]

Carole, it is hard not to let these kinds of issues get to you, even though they are out of your control.  You perform a terrific service doing this as a volunteer, and folks that do as you do rarely get the thanks they deserve.  I am sure any negative vibes are directed at Comcast and not you.  Have a TERRIFIC day!!!

[CCCarole]

Most of the time the Experts that volunteer their time in the Forums are able to let negative comments directed at them go, and don't take them personally. We do understand the frustrations Users go through and we get frustrated as well when we are not able to help resolve the Users issues. I think all of the different Experts and Regulars spend time here because they truly want to help others, and it is a great feeling when we can successfully help a User with their problem. To quote a fellow Expert, "It' why we lurk". Thank you for taking the time to post too! Carole

[primadonna47]

Hi have both my business & private account with Comcast. If this issue is not resolved by August 1st, I will switch all accounts to Google & close out my 2 Comcast accounts.

[wymi]

Add me to the list of customers getting fed up with having to log in constantly.

[Sere]

I'm on the list too.. completely sick of having to log in numerous times in a sitting. Not to mention how it opens new windows every time I have to do it. I feel like comcast is trying to drown me in useless pages.

[s_fischer]

Yes, that too!  Why the 'open new window/tab' on log in script.  Yeesh!!

[MikeFromDetroit]

Same thing started happening to me at about the same time. They must have changed something on the client side.

[MikeFromDetroit]

Up until a couple of weeks ago, the email client would keep me logged in for days, unless I specificially logged out, even if I closed the browser (Firefox).  Now it only keep me logged in for a few minutes, even if I check "Keep me logged in". and don't close the browser.

[MikeFromDetroit]

Me three (or four, five, six, whatever.)

[Queen-Evie]

Until this morning I had no problems staying signed in. Now I have to sign in every time.

And when I am on the sign in page what I see are huge annoying stupid ads for credit cards which I have no interest in seeing. (replace it with a photo of Sean Connery and I'd look at it all day)

Maybe this is being done on purpose so we become a captive audience and are forced to see the ads someone has paid Comcast to deliver.

I could use my browers REMEMBER ME function but would still have to use the sign in page with the ads.

I'm glad I use an email client so I don't have to sign in to read email.

[tondalao]

To Whom It May Concern at Comcast:

Initially, I assumed that you were reading these posts, researching the problem and trying to provide instruction/s for a solution.  After reading most of the posts from the other sad customers like myself, I realize that you obviously made an intentional change in your "Keep me signed-in" feature by eliminating it. You have done this without taking the "Keep me signed-in" feature off the sign-in page.  And you have not notified customers of this change. 

It seems the consensus of the people posting on this forum is that, you have done this in order to force us all to view, as one poster wrote, your "horrible home-page" and all the advertisements contained therein.

If it isn't that, the only other reason that I can see for this happening is, because someone at Comcast has made an error. And instead of admitting it to your loyal and I might add, thoroughly frustrated customers, you blame this error on Our Computers or our negligence.  So you are communicating to us that all these hundreds, if not thousands of people are all making the same errors! 

You have neither communicated to us in a timely and acceptable manner, what is going on and how you are trying to solve the problem.  Nor even that you're working on it at all.  All I have read on this blasted forum, is that you have notified the administrator and listed some things to do to fix the problem.  Unfortunately, most of us had already done these things as we are apparently more computer savvy then your own technicians.  Sorry. 

On closing, I would like to say that maybe some of us would actually take the time to briefly glance at your homepage, if you all had had the respect and consideration to address this concern there.  Did it occur to you that if you had, we might have actually looked at your homepage?

And by the way, yes I too tried all the things you said should fix this problem.  Surprisingly, they didn't work.

Thank you for at least giving us a forum to rant.

P.S.. Sorry to the rest of you poor slobs who are believing that Comcast even cares, let alone will spend the money to fix the problem.  I didn't mean to write a novel but I tend to get wordy when I encounter incompetence. Lol. 

[18joyln]

Bravo tondalao!  I went to Gmail. It has been so nice and the mail opens instantly, evrytime, not after thirteen error messages, etc. And, it is FREE!

[cwayneu]

Yes, starting many weeks ago, sort email by SENDER stopped working. A few weeks ago the auto-logout issue began. A few days ago, every email login started launching a new tab or window, instead of email in the current tab. Today, a new login screen has shown. I suppose Comcast support (like the CIA) does not acknowledge these issues, because then they would actually have to admit to errors and fix them. My guess, if they are interested, is that recent security software upgrades, as well as website modifications, has screwed things up. There are too many people and too many browser brands involved to be "user error".

[Queen-Evie]

You don't have to use Xfinity Connect to access your Comcast mail.

One alternative is to have ALL your Comcast mail forwarded to a different address.

Another is use an email client such as Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, etc (these are free) or Outlook which is included Microsoft Office Suite and available as a stand-alone (Outlook has to be purchased.

Configure the client to work with Comcast mail and ditch checking it online at Xfinity Connect.

If you tell the client to remember your password you won't have to enter it when you open the client.  You also will not have all those annoying new windows open.

[BlueJay]

  So sorry for your problems, QE..

Should I just keep quiet and not say that I finally have email settled down and have retained my login for a while now; with a link in my browser.. 

My heart goes out to all the posters that are having a multitude of tabs opening just to read mail..

And having to keep signing in and not being able to keep logged in.. 

I should go into my song and dance routine about remember the good old days...   When comcast had 3 choices for a home page, AND THEY WORKED.. !! 

And they had a link to the Help and Support Forums... 

ciao, bj