E-Mail and Xfinity Connect Help

[Queen-Evie]

I don't use Xfinity Connect or the Comcast homepage.

The only Comcast site I want to remember me is the forums.

I have a keyboard with a wonderful feature: 5 keys which I can set up to open websites or programs.

I programmed the 2nd key to open the forums. I hit that key and the landing page appears on my screen.

[CCCarole]

To get to the Forums, I just created a shortcut on my desktop using http://forums.comcast.com/

I sign into the Forums from the Forums landing page.

[wymi]

Don't tell Comcast about your forum shortcut, they'll disable it!

[Queen-Evie]

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wymi wrote:

Don't tell Comcast about your forum shortcut, they'll disable it!

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If that's the case maybe they will finally put a DIRECT link to the forums on the Comcast homepage. We have been asking for that for years.

[cwayneu]

And yes we can move to Gmail or Hotmail or whatever. The point is it used to work pretty well, we are paying good money for Comcast internet services, and it's a pain to switch so why should we have to. They should just get it fixed, but we seem to be beating a dead horse.

I just don't understand the quality control policies there. Like I said a couple of screens back, if anyone on my team ever released errors into production, I would chew them out and then tell them not to leave work until it was fixed or rolled back to previous stable version. The fact that this has gone on for weeks is unbelievable. I would be firing some people, or my company and the FDA would have had my head in a vice. (Not fun!)

[angerybird]

Is there any evidence that Comcast is looking into this issue?

[CCCarole]

Comcast is working on all the XfinityConnect issues. ThecComcast Team will provide updates as fixes are tested and implemented.

[pattyci]

ccCarole, do you know for a fact that they are working to fix the issue of timed logouts or is it speculation?  I mean no disrespect, you are more in tune with goings on here than I am and may have read something that I have missed.

Being a cynic, I assumed that the log-out issues were part and parcel of their new features designed to get more views on the homepage.  

But if they are really looking to fix this particular issue, Comcast will have re-earned a little bit of the chunk of goodwill they lost from me recently.

[angerybird]

Good point. We do need an answer.

[CCCarole]

We do know as fact that the Xfinity Team are working on ALL the issues we have seen in the Email Forum. Normally we do not see any estimates dates of fixes until testing of potential fixes are done and are successful in the testing. My only advice is, if you have tried all the work-arounds and suggestions to try without success, is to consider setting up an email client or maybe Gmail, and have it set to forward all email to the client. If you prefer using XC, you can always use it again when all fixes have been made. The Xfinity Team will post when any fix is made. I personally do not feel the reason for the Sign in/Sign out has anything to do with forcing a customer to view the homepage. The ability to go directly to the Inbox without signing in was implemented a couple of years ago (with Smartzone). I don't personally feel this is related.

[The_Hat_Man]

CCCarole, is there any evidence that Comcast intends to implement a better testing and rollback of failed changes process?

This would greatly reduce the number of problems faced by Comcast customers who pay for the overpriced Comcast products.

[Queen-Evie]

Carole is  a Comcast customer and is not privvy to what Comcast may or not do. She can only state what she knows.  Only Comcast knows if they will implement better testing and rollbacks.

[CCCarole]

Thanks Evie, just got back online.  Evie said it all.

Carole

[ecs]

How do we get an answer from Comcast?  I tried by phone, and they did not know what I was talking about. I tried explaining the issue, but they could not understand the problem.

Ed

[cwayneu]

@ecs

Same experience here. And I also tried email, they sent me instructions on how to enable cookies. Frustrated, I replied to that saying "NO, READ MY LIPS, You keep logging me out of email even after checking the "keep me signed in" box". The next reply was instructions on how to delete cookies. UNBELIEVABLE...

[jac999]

I had to go out of state and used a friend's computer to view my email from the comcast website.  No problem.  Then I went to another place and used my netbook there.  No problem.  My only problem accessing Comcast without having to sign in for every task is with my home computer.  My friends from out of state have comcast and I had no problem with my account using their computer.  Very frustrating!!

[Five4Fighting]

Are all three computers using the same Windows version and the same browser?

[jac999]

No.  One is using XP and the other is an Apple.

[Five4Fighting]

I use XP and Chrome and am not having this issue.

[The_Hat_Man]

Here's something new in the continuing saga!

I've been using the new link that opens the mail menu page and avoids the Comcast home page and Mail home page since shortly after it was publicized on this forum.  It has kept me logged in and avoided the dreaded Comcast home page.  Apparently Comcast has now managed to break the link.  Now in both IE 8 and Chrome, the mail menu portion of the page loads, but the web page won't finish loading.  It doesn't load the folder display on the left side or the adds below the folder listing.  Nor does it activate the tabs above the menu because they load last.  But it does display "loading" where the missing items are though.  But it never finishes loading.  Yippee!   If I navigate around a little I usually can get a new menu page that fully loads but it takes about the same amount of time as it would take to relog in each time...

Thank you Comcast for messing up a workaround!  I really appreciate the effort you have taken to fix the won't stay logged in problem!  Oh and yes I have cleared the cache.

[ChrisL1210]

I tried getting an answer on Twitter, but they forwarded my message to the regular comcast "service".  I told them the issue in email, and this was their response:

For your reference what you have described is a known issue that we are working to resolve as quickly as possible but at this time there is not a known estimated time of restoration. One work around is to clear cache and cookies as well as attempt to use another browser.

If there are any further concerns on this matter please reach out to us at 866-331-6176, our office hours are Monday - Friday 8:00am-8:00pm.

So apparently they ARE aware of the issue, at least they aren't claiming they don't know what I'm talking about.  But I'll be shocked if we get an answer anytime soon.

[Spaceycadet726]

Glad  - but at the same time saddened - to see I'm not the only one experiencing this frustrating problem.  It seems Comcast could not care less about fixing this (considering how I've just read five pages of posts on the matter).  I have Windows 7 on my laptop and a Samsung Galaxy S2 and the problem is the same on both.  I downloaded the Comcast app, which worked great for a couple days until I found I was losing emails.  So, I uninstalled it.  *head shaking*  

Oh, and I've noticed today that the browser seems really slow.  I don't have problems with any other website (fb, twitter, etc) but it takes almost a minute to get past the two screens to finally view my inbox.

Fix this, Comcast.  We expect service for all the money we give you on a monthly basis.

[cwayneu]

I've tried the "clear cookies and cache" routine, and different browsers. No help at all. I have noticed today also, that the server seems slow, but I have only been logged out once all day. Maybe the planets are aligned or some strange phenomena today. ;-)

[woody614]

I too am having the same problem, not able to stay connected.  I have to log in each and every time and sometimes even within the same session.  This was not a problem in the past, until June of this year when it all began.

[MamaB8385]

I did call the phone number mentioned yesterday evening (866-331-6176) and had to leave name and number because they are receiving so many calls. A very nice lady called me back and said they had people working on the issue to resolve it. I asked if they had any kind of ETA for a fix and she said they didn't know of one at this time. But at least I felt like we are now POSSIBLY getting somewhere, and that they do know of this problem and seem to be taking it seriously. I think it is still helpful though, especially since our numbers are so large, to keep this issue at the top of their "awareness" level if it's going to get fixed any time soon. She did say it is a nationwide problem and very wide spread. So hopefully that will work in our favor if we don't let off the "noise" of how much this bugs us. The previous poster was correct that their office hours are Monday - Friday 8am-8pm but the recording I reached also said they are there Sat. from 8am-4pm too. These are Eastern times. The line is also called Executive Customer Care. Just an FYI.

[bsims34]

There is no issue and no one is working on anything.

Using cookies to keep you logged into a site has been around since the dawn of the www.  It's literally web development 101.  How to write your very first "Hello World" html page and cookies are in the same chapter.

Your 12 year old nephew could have fixed this "issue" in about 12 seconds if that was indeed the problem.

This is very deliberate.

What's going on is the result of some comcast manager that finagled some money so he/she could push their home page redesign project.  How do they prove how "popular" and "exciting" it is? By ramping up the page visits. How do you that?  You disable the cookie logon and redirect your customers out of their email and back to this homepage every 3 minutes.

Someone at comcast is putting the finishing touches on a "Success!" power point slide that has these page visits graphed in spectacular fashion to show off at their next meeting.  Actually, they may need two slides to contain this mighty graph if the number of times I've been redirected to that hideous page is any indication of the traffic increase.

[andyross]

I had the 'no tree' issue a few days ago, but a browser refresh brought it back. Happened again today, and now it won't work. You have to go through the home page, then preview page, to get the full mail page.

F Comcast.

[woody614]

Thank you, bsims34.

Sadly, everything you wrote makes perfect diabolical sense.

So what is the bottom line?  Are we all just screwed, having to be continually annoyed by being forced to log in though the Comcast page so they can make impressive numbers?

Thank you for your insight as to this unpleasant reality of Comcast's willful neglect in customer service.

Woody 

[BlueJay]

Hi Andy,

Just wanted to say that since the 7th, I've experienced no problems with logging in and staying logged in..

Opens in same window...  No tabs, other than the ones that I use.

Opens with the INBOX..    No preview page.. 

This was the result of your post referencing Barmar's link..  You are eternally in my debt..

I DO NOT use any comcast pages for a home page..   Deleted them years ago... Never looked back..

I use 3 links on my IE8 browser Favorites Bar to access my comcast interests..  The forums, email and my usage meter..  ( I use the email link as a clearing house before downloading to my Vista Mail program..)

Comcast has their heads in the biggest sand pile, and they're not coming up for air..

I've said before and I'll say again, comcast has their own agenda, and it's not listening to or reading pleas within these forums... 

They talk a good story, moving forward, circling back, or any of the other catch phrases they can come up with.. 

I could go on, but best I stop here before this post is deleted.. 

ciao, bj

[s_fischer]

Please post that "Barmar's link"!  I can't find it but it sounds like a good answer!!!

Thanks,

Steve

[BlueJay]

Hi Steve,

Here's the reference I mentioned..  It's Andy's post #30..

http://forums.comcast.com/t5/E-Mail-and-Xfinity-Connect-Help/won-t-stay-signed-in/m-p/1337987#M20805...

Hope it helps, Good Luck..

ciao, bj

[s_fischer]

Bless you!!  It appears to work!!

S

[jac999]

I didn't think it was working for me because it took me to the Xfinity home page, but once I signed in from there it did seem to work.  Crossing my fingers that it will continue.

[andyross]

Just found something that may work! Change your mail preferences on the website, General setting (gear), Version from Full to Lite. Once I did that, the link now works again and loads the full tree. It worked after closing/opening the browser. I'll see if it works after waiting a day.

You still have to use that long link that routes it via the login page. The address you end up at still won't work if you try to go directly to it.

Now, lets see how many days it takes for Comcast to discover this workaround and screw it up, too.

[BlueJay]

Interesting, Andy...   I've always had the lite version.. 

And I agree, "Now, lets see how many days it takes for Comcast to discover this workaround and screw it up, too." 

Do you use any form of comcast for a home page?

ciao, bj

[mikrty]

I'm having the same issue, for the last 2 weeks. I got a low-level Comcast helper on the phone, deleted cookies, and it still is a problem. Now I'm waiting on a phone call from a higher up...

Not only do I keep getting logged out, but it will occasionally log me out as I'm composing an email!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO annoying

[mnllnm]

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mikrty wrote:

I'm having the same issue, for the last 2 weeks.

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Add me to the list. For at least two weeks. It is not a cookie problem. It is not a browser problem (two recent versions of Firefox). It is not an OS problem (XP and Win 7).

It almost seems as if it logs you out so you must look at the comcast.net page several times a day. If so, the Comcast PTB are being too clever by half.

Started using the direct link posted up thread yesterday. So far I haven't been disconnected.

[cwayneu]

If they are doing this, while milking us customers with excessive fees, to get even more money from advertisers, then I put them up there with Bank Of America: one of the greediest, most dispicable companies on earth.

[angerybird]

This link does not help.

[s_fischer]

I'm afraid you are correct.  None of the above workarounds is a workaround  :-( 

[18joyln]

 Since I just lost a house after trying to work with bank of America for 4 years, this is surely all too familiar to me, and I also felt like I was just dealing with another giant entity who is too big to give a  .. well, whatever it is ... I will be leaving comcast as soon as possible. There is no excuse for their attitude , where you can not even have a real discussion with an informed, real person about the problem. Now, I need  a loan to pay my bill to them since they have suddenly decided I owe them $400 for 2 months after I moved. HUH? For this??? I don't think so! Way to go Comcast.

[MamaB8385]

I was starting to stay logged in for up to 2 days at a time, but that has stopped and any/all links no longer work. I did put the VERY long link in my favorites and it too has stopped working for me. So I guess they did find a way to get around that too. Maybe they do read what we are writing. Maybe that is why the workarounds have stopped working. All I know is after some days of it not being TOO bad, I have had to log back in to email three times so far today and it's only a little past lunch time.

[mnllnm]

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angerybird wrote:

This link does not help.

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It seemed to work for me yesterday. No longer.

[mnllnm]

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MamaB8385 wrote:

I was starting to stay logged in for up to 2 days at a time, but that has stopped and any/all links no longer work. I did put the VERY long link in my favorites and it too has stopped working for me. So I guess they did find a way to get around that too. Maybe they do read what we are writing. Maybe that is why the workarounds have stopped working. All I know is after some days of it not being TOO bad, I have had to log back in to email three times so far today and it's only a little past lunch time.

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Same happened to me. It would not surpise me if this is intentional.

If it is intentional, if they want to force users to log in several times a day, they ought to say so and remove the "keep me logged" in option.

[4T6er]

Barmar's workaround link continues working for me on IE8.  Thanks to him and to those that posted the URL   Perhaps Comcast should consider hiring Barmar to run their support group.  I have also sent a letter of complaint to my state communication commission which regulates cable companies and will be looking at what is available to move off Comcast completely. 

[mnllnm]

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4T6er wrote:

Barmar's workaround link continues working for me on IE8. 

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Hmmmm. Now that I look at it again, I bookmarked it after using it, which assigns the wrong url to the bookmark. I've replaced the bookmark url with Barmar's original url. Let's see how that works.

[wymi]

I just noticed I am now staying logged in. I tired several times completely closing out my browser and then going back in. It kept me logged in each time. Anyone else notice this?

[BlueJay]

I have noticed also, for about 2 1/2 weeks...   

[erikw]

Still not staying logged in on my computers.

[mnllnm]

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mnllnm wrote:

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4T6er wrote:

Barmar's workaround link continues working for me on IE8. 

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Hmmmm. Now that I look at it again, I bookmarked it after using it, which assigns the wrong url to the bookmark. I've replaced the bookmark url with Barmar's original url. Let's see how that works.

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Nope. It doesn't work for me. Still getting logged out after a couple/few hours.