Metrocast Put It To Me!

[tis]

I don't think it will work with the cable companies, up. They are so miserable, they don't care.

[BobbyA]

WHAT a joke!!!!! Here it is Bruins semi-finals with expanded service and on May 1st.NO GAME!!!!!!! BACK TO A DISH.SCREW METROCAST!!!!!!!!!

[jeffk]

Don't most utilities (electric, phone, ...) charge a start/stop fee of some kind? Why would the cable people be any different?

And as to the $140 for a few days of service, they sell their service on a monthly basis. That's a reasonable business model for what they do. Dropping in for a couple days use is harder for them to track and I'm sure they don't want to get into figuring out who is using the system just for the weekend. In most areas, monthly service charges are a very reasonable model. People live there full time. In an area where a lot of people are here only occasionally they might like to pay per use but that is not the normal model.

Don't get me wrong, I think the cable company charges outrageous monthly prices but it's part of the entertainment industry and we always pay absurd prices for our entertainment. However, these policies, although they don't meet your specific needs, are not unreasonable.

[wickedtravelah]

I noticed that Metrocast will charge you upfront for the remainder of the billing cycle and then possibly the next month when you are in a new billing month.

When you stop the service for the season, you will receive a credit the next month for the remainder of time not used.

I was 2 days into a new billing cycle and they charged my account $160 for the entire month. We turned the service off on the 3rd day and when the next months bill came in we had a credit of $145 or so.....

[Happy Gourmand]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Don't most utilities (electric, phone, ...) charge a start/stop fee of some kind? Why would the cable people be any different?

And as to the $140 for a few days of service, they sell their service on a monthly basis. That's a reasonable business model for what they do. Dropping in for a couple days use is harder for them to track and I'm sure they don't want to get into figuring out who is using the system just for the weekend. In most areas, monthly service charges are a very reasonable model. People live there full time. In an area where a lot of people are here only occasionally they might like to pay per use but that is not the normal model.

Don't get me wrong, I think the cable company charges outrageous monthly prices but it's part of the entertainment industry and we always pay absurd prices for our entertainment. However, these policies, although they don't meet your specific needs, are not unreasonable.

I will have to wait till 5/15 when the service os scheduled to be turned back on with NO ADDITIONAL FEE. There is a $40 FEE if I want to turn it on before that. This $40 is not a partial month usage fee, it is an additional fee.

[windsail]

My experience here in Jersey has been if you complain enough they don't cut the bill but will give you free premium channels for 6 months. It might help to keep calling

Originally Posted by tis

I don't think it will work with the cable companies, up. They are so miserable, they don't care.

[beaner]

We've had Expanded Basic cable TV service with Metrocast for many years. (No phone, internet or converter box). This past January they hit us with an effective rate increase of 14.9%; the previous year it was 10.1%. After reviewing our bills for the past 12 months, I discovered that the cost of Expanded Basic cable TV is now greater than the cost of electricity for our household (by @ $130 this year)! Granted, we have oil heat/hot water and no kids living at home. Even so, this realization was eye-opening, to say the least. I called Metrocast and was told that they will only refund about 1/3 of the actual per diem cost for early cancellation, or we'd downgrade to basic cable today. Instead, I calendared a reminder to call them back on the last day of our billing period.

[BroadHopper]

No internet! Seems like the cable was cut with a weed wacker! Instead of burying the cable between the house and the junction box they just lay it on the ground and let the grass and bark mulch hide it! A call was place to Metrocast yesterday and I am still waiting!

This is definitely a no brainer. You would think burying the cable would make sense.

[wifi]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

No internet! Seems like the cable was cut with a weed wacker! Instead of burying the cable between the house and the junction box they just lay it on the ground and let the grass and bark mulch hide it! A call was place to Metrocast yesterday and I am still waiting!

This is definitely a no brainer. You would think burying the cable would make sense.

Lazy installer? Company policy? They do it to your neighbors too ? If all else fails, it might be easier to just put a small trench yourself and bury the sucker...

Sometimes its better to just take things into your own hands

[Greene's Basin Girl]

What time of year did they lay in on the ground? If you have an issue when the ground is frozen then they lay it on the ground. When the soil thaws the cable is then buried.

[mcdude]

Phone service in Alton is provided by TDS Telecom. They also provide DSL for a much lower rate than Metrocast.

http://uspromodeals.com/tds/new-hampshire/alton-nh/

[BroadHopper]

Three days since I made the call. The installer was suppose to be here Wednesday, then Thursday and now Friday. Are they afraid of the rain?

The cable was installed in the fall of 2008 when they upgraded the old cable wires. I notice the old cable wire is still in place next to the new one. You would think they would rip out the old cable and make money on the copper. That is what Fairpoint do.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by mcdude

Phone service in Alton is provided by TDS Telecom. They also provide DSL for a much lower rate than Metrocast.

http://uspromodeals.com/tds/new-hampshire/alton-nh/

I followed the link, put in my address, and the deal they offered me was "EarthLink dialup" .

In the past, our wires for utilities came in from the west of our house, before making it down to route 11, and then going east to Alton Center where the TDS (Union Tel) building is. Over 5 miles, and DSL was not so good that far from the switching station.

Now the wires run right down our street from the east, right at 3 miles from the switching station, but TDS evidently doesn't know that, even though it has been over two years.

Guess I'll keep Metrocast. If they ever get the Verizon service active on the new tower in Alton Bay, I will probably keep Metrocast for internet, Verizon for phone and go to DirecTv for the telly.

Sorry you are having problems still, Broadhopper.. Become the squeakiest wheel on a daily basis... if necessary, contact the Consumer Protection folks in Concord.

[BroadHopper]

I am not sure about the other phone companies, Fairpoint pretty much replace their 'transmission lines' with fiber optics. This year they are beginning to upgrade the DSL to fiber optics in the residential areas. They were working with commercial customers for a couple of years. I was told high speed broadband will be available in July for Laconia area customers. I can't wait to switch to Fairpoint.
I know DSL is available but I need high speed internet to stream TV broadcast and movies to my laptop and TV.

[BobbyA]

Think there was some kind of burp here with Metrocast, TV & internet went out last night for a few seconds. TV 1 won`t come back on. Called tech, left a message after being on hold forever. Finally got a call back. They have my account number, address, name,,,,,,,,, EVERYTHING!!!!! YET the call back guy wants the last 4 digits of my social security number,,,, and my date of birth before he can help me. Cant`t post my words online here as what i said to him.
DUMP METROCAST!!!!!!!!!!

[BroadHopper]

Metrocast finally showed up Saturday morning. He installed a new cable between the box in the corner and the house. He says someone will stop by later to bury the cable. He also mentioned he was surprise the underground cables were never replaced! They need to be upgraded!
I checked this morning and sometime over the weekend someone buried the cable and did not bother to pull the old one. It is still sticking up out of the ground! I pulled out the old cable which is held in place by the grass. I check the new cable and sure enough is buried just below the surface. I'm going to do it myself and bury the cable at least 6" in the ground so that the aerator won't hit it. I notice the old cable was chewed up by the aerator and thatcherizer. No wonder the TV was pixeling with low signal.

Can't wait for Fairpoint high speed. Metrocast is so incompetent!

[HellRaZoR004]

BH, do you have underground utilities? I assumed you did since the topic of going from pole to house was never mentioned.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

BH, do you have underground utilities? I assumed you did since the topic of going from pole to house was never mentioned.

Yes the association utilities are underground. Back in 2008, Metrocast claims underground wires are the responsibility of the association even though PSNH, Fairpoint and Liberty Utilities maintain their distribution. Saturday they replace the cable without mentioning who is responsible. I'm waiting for my bill. I have also called billing to give me credit for 3 days without service. Customer Service says they normally don't credit but she will ask the supervisor and call me back. Still waiting!

[Airedale1]

The Metrocast company motto should be, "We don't care; because we don't have to."

[NH_boater]

or, We did not care right up until we went out of business.......

[Lakepilot]

We've had Metrocast's triple play for over ten years. Last fall we had them remove the TV since we weren't using the cottage. Still needed Internet and phone for the alarm systems.

Went to put TV back on and they wanted social security numbers and my first born. I explained that we have had continuous service with them for over 10 years and have always paid. How much more do you need. That really frosted my you know what. Every time they check you credit, your score goes down.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Lakepilot

Every time they check you credit, your score goes down.

Not true.

And just because they ask for that info doesn't mean they are going to run a credit check.