I’m a TiVo user, and have been for a while. About 8 months ago, I decided to bite the bullet and get a Comcast HD DVR, because my TiVo’s were only Series 2 (non-HD) and I wasn’t willing to pay 200-500 bucks to upgrade my TiVo. That’s when I signed up for Comcast’s “Triple Play” or whatever it was called.

I signed up to pay 113.99 a month + 5 bucks for the HD-DVR + whatever taxes and federal fees. I won’t get into how crappy the actual DVR is, I think everyone knows the equipment is sub-par. But never-the-less, I did it and had HD on my nice big tv, which I enjoyed.

Then for Christmas my wife bought me a new TV for our bedroom. For a while I limped along with my other series 2 TiVo on that until Comcast’s “Forced” digital transition which made that TiVo completely obsolete because Comcast’s “free” box wouldn’t play nice with my dual-tuner tivo (smart of comcast I suppose to try to force out Tivo from peoples houses).

So I broke down and ordered a second HD DVR from Comcast. The person told me that that DVR was going to cost me 13.95 a month, which was close to what I was paying Tivo so it wasn’t that big of a deal (other than the fact that the Comcast DVR’s suck, but again, I won’t get into that).

When I got my first bill, I saw the new DVR charge for 13.95, which was expected. Then I noticed another charge that snuck its way in. There was an ADDITIONAL charge for 6.99. WTF!!! So this second DVR didn’t cost me 13.95.. it cost me 20.94!!!!!

I called and complained, I felt sorry for the customer service guy I was talking to because I was pissed. Yes, it is ONLY 7 dollars, but it was the fact that I was already choosing to pay for an EXTRA dvr and then to get this tacked on without being told and for no real good reason. I was told its to have the digital service to my house. WAIT! WHAT! What the hell is the first $114 for.

The next day I went to the local Comcast office and they told me the same thing. I didn’t want to cause a public scene so I left without saying a word. I then went directly to my office and order a brand new TiVo for $200. Yes Comcast, I gave TiVo more money because they deserved it and not you.

So I returned my 2nd DVR expecting to see that 13.95 + 6.99 charge drop off and I ordered a CableCard for 1.79. I asked the person on the phone, “How much will this cable card cost?” and I was told “$1.79 TOTAL.” I was happy with that. Finally I was getting a TiVo back (not 2 like I had, but close enough)

So I get my bill last week and guess what I see. Comcast took away my “Free DVR” (I paid $5 since it was HD) and raised the price of DVR I did have to $15.75 and kept that damn $6.99 charge on my bill! AHHHHHHHHH!

Ok ok.. so the DVR price changed and it was a computer glitch that screwed up the “Free DVR” thing and that is getting taken care of. But the flippin $6.99 is STILL THERE. I asked WHY! and the customer service person said, “Well it’s because of the CableCard.” I about lost it. WTF was I told that the CableCard would cost me $1.79 TOTAL when in fact it costs $8.78.

Again, what does my friggin $114 a month cover?

I’m paying for Digital Service, if for every device I want to recieve digital service requires me to pay $6.99 in addition, then I’m not really getting Digital Service for my original $114 a month am I? All I’m paying for is getting “serviced” if you know what I mean.

I am this close to just calling it all off. Switch internet to DSL, Switch my phone back to the PHONE COMPANY and moving to Satellite. I’m tired of BIG companies thinking they can nickel and dime their customers to death and not be called out on it.