Time Warner Raising Rates Effective 2/1/11

[UsualNoise]

Quick question: if I ever decide to downgrade all the way to basic cable, would I still get the HD broadcast channels in clear QAM over the coax line?

[BenJF3]

Jan 25, 2011 14:07:03 GMT -5 UsualNoise said:

Quick question: if I ever decide to downgrade all the way to basic cable, would I still get the HD broadcast channels in clear QAM over the coax line?

Yes - in our division you can cut cable out completely and still get all the ClearQAM stations as long as you keep an Internet conection.

[UsualNoise]

Sweet, thanks. It's a good option to have on the table. Windows 7 works better as a DVR than my Scientific Atlanta box, and it doesn't cost oodles every month. If I can wean my wife off the few cable channels she watches we might be able to swing it.

[Skaggs]

Article printed on the front page of today's Business Section in the Albany Times Union:

For some, sweet deal is a bit sour
Time Warner Cable’s bundle offer is actually only for a select few
By LARRY RULISON, Business writer

ROTTERDAM — Time Warner Cable has a deal to bundle its TV, phone and Internet services for just $99 a month — but many current customers aren’t eligible for the offer.

In a letter sent to customers this month announcing a new round of rate increases, the company urged them to call to see how they could lower their bills despite the increases. The letter said one way to get those savings is to bundle TV, phone and Internet service for $33 each per month, a promotion similar to recent ads the company has been running.

But according to fine print in the letter, the only people who are eligible for the $99 bundle are current customers who get only one of the three services. And the

12-month deal expires at the end of the month. New customers are also eligible for a similar offer.

Those conditions have upset a lot of Time Warner customers who called or e-mailed the Times Union on Tuesday to complain they aren’t eligible for the offer, despite what appeared to be a good deal.

One of those was Delmar resident Michael Malachowski, who said he isn’t eligible because he is a current customer who already gets a bundle. He pays roughly $130 a month for TV, Internet and phone and expects to pay closer to $140 when new rates go into effect.

“That’s a long way from $99,” Malachowski said.

Time Warner spokeswoman Lara Pritchard said customers should still call the company to ask whether they are eligible for special offers that could cut their bill, although she said it is impossible to talk specific prices because circumstances vary. “We do have competitive options that can address all levels of product and service with us,” Pritchard said. “Customers should give us a call, and we can help find the right fit.”

Time Warner’s rate increases, which take effect Feb. 1, are not across the board, although several of the bundled packages will rise substantially. For instance, the “Watch and Surf” package of TV and Internet service is rising from $108.95 to $114.99 a month.

Those increases come as Verizon is getting ready to offer cable TV through its FiOS network in the Bethlehem, Scotia and Colonie.

Verizon won’t say what it plans to charge for a bundle of FiOS TV, Internet and phone service in the Capital Region, but the company has an online promotion of those services for $84.99 a month.

“If they’ve been locked into oldfashioned cable, FiOS will provide residents in these communities with an amazing alternative,” Verizon spokesman John Bonomo said.

Reach Rulison at 454-5504 or at [e-mail].

[BenJF3]

Time Warner's cable offering is continuously losing value with the rate increases. Used to be small jumps like $1, but now we are seeing $10 swings in packages.

[UsualNoise]

Yep. I'm so annoyed by the increases that, despite having room in the budget for it, I'm still considering dropping cable service. I'm out of town until next week, but when I get back I'm likely going to bring both my boxes to Time Warner and drop cable completely for at least a trial run. If we can get by with just the broadcast HD networks then it will become permanent.

Of course, I'll lose out on the two 8300 HDs I've had forever (7-8 years?) which have been rock solid, and a couple Superbowls and World Series games I've accumulated over the last few years ... but I'll live. The only way Time Warner will stop their insane price hikes is losing business. I'm going to do my part.

And yes, the $99.99 deal mentioned is idiotic since it's not available to those actually affected by the price hike.

[UsualNoise]

I have a pricing question:

For the "Surf and Talk" bundle the price is $94.90. Digital Home Phone is $49.99 and internet is $39.98 (Road Runner Lite + Turbo, if I'm reading the price list correctly). So why is the bundle $4.93 more than the individual prices? Perhaps I'm missing something.

[BenJF3]

Not sure, but pricing for your division seems slightly different than mine. I'm also looking at the option of dropping cable and phone with them. Maybe go to a Wideband plan for my Netflix and go OTA with a Tivo or HTPC. I was even thinking of going with a base level Dish Package since they have most channels I care about.I have to call up and see what pricing options are. I know I can get a cheaper phone service too.

[UsualNoise]

I finally cut the cable cord. Returned my two 8300 HD boxes yesterday which I've had for a loooong time. My wife doesn't like the call quality of Ooma, which is our alternative to Time Warner's phone, so we're keeping that (for now).

Still, our bill drops from $197 to $119 monthly (Internet + phone + basic cable). I'm going to keep working on my wife about dropping the phone as well.

Now that I have two networked Windows 7 PCs with an HDHomeRun dual tuner (adding a second one today actually) I still get the convenience of DVR for all the network shows we watch.

[spongeworthy]

Feb 15, 2011 15:53:11 GMT -5 UsualNoise said:

Still, our bill drops from $197 to $119 monthly (Internet + phone + basic cable).

Is that the price before taxes or is it the bottom line?

I dropped cable (HD w/ DVR but no premium channels) before the price increase, went with DirecTV, and kept RoadRunner & Digital Phone. My bottom line dropped from $179 to $118. The price before taxes, etc., is now $94.94.

[UsualNoise]

Bottom line, I think. I have to wait until the TW bill payment site updates my account to verify.

[rdf8585]

I think I'm at the end of my rope with Time Warner. I'll probably keep digital phone and Road Runner, but the cable is getting to be too expensive. If I could see a monthly bill drop from basically 180 to 120, like the guy above, then that's worth it.

When you drop cable, do you bring your cable boxes back to them or do they need to come over and do an uninstall? Dumping cable shouldn't have any effect on your cable modem, will it?

[UsualNoise]

Feb 15, 2011 21:54:12 GMT -5 rdf8585 said:

When you drop cable, do you bring your cable boxes back to them or do they need to come over and do an uninstall? Dumping cable shouldn't have any effect on your cable modem, will it?

I unhooked both of my boxes, brought them (and the one remote I had) with power cords to the Time Warner office on Washington Avenue Extension. When I got to the desk I just said I wanted to switch to internet and phone with basic cable. The rep asked if by basic I meant channels 2-22 only, and I confirmed.

I've had no adverse effects on internet or phone, although I had a hiccup in the internet connection today, likely when they turned on the filter that blocks analog channels over 22. No problems before or since though.

Also, I just checked my account and I have a current credit balance of $87 which will make the February TW bill pretty minimal. Kind of nice to see that for a change.

[the block]

Feb 15, 2011 15:53:11 GMT -5 UsualNoise said:

I finally cut the cable cord. Returned my two 8300 HD boxes yesterday which I've had for a loooong time. My wife doesn't like the call quality of Ooma, which is our alternative to Time Warner's phone, so we're keeping that (for now).

Still, our bill drops from $197 to $119 monthly (Internet + phone + basic cable). I'm going to keep working on my wife about dropping the phone as well.

Now that I have two networked Windows 7 PCs with an HDHomeRun dual tuner (adding a second one today actually) I still get the convenience of DVR for all the network shows we watch.

Might be worth your while to check out Obihai (obihai.com/). They have been selling out as soon as they get in stock, is only $50, and can tie right into your google voice account to make and receive free calls using a normal phone like a landline. The reviews have been really good, and I'm really interested in trying one out so I've been keeping my eyes on the inventory at Amazon. You can get one now, if you want to pay twice as much as they sell for on ebay. Reminds me of when the wii came out, the money people were making off of them on ebay was crazy.