Changing Internet Providers

Updated on September 17, 2010
D.G. asks from Downers Grove, IL
17 answers

We have comcast right now with a triple play (phone, cable and internet) at $173/mo.....looking to make a change to something less expensive. Anyone have experience with Direct TV, ATT or any other providers. I don't want to end up with a slower internet or intermittant service.
Thanks for any suggestions!

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R.T.

answers from Champaign on

We do not have cellular but we do have the ATT UVerse phone, internet, TV bundle. We have 3 computers in my home. I have not experienced any problems (my computer has the modem attached) but my husband and the kids complain that the wireless signal cuts in and out.

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M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I have been looking for awhile to make a change and have found nothing to compare. I tried to lower the expense by going to twoplay and drop the phone, but the cost is almost the same. I w/love to know if someone more knowledgeable can guide us in this.

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D.B.

answers from Chicago on

I have had Att as an internet provider for over 10 years. I have to say, so long as you ask to speak to someone in the United States, they have awesome customer service. (just a side note...whenever a customer service rep picks up the phone, no matter what company you are calling, ask them where they are located. If they are located anywhere outside of the US you can ask for a US rep and they will transfer you...we need to get jobs back here in the US & if we refuse to talk to their cheap overseas workers they will have no other choice but to hire more people here). We had comcast and like you, we were paying a crazy amount every month. We switched to Att (direct tv) in March. We really wanted the UVerse but it was unavailable on our block. Our neighbors across the street get it but I guess because of how our side of the street is, they can't install it??? Anyway, we got Direct TV and it really is great. We get tons more channels than we did with Comcast & now my phone, internet and tv are under $100 a month. A big savings. I will say that if there are very thick clouds during a storm we loose our connection. That's the biggest drawback. But, for the few times that it has happened vs. how much we are saving every month...it's totally worth it. Oh yea, and we now have Wi Fi with Att...included in our package...really great.

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

we have ATT and for phone and internet it is $90 a month, we have Dish for the TV

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D.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

We have direcTV, but our internet service is through speakeasy.......we like it.....don't know if it would be cheaper for you or not...........We don't do packages, they seem to always get things messed up and if one goes out, they all go out it seems......didn't like that.........

I know some people that have AT&T and most don't like it.....not all, but most......but that could just be here in Indy.

Look around on the internet and be sure to Google reviews of each one.....take care and good luck.

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

These companies are in STIFF competition with each other these days. Call Comcast and ask to have your bill lowered to compare with what new customers are receiving. If they won't, just tell them you want to cancel and go with one of these other companies. They will either attempt to keep your business or you can switch! No big loss! I have used both Comcast and ATT and am happier with ATT than I ever was with Comcast. We cancelled our cable and are only using digital-satellite for our tv viewing, which saves us a boat-load. My bill for home phone (with unlimited calling anywhere) and internet service is under $80/month. I have not had a problem with my internet service at all in over 1 1/2 years. I hear good things about their u-verse from local family that use it and it looks good when I have been at their home.

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T.B.

answers from Chicago on

We have Comcast and I feel the same way about the high bill. A few posters mentioned calling to get your bill lowered after promotions are up. Are bill is around the same as yours but was originally around a $100.00 with their promotions. We would call about every 6 months when the promotions were up and they would put us in another promotion and lower the bill. However this past year ( I think with the economy) they are not so accomadating. I have called 3 X's and my husband has also called 3 seperate times and we can not get them to lower are bill. Even with my husband telling them to just cancel our service.
I had ATT years ago and did not like it but honestly I don't remember why.

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

Unless you want to make a switch for other reasons, I would just call Comcast and get them to help you lower your bill. I do this every 6-12 months depending on the length of the promotion I have at the time. They ALWAYS have a promotion of some sort and you just have to call to see which ones you are eligible for. Sometimes sticking with the triple play is best, but I have been able to save more sometimes getting promos on each of the services individually. I never do any shopping around, I just call and ask for help lowering the bill. I do the best I can with the first customer service person I speak with and if I think I can get it lowered further, then I ask for the Retention department (where they would send you if you said you wanted to cancel). Sometimes there are additional promotions that the Retention department can offer that the customer service reps cannot.

The trouble with Comcast is that you have to stay on top of your bill and the prices you pay for all the services. If you let it go, your promotions expire and the bill goes up to where yours is now. They "punish" the loyal customers who don't make a fuss. I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of Comcast because of this, but it's easier to call than switch and we don't have many other options where we live (no AT&T). I'd certainly give them a call before you switch to see what they can do for you. If you get it to where you are happy with the bill, then watch for those promotions to expire and call back!

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B.K.

answers from Chicago on

when i changed to at&t for my phone and directv for tv (didn't really have any viable options for hi-speed internet other than comcast in my area), it ended up being more expensive than having all 3 through comcast. I ended up going back to comcast (and i missed the on demand - no one else has it!!)

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M.

answers from Chicago on

hi there,

We live in Naperville and have Att u-verse and LOVE it! We pay around $150 but we have super fast internet and lots of movie channels. Plus when we signed up we got 3 $100 gift cards in the mail. Give them a call or check out the deals on-line!

good luck!
M.

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I live in KS but I do have Directv and have had it since 2000. We love it and mainly the service is great the support is great but the programing is the best I've seen. You have choices of things you really want to watch and not a bunch of programs and stations you don't watch. They don't offer internet service except through direcway, I think that's what it's called now, and it's satellite and a bit slower than DSL, which I have through the land line phone service, which is centurylink here. I like the DSL and it's fast and never have problems with it. I've never tried any other providers except years ago we had dial up which is out and do not get that if you can help it. WAY too slow. I have a friend who has the internet service with Directv and she liked it as that was about all she could get living way out but it is a bit time delayed since it's satellite.

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T.R.

answers from Chicago on

We switched to At&T (from Comcast) about 6 months ago and I have no complaints. It took a little getting used to (and I do miss the weather channels from Comcast) but all in all I do like it. There are a lot of channels ...and I also like when the phone rings you can see who is calling on the tv (since of course I can never find a phone). The internet is fast and we have not lost service yet.
Hope that helps!

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

Whatever you do, get a quote from the others and come back to Comcast with it and they might lower your bill. I was able to get them to lower mine last year by doing this, so I stayed with them. Less of a hassle that way.

K.H.

answers from Chicago on

For internet and cable we have RCN, and have been very happy with them. At one point I was ready to get rid of the cable to save money (we just have the basic service) and they talked me into staying for a discounted rate. I think I pay around $75 for both. I have T-mobile as my mobile provider and for $10 more you can get "T-mobile at home" and get home phone service which is added to your mobile bill. And as a shout out to T-mobile, I've had them for years and RARELY get dropped calls or have any other problems. Their support staff has to be the most polite, helpful customer service team on the planet. Good luck!

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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

We are in Chicago and have ATT with Dish (I think they offer Direct TV now) we are wait for UVerse it is a few blocks away from us now. Our internet works fine and really other then our router going out a few months ago we have not had any problems. Our bills average is 195.00, but we have 2 phone lines, internet, and the Dish with no movie channels and we have 5 boxes (my mother in law lives with us in a in law apartment, so that is why we have 2 phone lines and many boxes all on one bill). We do have 2 HD boxes and one recording one and all the channels, but pays ones.

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K.G.

answers from Chicago on

I have ATT for internet with the basic phone line for about $47 a month, and Dish Network for about $45 a month, only cause we have additional tv's and HBO too, but they are going for $24.99 a month right now! Love them both. My brother works for Comcast and during one of the last big storms his cable was out for a day or so, I laughed and said mine went out for about 5 minutes till the worst of the storm passed! I play games online and have no issues with my connection speed at all!

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I do not know myself, same exact situation here, at least I know it's happening to others. We are about to drop our home number and am looking for cheaper cable, and internet. Can't wait to see the other answers.

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