xfinity hotspot access fuckery
xfinity hotspot access fuckery
this is where my brand-new unwrapped xfinity modem will live, unused, forever.
i recently did some deep cleaning and found the (two years) old modem sitting in a closet. unused because i am perfectly satisfied logging into the xfinity hotspot broadcast from my neighbors and there is no co-ax outlet in my place.
i considered just tossing the thing into the trash, but decided to be a responsible consumer.
after returning the old device to the xfinity store and subsequently discovering that my hotspot access was turned off, i got to take repeat train ride into the city to pick up a new device. it turns out that even though my account is in good standing, a physical device is required to be attached to my account in order to maintain hotspot access.
should i have just tossed the old one? should i just toss this one?
Do not toss anything. In some distant future they will charge your account for not returning it. Throw it in a storage bin somewhere. speaking from experience.
geeez. thanks for the warning.
They do not forget! I had Comcast/Xfinity from 2005-2022. They wanted to charge me for an old cable box from 2005 that I didn’t have when I cancelled service. Turns out it was in the back of my garage and super rusty but they accepted it. They also said that while they would charge me if I didn’t have it, they are going to throw it out as it’s no longer supported and corroded.
Years ago I had an issue with my service, so a tech came by and replaced my modem. I stress that it was My modem. I provided it. I canceled the service when I moved halfway across the country and kept the modem. I actually gifted it to my roommate, but that doesn't really matter.
At no point did I sign up for the rental of a modem, I never agreed to the additional terms of renting a modem. No one at Comcast could provide me with anything regarding my approval of anything as the sole end user of their service. I told them to kick rocks.
A couple months goes by, I get a formal letter issuing me an invoice for a couple hundred bucks in rental and fines for late payments. I call them, tell them the scenario and that I am not going to pay them another penny.
Couple weeks later, another letter. This time informally responded with a written letter, stating all the facts and asking for anything showing my agreement of rental of the modem. Never heard back.
A year goes by, I get a letter from a collections agency. I responded exactly like before, asking for anything proving I owed anyone anything.
Another year, another letter. At this point it's three years later or so, and they stopped for a while. Until five years later and I get another letter. Fuckers are relentless. At this point I am sure they are just trying to catch anyone dumb enough to pay, but that ain't me.
Fuck Comcast. And fuck Janet jaurez, who I have been getting collections phonecalls for since I got my current cell phone number in 2005.
In my experience, Comcast shit never shows up on your credit report. I have had this exact same experience and got no where arguing with them so I just ignored it forever and nothing happened. This was over 7 years ago.
If it does hit your credit, you can dispute it and there’s a decent chance you’ll win. I’ve had that issue with direct TV where they claimed I never returned equipment I had returned. But these companies get in to this situation because they are terrible at record keeping.
Also, any time your speed dips below advertised, file a complaint with the FCC. They won’t get in trouble but it will annoy them enough you’ll get fast tracked customer service. I used to have some VPs phone number and I tried for like 40 minutes to get her to just admit to being evil. She wouldn’t. But they changed the phone number because I posted it everywhere after I stopped having to have Comcast or I would give it to you.
I hate Comcast with every fiber of my being.
I don't think it ever hit my report. And if it did, it definitely hasn't affected it in any significant manner because I have excellent credit currently.
You usually need to return those when you cancel service so hold onto it unless you want to pay the replacement cost if you ever change service.
And ask for a receipt showing you returned it.
Comcast is literally the most hated ISP in the US.
I'm from Sweden and even I hate them.
Thank you
Back when Google actually worked, you could search “Comcast” And tons of swastikas would come up
The question is, are paying a lease on that modem? If so return that and buy a Netgear or similar
I have a long and special history with Comcast. My city has given them the sole monopoly cable contact. So -- I believe -- they are obligated to provide me service. The distance from pole to house is too long. No less than 3 service people have come out and said they have to put in a thicker cable like those used on the telephone poles. Nope -- the work order always disappears. Of course, they have to pretend they will eventually do something, because -- city monopoly.
Used a signal booster for a long time and that helped (I had to buy it) except at holidays when everyone was home. Then more people in the area got service -- dropping the signal.
After some years, T-Mobile 5G moved in and I happily dumped Comcast (monopoly only applies to cable).
There is more, but you get the idea.
Never give Comcast a monopoly on service. Even had me considering satellite Internet in the middle of the city at one point!
i found myself laughing at your story. sorry, it's not you... just to hear that they seem so inept and useless.
Thanks -- it does become funny for me as more time passes. Not so funny was the year Comcast signal was too weak to operate for 10 days over the Christmas holiday.
Why would you throw it in the trash? If you do want to get rid of it give it to a thrift store or hell sell it on Craigslist.
And as others said do keep it because you’re pro paying a monthly fee for it/will pay a fee when you cancel and they want it back.
So comcast is evil and everything, but that policy kind of makes sense.
Comcast is trying to set up widespread hotspot coverage. In order to do that, they need participating hotspots in each of their customers homes.
If I were in charge of making something similar, I’d do the same thing.
holy shit. i can believe you actually made that make sense. well done.
The question is, are paying a lease on that modem? If so return that and buy a Netgear or similar