These people are total con-artists...here is a brief summary of the crap I have gone though since they took over the monopoly on internet for Tampa, FL.
1.) Speeds dropped as soon as they bought the network; like within a couple days.
2.) Had to upgrade to 15mbps plan to get the 5mbps speeds I was already being sold. Was forced to buy a "combo" with a useless phone line and basic cable to get this plan. Speeds never broke 10mbps, and peak hours brought DSL speeds. At this time, I also upgraded to Digital HD cable with a DVR...the DVR was already years old (SCI ATL 8300HD), and they had no alternatives. HD video quality was abismal, and the DVR re-encoded digital cable...so it looked even worse when you played it back.
3.) Moved, with change of address. TV & phone stopped working after address change, but I was still charged for them (on a bill that still went to the old address). After teir 2 tech told me that I no longer had these services on my account (I was billed for them!), I canceled these services. I was told this was fine, as the combo was no longer needed for 15mbps, 20bmps or 30mbps plans. I upgraded to a 30mbps plan, and download speeds increased, but my upstream stayed the same (they said it would double).
4.) Reordered TV service, digital cable, HD package, HBO, showtime, & a DVR. The DVR was the same piece of crap, but I was stuck with it because their advertisement of box-free viewing on all TVs was a lie.
5.) Canceled TV service, was billed for the service and the box, even though I never received the box, and was never able to use the service.
6.) Tried to upgrade to new 40mbps/5mbps internet...was told that in addition to the $30 per month surcharge, I would have to pay $50 to have someone come out to my house and plug the modem in. I asked if I could come and pick it up, and the representative told me that I could pick it up and install it myself, but I would still be charged the $50 installation fee. The representative also said that my modem might be the same modem as the 40bmps modem, in which case, they could change the speed remotely and instantly...but even still, I would be charged a $50 fee for home service...this is from a company that advertises free installation and free on-site service on just about every commercial they run.
I'm still with the 30mbps speeds (closer to 20mbps on a good day, DSL speeds on a bad day). I have no TV service, and if Fios ever comes to my neighborhood, I'll drop these monopolistic bastards (heck, if 3G ran at advertised speeds, I would dump them and do everything through WiFi tethering). I can't believe they are actually allowed to hold monopolies like this, while providing terrible service and products to everyone...even the people that are paid to prevent monopolies, fraud, false advertising, etc. I feel like a drug addict...addicted to the internet, and with only one dealer...a dealer that charges too much because he knows he can, and mixes rat poison in with the product to make more profit...and when he robs me, going to the cops does no good.
Funny i have bright house, and my Data rate is exactly what i pay for sometimes its faster than what i pay for. then again my node probably isn't taxed to death by subscribers.
i also had to go outside and hook up my box correctly the dumbass high school drop out they sent over put the wrong splitter on the box. it had to much Resistance and was killing my modem speed.
