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Comcast and Contract Slavery? FORCED TO PAY COMCAST!

I wonder if anyone knows about this business practice employed by Comcast/Xfinity?

They send salesmen round to large apartment buildings and to mobile home parks all over the country, (if allowed to so so by state law), and they convince the owners or management of said buildings or parks that they will be able to provide VERY cheap basic television service to all the residents of said park or building, BUT each resident will be required thereafter to subscribe to this basic service, and it will be paid, by necessity, as part of their rent.

WE did not sign this contract. WE signed a rental agreement, and Comcast has made it so we can't even live in our apartments unless we sign on with THEM as PART OF OUR RENT!!!

If a resident in a mobile home park is elderly, and very ill, he or she may not UNSUBSCRIBE from Comcast and use that money to pay for his or her medications, as they would be able to do if they were, in fact, FREE to manage their own lives and their own budgets. No. Because if he or she did that, they would be EVICTED FOR NON PAYMENT OF RENT!!!

It's a monopoly...or contract slavery...for all who reside in these Comcast contract slave compounds.

I live in such a building. I didn't own a television set when I moved in, because I subscribed to HULU previously. I had a very old, huge and heavy tv after my divorce, but when I realized I couldn't even lift it without someone to help me, I put a "Free" sign on it and left it by the side of the road.

Try to imagine how I felt...paying for cable television service every month when I didn't even own a television. I suffered immensely trying to get a black friday bargain television the following year, and I hated Comcast intensely through every moment of that suffering.

Sounds oh so good...discounted basic...for all...UNTIL Comcast does their usual thing. They don't fix the problems their customers are having with speed, sound, or reception unless you are VERY angry and have called them at least three to four times.

Then they begin removing channels. Instead of the channels you had when you were forced to sign on, you get 10 fewer channels for the same money, and of the channels you actually get, 5 of them are in Spanish.

Then they start taking away the free movies they told you you would get, substituting cowboy movies from 1934 so they can pretend they still offer LOTS of movies. There are some good movies listed under free movies, but if you click on them, you discover you can only get them if you pay for a subscription service.
[b]
So it's a bait and switch, too.[/b]

NOW, instead of $19.95 per month, Comcast forces us to pay them $22.00 a month, IN OUR RENT. [b]They take away more and more, and then the price goes up.
[/b]
AND because Comcast/Xfinity owns all the cable, customers who live in Comcast contract slave compounds must pay for Comcast in addition to any other service they might want, such as Verizon or satellite service.

In MY building we are not even allowed to do that. Satellite dishes are not allowed, and Verizon may not come in to wire only ONE apartment.

How would YOU feel?
bowman81 · M
When cable TV first hit this area the companies contracted with the cities for exclusive rights to deliver cable TV. Lavish gifts and vacations were given to enough councilpersons to vote their way. (can you say bribery) People who lived in the city had no choice. The 4 or 5 over the air channels or Comcast. Eventually the courts threw those ordinances out much to the dismay of those getting the free gifts.

It is not unusual. Local banks and investment firms paid for vacations, gifts and sometimes a honey pot scheme to gain influence and the rights to manage pension funds and such.

A VP of Glock USA was convicted and imprisoned for bribing local police agencies (the decision makers) so they would choose to rearm their departments with Glock pistols.

You are right to be upset, but then you agreed to the terms of rent and somewhere in the fine print they stuck that clause in. Unless you can convince a court to agree with you that it is an unlawful (not unfair but unlawful) monopoly you choice is to accept it or vote by moving to another place with more favorable terms.
4meAndyou · F
@bowman81 I know that it correct...but it is still really awful that they have linked Comcast to our rent. As I mentioned, I didn't even have a television set when I first moved in here, but I had to pay for television service anyway. You can NOT opt out.
Oster1 · M
I really feel for you. This is an injustice. I haven’t had a television since the National signal change and haven’t missed it one bit. I never will. They don’t call it programming, for nothing!. If you lived in a condo, co-op or townhouse deed of trust, the blame would fall on the HOA, which in my opinion, is one of the most tyrannical entities ever invented.

I understand you live in an apartment building. The only choice I see would be to take both the apartment management and Comcast to small claims court on a breach of the rental contract, you signed. Like any rental dispute, you would still have to put the money in an escrow account, if you intend to deduct Comcast from the rent or move, if that is an option, and be allowed to break your lease.

This is a very interesting case. I would have to research other options. I believe you may win, with punitive damages.☺️
Oster1 · M
It’s obvious, they are receiving a commission. What will snag you, is the small print in the lease that says they have the right to make ongoing changes. They also have that right to charge for Comcast after the original lease expired for “extra” services but not until the lease is renewed. I personally would want to win, and beat them!@4meAndyou
4meAndyou · F
@Oster1 I am still exhausted just from cooking and cleaning up after Thanksgiving! 😂 I can't even think about taking on the government right now...😂
Oster1 · M
@4meAndyou I know, I feel for you!😂
Gusman · 61-69, M
Trouble is, it sounds like it is legal for them to do what they do.
Which means Politicians have agreed to their business model.
The owners of these buildings/parks must be getting some kind of kickback?
Goes to show the depth of corruption permeating throughout society.
Write to Politicians who are in opposition at this moment.
More likely to get action from the opposition than from the incumbent Politicians
nedkelly · 61-69, M
@Gusman The only problem is and I agree with you, the bastards never reply
Gusman · 61-69, M
@nedkelly Depends on the issue. Over the years I have received about a dozen replies to my letters and even received a phone call from one of them.
Letter writing to Politicians is about putting your point of view/issue across respectfully and passionately.
luv2fish · 61-69, M
With the last sales people that showed up from Comcast, every offer the made, I said with a straight face, "That's a lie." Over and over again, with each offer, I said, "That's a lie." Finally they got the message that I was not a happy previous customer. Prior, I've never had what I consider a fair financial arrangement with Comcast. I can't even remember all of the surprise charges, fees, taxes, and then they kept boosting the subscription price up and up. When we got the last surprise month billing increase, I dropped them and told them I did not want to pay $200/month for basic service. I'll never go back to Comcast.
4meAndyou · F
@luv2fish Bait and switch. Every single time.
luv2fish · 61-69, M
@4meAndyou The door-to-door solicitors of Comcast verbal make promises that sound too good to be true. Guess what, they are. I'll never subscribe to Comcast again. I don't like surprised and billing shocks.
4meAndyou · F
@luv2fish If I could, if it were [i]allowed[/i] and I didn't have to violate my lease and lose my apartment, I would quit them in a heartbeat.
Keraunos · 36-40, M
I actually kind of forgot cable TV services even exist. Guess that's just how far they have to go to keep that shit alive in an age where no one with half a brain operating on a budget would be caught dead willingly paying for it.
4meAndyou · F
@Keraunos Just be careful where you move. I move here in 2013 and this is all pretty shocking to me.
HannahSky · F
I'd report to the home association and the state.
HannahSky · F
@4meAndyou oh 🤔 still, there's strict guidelines regarding those parks because they do have elderly and disabled people who are on limited incomes. Sometimes local awareness or gov helps more if they know about it. Senior advocate groups are no joke.
4meAndyou · F
@HannahSky There's a thought. The mobile home park my friend lives in is for over 55, so I think the Senior Advocate groups are the way to go.
HannahSky · F
@4meAndyou they'll get on it lol don't mess with those people 😂
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4meAndyou · F
@waleskinder Maybe there is a lawyer here somewhere. I can't pay him or her...but perhaps someone will take this on.
nedkelly · 61-69, M
@waleskinder 3 words - Only In American 🤣
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Mindful · 56-60, F
That’s corporate Sales capitalism at it best . Everyone in the complex would have to protest and sign a petition to get it changed. Big business wins over tiny consumer every time. Glad I have my own house where I can’t be lumped. I.to a decision where people put money before customer service
4meAndyou · F
@Mindful Since I wrote this post, Comcast has also raised the price of the cell phone they sold me. They told me that since I already pay for internet ANYWAY they would sell me 1 gig of internet and unlimited calls for $9.95 a month. So I took that plan, and now they have raised the price per month of the cell phone.
Mindful · 56-60, F
Yep. That’s how they stay rich . oh well. More power to them. They already own the Contract. At least you can write a letter so that you can get a good deal for you!.@4meAndyou
rottenrobi · 56-60, F
Comcast sucks, and I've ended up paying them extra money I never agreed to. I loathe this company, they're shady.
luv2fish · 61-69, M
@4meAndyou Let's not get racist.
4meAndyou · F
@luv2fish Should have said..."white hot" hatred...😂
luv2fish · 61-69, M
@4meAndyou Thank you for clarifying.
DrWatson · 70-79, M
Reading this made me mad.

It has always bugged me that from the very beginnings of cable television, there has often been only one provider in an area.

Monopolists can push people around.
4meAndyou · F
@DrWatson Imagine if you found an apartment you could afford, but THIS awful service and bait and switch company was built right into your rent, so that you could not even STOP paying them unless you moved.
sillypantsface · 36-40, M
I can’t understand how such practices could be remotely legal. If what you’re saying is accurate, this is absolute scumminess on a large scale.

Make noise.
4meAndyou · F
@sillypantsface I am trying to be noisy. This is as noisy as I get.
Peaches · F
I KNOW?! 🤬What a bunch of BS! I feel it should be against the law!
Peaches · F
@4meAndyou I'd be writing somebody about it! I have friends that have to PAY "home association fees" of $600.00 a year just to live there, and it's nothing special either.👎🏼 It's robbery.
4meAndyou · F
@Peaches I did write to them indirectly. I filled out three surveys, because apparently they didn't believe the first two and they kept sending them to me.
Peaches · F
@4meAndyou Or they're too lazy and don't care. Seems people are only doing something when it affects THEM!
FreestyleArt · 31-35, M
Those mother fuckers will rip you off. So as ATT. Verizon and their fucking bullshlt practices
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FreestyleArt · 31-35, M
@Stereoguy they're BS big time
4meAndyou · F
@Stereoguy I had a similar situation when the ex and I owned a private home set back about 300 feet from the street. The idiots used the wrong cable, which was incapable of correctly transmitting their signal along that distance. My television digitized constantly, and all we ever did was pray that FIOS would come out to our slightly rural area.

First we tried Dish, and that also digitized. When Verizon Fios put in their fiber optic cables, we did a little dance.

But those a-holes waited until the DAY after our Dish was installed to come out and install the correct cable...AFTER we were no longer their customers.
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MethDozer · M
If it was part if the agreement as you signed then I see no problem really. Renting in general is a package deal. If it is changed and added retro-actively then that's bullshit
4meAndyou · F
@MethDozer You had to sign the rental agreement. It was a shock to have television service forcibly included...for me. Retroactively, the television service has upped their price, has reduced the quality of their service, and is rapidly removing channels and free options that were offered when I first signed my rental agreement.
MethDozer · M
@4meAndyou If it was on the contract when you moved in then it was your choice. It really depends on whether it was there when you moved in or added later.
4meAndyou · F
@MethDozer Yes, it was part of the rental contract...as I mentioned, above. As I also mentioned, this was a shocking addition to my rent when I was accustomed to stream my tv and movies on my laptop.

It is NOT right. My entire point...is that it is NOT right and it should not be allowed to continue.

WE have no choice if we want to live here, but is it right for Comcast to CHANGE the price and the number of services available AFTER we signed their lousy contract slavery agreement?

IMO none of this is right. NONE of it.

 
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