Cutting the Cable

 

I mentioned in Friday's blogpost, we had gotten a Roku device and signed up for YouTube TV in the first step for cutting cable. This is my experience so maybe your mileage will vary..

Sandra had asked:  I would love to get away from cable or at least just have the basics. Any tips would be appreciated.

The basic way to cut cable is to go with an HDMI antenna. The major networks have to offer a free access to their transmission. The antenna will search for television stations in your area for free. The only output is the cost for the antenna. $20 and up depending on the model you get.

We tried this route several years ago as we were mostly watching Netflix at that time $9.99. We're at a fairly high elevation so you think we would be able to pick up tons of signals, but we didn't. One of the Boston news stations would come in sporadically so sometimes someone would have to dance around with the antenna to see if the signal would come in stronger. Himself was a good sport and lost his sports network, but was able to listen to games on the radio or over his computer.

The Eldest then got a job with Charter (now Spectrum) as a customer service rep in their call center. As part of her employee perc, she got Phone, Cable (the uber premium package!), and Internet all for free. Since she was still living here, everything went in her name. 

We still had Netflix, added Amazon Prime Video. While she worked at Spectrum, we got HBO for Game of Thrones and Starz for Outlander. Himself got to have New England Sports Network. I was able to watch Doctor Who on BBC America. Color us very happy. 

 The two cable providers in our area are Spectrum and Verizon FIOS. When we first moved here, we had Charter (Spectrum). Then Verizon came in with FIOS and Himself wanted to switch so we did.(Though the installation was a nightmare as sales oversold the area so there were few technicians to do the install. Ours happened over 3 or 4 nights from 6 PM until 9 PM)  Now that the Eldest was leaving, Himself wanted to go back to FIOS. Since all the wiring had already been done first time around, the install was a breeze. He got the Sports Package, but the channel line up was very limited.

During the Summer months, we move the television from the bedroom to the sun room where there is a cable box. Now that it's too cold to be out in the sun room, the television got moved back to our bedroom. There is no cable box in the bedroom. Hence, getting the Roku so we could watch television without a lot of dancing around with an antenna.

There are lots of free options on Roku with a one time investment for the Roku device, but you still need Internet access.

There's also Tubi TV. Pluto TV (though we weren't impressed), Crackle, Haystack, Filmrise which we haven't checked out. We can also get CW so we can watch Supernatural as we have invested 15 seasons of the show and there are only 3 episodes left for the series finale.

There are paid services to get other channels and movies. Hulu, YouTube TV. Himself decided he wanted YouTube TV as he would be able to get the New England Sports Network.  And the day after we started with YouTube he got a notice that YouTube and NESN weren't able to negotiate a contract so no more NESN. Felt a little bit of bait and switch to me. I'm not sure if Himself will decide to keep or scrap YouTubeTV for something else.

So YouTube TV gives us a better channel line up than Verizon FIOS did., but by the time we finish adding in the other premium channels we are paying for, we're probably not saving money.

Pros to having YouTube TV is being able to watch programs on all our devices besides the television. So I can tune into the news or a movie on the iPad while I clean up in the kitchen or work in the studio without having to use the news station's crappy app. I can watch it live. We'll also be able to watch when we travel provided we have Wi-Fi access. YouTubeTV also allows up to 5 others in the household to have their own account so the girlies can watch, too.

So pay attention to your television viewing. Do you need the premium channels? If you can get by without local news access and premium channels, you could save yourself some $$$.

Since we're new to Roku, if any of you have cut cable and have some $$$ saving tips, they would be greatly appreciated.

Is This Any Way to Run an Airline?

The problem, I received a bill from Charter for internet, phone and television services for October. The last bill was paid on 12. Sept. and you will recall on the 15. Sept, we began 3 days of installation hell with Verizon. We had no telephone, no internet, and no phone services for those three days.

I called Charter Customer Service only to be told since my name is not on the account, they could not speak to me. Even though I'm the one who pays the monthly bill. An argument ensued and I asked to speak to a Supervisor. Was put on hold and the call never answered.

I call a second time and had to endure the same song and dance, and the frustration of being put on hold and no supervisor picking up in a timely fashion. By now, I'm spitting nails.

From the Charter website, I followed a link to talk to a live representative. I pretended to be Himself. Part way through our conversation, I almost asked the representative if she was mentally impaired. Bostonians will instantly understand the expression I was going to use including the colorful adjective. At this point, I began typing in CAPS

Here is the actual transcript:

Thank you for choosing Charter Chat Live! A Customer Care representative from Billing Inquiries will be with you shortly. You have been connected to TTD Ria .

TTD Ria : Thank you for contacting Charter Communications Support Team. My name is Ria. How may I assist you today?

Himself : Hi Ria, I received a bill for bundled phone, internet, and tv, however on Sept 15, services we terminated because we switched to Verizon

TTD Ria : Hi, Himself.

Himself : since we have not had charter services since Sept 15, we should not have a bill nor expected to pay any bill

TTD Ria : Please let me check on this.

Himself : thank you

TTD Ria : Can you please provide me with your account number?

Himself : Yup

TTD Ria : Thank you.

TTD Ria : The balance left on your account is $115.74.

Himself : except there should be no balance

Himself : and when I returned equipment, we were told there was a credit on the bill. and we should receive a check

Himself : the last bill paid was in the amount of $183.90 and paid Sept 12

TTD Ria : Himself, this bill is for your services for the period of 10/16/08-11/15/08.

TTD Ria : Please be reminded that you are paying for your services one month in advance. Himself : we are no longer with charter

Himself : services were terminated Sept 15

Himself : we did not use charter services after Sept 15

TTD Ria : Yur services are scheduled to be disconnected on October 15, 2008. Himself : the services were disconnected on Sept 15

Himself : for 3 days while Verizon completed installation I had NO phone, NO internet, NO TV TTD Ria : Himself, you had Charter services since 2004.

Himself : yes, but as of Sept 15, 2008 we switched to Verizon

Himself : so from Sept 15 2008 to the present, we are not using Charter services Himself : we are Verizon customers

Himself : ergo the bill was sent by mistake

Himself : I turned in 3 boxes and a modem for the phone

Himself : we no longer have charter equipment

TTD Ria : Himself, I are you saying you had your services connected September 2008 and had those disconnected on the same month?

Himself : yes

TTD Ria : Himself, I'm sorry but I can see on the account that you had Charter services since 2004.

TTD Ria : You may go to your local office to check on this further.

Himself : is that the only way this issue can be resolved?

Himself : you cannot help? TTD Ria : I'm sorry but I can't see what you are saying on the account that I pulled up.

TTD Ria : What is reflected in my database is that you had services with us since 2004.

Himself : WE ARE NO LONGER CHARTER CUSTOMERS

Himself : what don't you understand

Himself : WE TERMNATED CHARTER SERVICES ON SEPT 15, 2008

Himself : THIS YEAR

TTD Ria : Himself, I'm sorry but I can't just believe in what you are saying. I need something as proof. I'm sorry but what you are saying is not reflected in my database.

Himself : WE RECEIVED A BILL FOR OCT-NOV, BUT WE HAVE NOT USED CHARTER AS WE ARE CONNECTED TO VERIZON. WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT? Himself : THE BILL WAS SENT ERRONEOUSLY

Himself : OUR SERVICES ARE NOT TO BE TERMINATED IN OCTOBE3R, BUT WERE TERMINATED IN SEPTEMBER

TD Ria : Well, I'm sorry but only the local office can check on that further.

Himself : can you tell me if the local office is open on Sat

Himself : and what the hours are

TTD Ria : Sure. TTD Ria : Your local office is open Monday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMTuesday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMWednesday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMThursday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMFriday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PM

Himself : No Sat hours?

TTD Ria : I'm sorry but no.

Himself : do these transcripts get looked over for quality assurance?

TTD Ria : Yes.

Himself : please note: Customer Service should not be an oxymoron.

Himself : I guess this ends the session

I'm of a good mind to ignore the bill and wait to receive if you don't pay this bill, we will terminate your services. Let them!