Smart Spending

By Jerry

November 6, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Napa Home & Garden is having a huge warehouse sale of home and garden accessories from Nov 5th to Dec 15th at 3480 Summit Ridge Parkway in Duluth, across from Publix. Napa is selling fine home accessories and garden products at 50% off wholesale, which is 75 to 85% off retail.

By Monica

November 7, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

Bundling did NOT save us money!!!

We don’t make many long distance phone calls, but if we do, we have unlimited long distance on our cell phones.

We use AT&T, who has the worst customer service in the world, and we were bundling our home, wireless, and Internet, and we get a discount on DirecTV. When I began to examine my phone bill, I realized that I was spending money on services I didn’t use. So…

we still bundle our bill, but I switched to the Two pack plan for home (call waiting and caller ID), got rid of long distance, and my bill is about $25 less than before.

By Monica

November 7, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

I forgot to add that the prices that they use in commercials is for a minimal cell phone package - 1 user, 400 minutes, etc.

By scrappy

November 7, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

Comcast is a rip off! When will we get some competition here in GA?

I bundle high speed internet with digital cable and home phone. We don’t use the home phone, it is not even hooked up, but it was cheaper than getting cable and internet alone. I would love to hear if anyone knows of a place to get high speed internet anywhere else that is cheaper than comcast?

By lovelyliz

November 7, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

The diiference between my bundle (digital cable, telepgone, high speed internet) is better over all than when i had them seperately and had to pay for my dial up internet connection that’s for sure.

However like cable service offers of old, there is a catchwith the ads I am seeing these days. A friend recommended that I change my service providers becaus eof some great low rate. I check it out and the devil is in the details. I would get alow starter rate, but then the rates increase a lot to at least what I am paying now and you are locked in.

What I really want to do is get rid of my house phone altogether. I have a prepaid cell phone plan that costs me less that $30 a month.

By Steven Daedalus

November 7, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

AT&T is no better than a bunch of thieves. Threir bundles are a complete lie, don’t fall into that trap, and they are a nightmare to get out of.

By katherine

November 7, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

I just studied this last week. If I needed all three services, I would save. But realized I really don’t utilize home internet so I decided to do the two bundle of phone and satellite. Then I called my satellite company and they beat the competitor. So now I’m back to not bundling, but still coming out cheaper than I would have if I had just bundled two services. Unfortunately, with the satellite I had to agree to a two year contract but I’ve already had the service for nine years, so two isn’t really that much more as i anticipate I’ll keep using it. And I can always cancel my home phone, but I’m still hesitant to do that just yet.

By katherine

November 7, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Oh, I’m rural. I have windstream, formerly alltel

By mike

November 7, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

I masked a question about a plan I am currently bunderled in with ATT. The CSR made an unauthorized change and it took five hours on phone calls to get is straightened out. With Bellsouth, I never had any customer service issues. With ATT, it is almost as bad as Comcast. Be wary of any package changes, as they will screw up your account (I have heard this from others as well) and it is the devil to get resolved.

By Joy

November 7, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

I have a bundle package with Comcast, home phone, internet and cable. It’s costing me $125 per month, but I hardly use my home phone anymore, but still a little hesitant to let it go. I use it occassionally, if my cell phone is charging, but that’s a minimum of once or twice a month, if that. I used the home phone last night while, before 9pm. Does anyone else have a better bundle package, that maybe cheaper? Eventually, providers tack on new fees to the promotional rate and then you pay $25 more. So what’s a consumer to do? I don’t plan on switching, can be too complicated @ times.

By Chris

November 7, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

My advice, be VERY thorough with your questions and document EVERYTHING (record names, dates, details, confirmation numbers)! I’ve just switched from an AT&T bundle to the local cable company’s bundle and while the savings are there, I’ve spent countless hours trying to get BOTH companies to do what they promised. Face the facts, they’re ALL thieves and you need to go into any “switch” watching them all VERY closely. BEWARE!!

By justine

November 7, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

There should be laws against false advertising. I recently tired to get the AT&T “free” wireless card and was told the card cost over $100 and the service was not free but over $50 per month. This was only after I stopped the operator at least 4 times and told her I did not need to hear all of the spill just the cost.

Also someone should go to jail for this new HD thing where you have to have a special box for your television to work after February. Did anyone think about what we are supposed to do when the power fails and we all need that battery operated TV

By clthurman

November 7, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Bundling with AT&T is a rip-off. Read the fine print on their so-called rebates and you will find yourself switching and getting nothing. I switched from cable to DSL and they had told me I qualified for the 125 dollars rebate.WRONG!!! After 2 months of saying they were sorry and saying the problem was fixed, they then said I had never qualified because I do not have a home phone line even though I have had cellular with them for 10 years. Every conceivable person was called in customer service and no one gave a damn. 2 things don’t lie to people to get them to switch and lose someone over a lousy 125 dollars and secondly this need to have phone lines attached to every promotional bundling option is retarded…a lot of people choose not to duplicate phone service when their cellular service is more than adequate. AND DON’T HIDE BEHIND SMALL PRINT AND ENDLESS CALLER OPTIONS WHEN TRYING TO ACCESS JUST BASIC HUMAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. I am counting the days for Verizon to offer DSL is my area….sayonarra AT&THEIVES!!!!

By Gail

November 7, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Where I live, cable and satellite are not allowed, so I have to use dsl for my internet dsl is expensive. In order to use dsl, I have to have a land line, which I don’t need for any other purpose since cell phones can still be used when they’re charging. As a senior citizen on fixed income, and not able to get out much, the internet is a great way for me to keep up with current events. It’s also a good way to talk to friends and relatives who are still working, or parenting little children, and don’t have much time to talk on the phone. Most of my children and their families are in other states.

By Dave

November 7, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

I dislike the way all providers ripoff customers so much this is all I can say…without being censored.

By harold

November 7, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Bundling is a last ditch effort to sucker people into paying for home phone lines and long distance fees. NO you don’t save money on bundling. You spend more because of buying a useless phone and having to pay absurd charges for calling people outside of your immediate area. What a rip-off! Mr CheapSkatin sounds like he “saves” money the Clark Howard way… by spending it!

By scrappy

November 7, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Joy @9:52am - watch out, 2 yrs after my “promo” price ended, the same exact comcast bundle is now costing me $192 a month! I have researched switching to AT&T broadband for internet and dish for cable with no home phone and it is the same price. This bill is killing me! Comcast needs to be sued for this price gouging due to lack of competition in this state!

By walter scott

November 7, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

First AT&T advertises it’s base local phone sevice as either $32 or $35 respectively…but what they don’t tell you is that with all the junk fees added, the bill actually reflects way more than the base prices…in response to “Gail” you can ask for stand alone internet service from AT&T but they will charge you and additional $5 bucks per month to do that, I have a little device called “Magic Jack” that you can just plug into your pc/laptop and use for your local/long distance for just $19.95 per yr…I think Comcast’s bundle of services aren’t too bad, but definitely read the fine print and ask questions if your not sure

By we will see

November 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

We just cut off Comcast and went with AT & T who is now offering u-verse in our area. We had nothing but problems with Comcast, poor customer service, illiterate service techs, etc. We had video on demand that didn’t work for over 1 1/2 years. Comcast came out 2 times and left both times with it working (for about a day). The last time they came they left the box on the side of the house where the cable came in open with wires hanging out. We did not have to sign a contract with AT & T and are loving this u-verse. We now get our internet over a box on the main tv called a gateway (we had dsl w/them which was cut off). We have tivo like capabilities, fast forward, rewind live tv. We can record up to 4 shows at one time on the main tv and watch on any of the other sets in the house. We can set shows to record by going on the u-verse website (while we’re not at home from office, etc.) Supposedly our bill now (phone-3 lines, internet and cable-like, and long distance) will be cheaper than we paid AT & T for the 3 lines, dsl (no long distance) and Comcast for cable. I have had no problems with customer service with AT & T, maybe I got lucky or got someone nice.

By clthurman

November 7, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

No the problem with AT&T is the weeks after you get the service….then the customer service traps begin. They do not solve or help their customers….especially once you have snuggled in thinking all is well.

By we will see

November 7, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

clthurman I hope you are wrong (no offense) I have been with AT & T for many years (when it was BellSouth) and have had to call Customer Service before and Never had an issue with customer service. But like I said I either got lucky, got someone nice or perhaps because I was nice they were too and went out of their way to assist me!!

By Total Skeptic

November 7, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Do you really think that these companies are going to offer a deal that benefits you and not them? Why would they? They’re in this to make money and you can bet that these bundles are rigged to make them even more money in the end. To quote an old adage, never put all your eggs in one basket. Besides the money aspect, if you have all your services bundled that means when there is an outage, you lose ALL your services. (Not that Comcast ever has an outage…HA!)

By Samantha

November 7, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

we have the triple play from comcast..$99 plus junk fees and such..when i moved i was going to cancel the phone since i rarely use it..but they opend up a new account so i started the package all over again..i did the math..as long as your eligible for the triple play..its cheaper just keeping the phone. i dont pay any sort of funky long distance fees since its included.that and i have a cell phone which gets use almost all the time.

where i live..its comcast..or dish or direct tv..plus in order to have dsl you must have the landline..so that costs even more then comcast. that and i dont care for at&t or the dish.

By Monica

November 7, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

The other kicker with AT&T - don’t forget to add taxes, inter-lata toll charges (whatever the heck that is), 911 fees, and the wire maintenance plan. That adds 10-15 bucks right there.

AT&T is great with bait and switch. When we made the switch from dial-up to DSL, I was quoted a price over the phone. I almost had a heart attack when I got my first bil, and even though I had documentation of who I spoke with and when, the five people I spoke with at customer service simply told me that Ihad been given the wrong price. They took it off of my first bill but said that the current rate stood.

By we will see

November 7, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

Like I said we will see

By clthurman

November 7, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

You’ve been fortunate with AT&T….I too was with BellSouth and never had a problem. I was nice beyond nice to the point I felt sorry for acting so wimpy and understanding. But they honestly do not care…and as for that these companies deserve to turn a buck NO DUH…but you can be ethical and honest and still make a profit.

By AL

November 7, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

The CSR sure made it sound like we were going to be saving lots of money by rebundling our services along with the ATT satellite service instead of cable, but it sure doesn’t seem that way when we look at the bill. However, I don’t think any of the other services would have been any better.

By CRobinson

November 7, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Got a Cellphone Family plan, High speed DSL, Long Distance, and a land line with all the bells and whistles. It’s pretty steep, but the good thing is that I don’t have to worry about overages, my wife can speak to her dad and sister without a penny more being charged. We talk to other AT&T customers(land or cell) for free anytime a day, and my kids can jump and research homework on the network connection, while I can use my PC for other things. We just cut other expenditures like the movies and non-standard cable. I’m more than happy our service.

By Got No Cable

November 7, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know when AT&T U-Verse television service will be available in the Vinings / Marietta area?

Thank you for your help.

By ernieJohnston

November 7, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

The best bundling was adding my home phone to our T-mobile cell phone plan for just $10 per month (and no junk fees), after I purchased a special Cisco / LinkSys router ($50) that they inserted a SIM card in. It has a phone jack on the back and room for another line and SIM.

This router also connects our cell phones to the phone network thru Wi-Fi, avoiding the cellular network while a giving a great connection for $10 per month. I trimmed our minute pool to balance that. These minutes from home do NOT count, even domestic long distance. Works with our cable internet or our students dry-loop (naked) DSL at college! What a bargin! eJ

By Tina

November 7, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

I can not believe this a topic of conversation especially what happened to me yesterday with AT&T. I got the dish,phone, and internet service and I was going to get the cellular service.The guy told me that I had to pay a deposit of 100.00 for four phones,I checked my bank account and they had took out 400.00 for four cellular phones.I was on the phone with customer service for 2 1/2 hours and they told me I had to wait for the phones to be delivered to me and then I would have to refuse. I asked to speak with a manger and told him my situation and he finally transferred me to customer relations where they finally reversed the charges.I really felt like i was deceived because he didn’t tell me it was 100.00 for each phone and it was also a family plan so i don’t know why i had to pay 100 for each phone.

By Sheryl Collins

November 11, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Birch Communications is a great alternative to AT&T. You do not have to be stuck with their awful customer service and outrageous pricing. There is an alternative! Call me - 888-705-2420 ext. 6034

By Mr. Cheapskatin'

November 11, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

Whoa! I’m thinking of switching my bundle from Comast to BellSouth/AT&T. With all of your warnings, I’m having second thoughts now.

The offer they gave me is about $40 cheaper per months (minus a few TV channels I don’t watch). Not sure if this package includes all the phone gimmicks of Comcast, but I don’t need ‘em

Let’s hear from more of you if you’ve switched between Comcast and BellSouth. To quote the immortal rocker Joe Strummer, “Should I stay or should I go?”

By MIKE

November 11, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

U-VERSE ALREADY IN MARIETTA-EAST COBB AREA—30062 NOT SURE ABOUT VININGS..