A Clue to Adelphia's Financial Problems...

[TroyBoy]

I just got done browsing the content on my new Dish system and I realized I needed to call Adelphia to cancel my cable. As I was waiting on hold, I looked at my recent cable bill and noticed that the Basic package was only $16.95 a month. I decided to keep the Basic and cancel the stuff I was sure that I didn't need anymore (Digital, the boxes, etc.).

The Adelphia CSR comes on the line and tells me that it will cost $33 to change my service to basic. I ask her how much will it cost me to cancel the service completely and she says "Oh, that's free!".

So I took the free offer!

[Dave04]

I just got done browsing the content on my new Dish system and I realized I needed to call Adelphia to cancel my cable. As I was waiting on hold, I looked at my recent cable bill and noticed that the Basic package was only $16.95 a month. I decided to keep the Basic and cancel the stuff I was sure that I didn't need anymore (Digital, the boxes, etc.).

The Adelphia CSR comes on the line and tells me that it will cost $33 to change my service to basic. I ask her how much will it cost me to cancel the service completely and she says "Oh, that's free!".

So I took the free offer!

A typical bussiness model for the chapter 11 company...

[Jacob S]

Well I was going to ask why the heck it would cost $33 to change it to basic but I remembered that they have to bring an installer out to the house to change out filters or something to get the package changed so that is why they charge that fee. I have this same service close to me where you only get 20 channels for $30 a month and thats the only package available with one HBO available for $15 more. They charge $30-$40 a while back to upgrade or downgrade HBO. Many wish this outfit would go out of business.

[Nick]

"Many wish this outfit would go out of business."Jacob, what is the source for your assertion?

I have questioned and challenged some of the local Adelphia's policies and practices:
- refusal to run an additional outlet in my apartment, even with apt mgmt letter of approval
- failure to make it known that a lower-cost lifeline tier is available
- requiring those who only need lifeline service level to prove financial "need"
- no senior citizen discount
- charging an outrageous $22 for lifeline tier, only 20% off the standard rate
- on average, charging significantly higher rates than charged in nearby communities

Other than high rates, and difficulty in getting an additional outlet installed, I am generally pleased with Adelphia's PQ, and customer/field services.

[Jeraden]

I used to have Adelphia for cable modem service. It was the worst experience ever. Outrageous cost for sub-par speeds and tech support which would never admit that their one node was dropping packets like crazy. Happy to be rid of them. I would never even consider getting cable from them.

[Jacob S]

The source for my assertion is the people themselves telling me that they wish that they would go out of business so that another provider would come into the area. Now that satellite has locals it is an option that they are choosing.

There is no lifeline service even available here. Called and asked more than once. You MUST take the basic package to get the locals.

[uncdanwrong]

Adelphia serves the area I live in. Lifeline cable (called Broadcast Basic here) is set at only $10/month by the franchise agreement that expires next year. With another price increase just this month (Expanded Basic now over $47/month), I expect to see more and more dishes installed in this area.

[Steve Mehs]

Before I had DBS, I always wished the Adelphia-Time Warner boarder was one town over. Time Warner sucked compared to Adelphia, when it came to channel selection and technology. Adelphia rolled out digital cable and Power Link in this area back in late 1997/early 1998, Time Warner had digital cable and Road Runner out in the fall of 2001. Adelphia started promoting their DVRs about 2 years ago, Time Warner just started now. But since Adelphia and Time Warner aren’t competitors, Time Warner never cared about customer satisfaction until they realized people were dropping them like a bad habit, especially when DirecTV started offering Buffalo locals. Comparing current information, Time Warner and Adelphia are about even in channels, selection, hardware and price. I haven’t used Adelphia’s boxes, but Time Warner’s are slow and picture quality is still relatively poor.

no senior citizen discount
Nick, up until last year, my great aunt had free cable. Everyone over the age of 65, in the village qualified for completly free basic analog cable, about 70-80 channela. But those that lived in the town didn't quality, and it was the same Adelphia franchise.

[Jacob S]

Adelphia sent their customers around this area about 3 or 4 years back that they was going to do a cable upgrade, never happened. It was only about five years ago when they had only about a dozen channels that cost about $20 or so and that was the only package unless you wanted the one HBO for about $15 more.

[jpoklop]

I cancelled my cable service (basic analog) over 2 years ago and am still waiting for Comcast to shut off the feed. I guess they figure it is not worth sending someone to install the filter.

[Nick]

What filter? A cancellation of service results in a disconnection of the physical cable, either at the pole outside, or, in the case of an MDU, at the (locked) junction box.

[Mike Richardson]

If he has cable modem then they have to put on a filter and can't disconnect the whole cable.