Watch the video below and read the message that scrolls along the bottom of the screen. The message reads: “Attention Comcast Customers June 24th we will move ION from channel 12 to channel 178. ION will be available with digital starter – upgrade to digital starter for no additional monthly charge. Call 1-800 Comcast for more information.”
That exact same message scrolled across the screen day and night for at least a week prior to June 24th.
The message clearly states that you can “upgrade to digital starter for no additional monthly charge”. However, when I called Comcast to take advantage of the this offer I was told that I would be charged an additional $52.70 per month.
The Comcast rep said that the offer only applied to customers with a basic package, and since I have a limited basic package I would incur an additional $52.70 monthly charge.
I told the rep that the ad did not contain those restrictions and that it clearly stated that I could “upgrade to digital starter for no additional monthly charge”.
The rep put me on hold for several minutes. When he came back he said basically the same thing as earlier. I once again told him that the ad did not contain any restrictions and it clearly stated that I could “upgrade to digital starter for no additional monthly charge”. He put me on hold again and came back with the same statement again.
After the third or forth time he came back with a different answer. He said he wanted to meet my expectations, and he was willing to work with me to meet my expectations. He said he was now authorized to make me a special offer: digital starter at $14.99 for two months, then $52.70 a month thereafter. Then with the sound of triumph in his voice he said “How does that sound?”
What? I told him it was not even close to my expectations and with confused surprise in his voice he said, “Oh really, how so?” I couldn’t believe he was serious, but he was.
I told him that my expectation was to get an upgrade to digital starter for no additional monthly charge, not to fall for some “bait and switch” scam that would cost $52.70 a month.
He assured me that it was not a “bait and switch” scam.
Really? Not a “bait and switch” scam? Comcast “bait’s” me with an advertisement to upgrade to digital starter for no additional monthly charge. Then, when I call in to take advantage of that offer, you try “switch” me to a different offer, one that would cost me an additional $52.70 a month. How is that not a “bait and switch” scam. With a confused voice he said, “Uh, I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s not”.
After several more minutes of going around and around in circles and getting nowhere, I ended the call.