Don't Lose $2,000 to Comcast Business

I hate Comcast, but what an absolute load of nonsense:<p>&gt; I asked her what I needed to do and her response left me stunned. She explained that even though they were no longer able to uphold their part of the contract, I would still needed to pay them.<p>YOU are moving. YOU are trying to change the terms of the agreement, not them. If you stay in your current home I&#x27;m sure they would happily continue to provide you service, so clearly you&#x27;re the one altering the arrangement not Comcast.<p>Minimum terms are required since installation is typically free. However I will fully agree that 36 months is too long, and I&#x27;d never have agreed to it. I also think Comcast could have reduced the ETF, and it is bad customer service that they didn&#x27;t at least give you a small break (given how excessively high the ETF was).<p>But 85% of the issues on that page are self inflicted. You agreed to the 36 months, you agreed to the wrong package, you moved to a non-serviceable area within the 36 months you agreed to, and now you are whining about it like it is someone else&#x27;s fault.<p>Maybe it is about time you started taking some personal responsibility and actually reading what you sign before you sign it?

It&#x27;s $2000 to break your contract. It is not really Comcast&#x27;s fault that you are moving to an area they don&#x27;t service, and if you want to cancel the contract you have to pay the fee. Makes total sense to me.

So you moved out of the service area and complained that they could not continue to provide you service? And that you had signed a contract stating you would be provided service for 36 months?

I agree you were screwed. But you were screwed because you didn&#x27;t recognize that:<p>* contracts where you as have no negotiation leverage to change the terms of the deal - are always bad.<p>* business-to-consumer contracts are always set up to maximize the screwage. The contracts were written by Comcast&#x27;s lawyers to protect Comcast.<p>* lawyers (that you hire) are your friend.<p>I have had to sign screwage contracts. In my case it was with a NY bank ( I am in California ). My California lawyer took one look at the contract and knew exactly which state the contract was written in based on the screwage language.<p>His statement was that if a contract is so completely one-sided, that often times a judge will disallow parts of the contract.<p>Steps:<p>1. Determine what is the realistic amount ( absence of emotion that can be justified as fair ):<p><pre><code> 1. I would suggest a pro-rata amount (months left in contract) &#x2F; 36 * $2K 2. Determine cost of just maintaining the non-existent service. (vs. paying the $2K) i.e. how many months of service is $2K equivalent to? 3. Make offer of about 75% the above number ( they will want to negotiate up ) 4. What is your range that is acceptable. </code></pre> 2. Hire a lawyer:<p><pre><code> 1. that is willing to explain things and write down his&#x2F;her explanation. 2. Ask about how to avoid being burned again when forced into a must sign contract. 3. Ask for the lawyer to send a offer of negotiated termination. The fact that the letter is coming from the lawyers office may get Comcast to go away for less than $2K. </code></pre> 3. Contact Consumer Financial Protection Agency ( Thank you Sen. Elizabeth Warren!! ) : <a href="http://www.consumerfinance.gov/" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.consumerfinance.gov&#x2F;</a><p>4. Contact your state&#x27;s consumer protection agency. (Since you live in red states - I wouldn&#x27;t hope for too much )<p>5. See if there are any relevant class action suits that are applicable.<p>6. SEO optimize your blog spot so it shows up in search results.<p>7. Write letters to your congress critter.<p>8. Write to the FCC explaining that your Comcast experience is why Net Neutrality is needed. (Comcast is trying to stop Net Neutrality rules).