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Modem fees are back for some customers.
Spectrum appears to be sneaking modem fees back into the equation three years after telling regulators one of the benefits of Charter Communications’ acquisition of Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable was that Spectrum customers don’t pay modem fees.
Effective April 1st, new Spectrum customers are being charged a one-time fee of $9.99 to either pick up or have shipped a cable modem for self-installation. If a technician installs it for you, the fee is $49.99.
“The one where you’re essentially paying them to go to the store, wait in line, get the modem, and then go home to install it all by yourself is especially nifty,” writes ‘rseiler,’ a forum participant on DSL Reports.
“Just wait for the ‘Bring your own modem’ $9.99 one-time activation fee, since that will be next,” predicted user ‘Techguru30.’
For now, however, the only way to avoid this fee is to activate your own customer-owned modem.
Well, they never said no modem activation fee was a benefit 😏. Just that modems are included in the service which BHN and TWC did not. Hopefully they never charge for modems. It’s a great benefit that few ISPs do.
I just wanted to mention Dampier to clear up confusion that even bringing your own modem to activate as a first time customer also results in a $10 one time fee. Just a heads up for correction. I saw this on DSLReports and confirmed myself with rep. So no way to avoid this fee as a new customer unfortunately.
Which is interesting because a Charter rep denied that would be the case. I am hoping to see a customer owned modem trigger the charge on a bill I can take back to them.
Just so you know, I called and confirmed that the fee was for picking up or shipping out equipment. I had the fee removed since I had my own equip. You just have to speak to billing.
They are charging me to install my own modem… 9.99 service fee for self installation (Customer Owned Modem)
Got this ridiculous fee on my bill after Spectrum basically told me I should switch to the newer modem because mine was old. There was never any mention of the fee. I never saw the install options someone posted above. I chatted with two reps. The first was zero help and booted me out of the conversation for “inactivity” after not responding for about 20 seconds. The whole time the little “I’m typing” icon was working so I was simply waiting for her reply. Immediately started another session and that rep gave me a credit for the $10 stating that… Read more »
I ordered spectrum internet online and was given a price. My first bill had a 9.99 one time charge for self install. I pay you to self install? Somebody needs drug tested 😘. If a fee is going to be charged. Fine. Just let the consumer know instead of blind siding them. Shame. Shame.
my bill went up $45 to $65 after one year. they said it was a promotional rate but i swear that was never mentioned and I assumed it was the actual cost.
spectrum is awful to deal with.
I am currently without internet at home but do I have to pay the activation fee?
sadly theres no other choices.
They waived the self installation fee for me, but only 1 outlet worked and it had bad signal, I needed a tech to come and was told I wouldnt get charged and got charged more than the install.
They told me I needed to upgrade my router/modem and gave me a modem only at the store.
After multiple years of getting 200 mbit+ from Time Warner and eventually Spectrum, one day my internet speeds dropped to around 80-100 mbit. The technical support person insisted that the issue was that my modem wasn’t compatible with the higher speeds. Tried to convince me that a DOCSIS 3.0 modem I’d been using in excess of 200 mbit speeds for years just flat out wasn’t compatible with their service. So, I agree to take their DOCSIS 3.1 modem for “free” (but of course ended up with this $10 self activation, despite being a customer for years). Then the person at… Read more »
Call Spectrum. They will tell you the $9.99 is a “mailing fee” for ordering their equipment, not an installation fee. In a calm voice tell them you never ordered the equipment. If true, they will waive the fee as a “one-time only courtesy”. Keep a straight face and thank them.
Worked for me.
Just call and ask to speak to the billing dept. If you aren’t going to drop off or pick up any new equipment, you can have that waived. Otherwise they are arbitrarily taking $9.99 from you. I called and had that charge removed.
I told them agent didn’t mention about one time activation fee, and they waived it
I just called and argued till they drop it.
“We don’t charge you for a modem, it’s included in the price.”
…….so yes, they’re charging you for the modem, they’re just not telling you what it is.
I’m just wondering about the “one-time payment fee”. I got a line with a modem last month and charged me $9.99 for that. So i thought it’s only a one time fee if you are a new customer. But now, another billing i received, and it shows another $9.99 one-time payment fee again. What the heck, they should change it..it should be “forever payment fee”.. very confusing!
After careful consideration, Spectrum does not have any modem fees. They charge to turn on the wireless feature of the modem. They also charge for the self installation kit. The kit does include a coax cable and a ethernet cable. You could spend a little more than $9.99 for these items. Personally, they should have an option for rush delivery or a tech drop off rather than shipping it. I’m a bit more outraged they charge to have a wireless connection which is included in the equipment. Now, you have to pay $4.99/mo for no reason. With the wireless proliferation,… Read more »
We moved, we had to call Spectrum over four times to get a technician out. Apparently, the technician came from over 50 miles away. This is unbelievable, they got rid of local technicians. We got our first bill after moving, written in red “delinquent.” They mentioned that they will take it to a collection agency if it’s not paid. I’m baffled, were we suppose to give a check to the technician? Why would Spectrum threaten their customers when there’s no need. It’s the first bill we received after moving. I’m so disappointed. We’re thinking about using a Fire TV Stick,… Read more »
this one time self installation fee is a nonsense tbh.. $10 for what? that I plug in all cables and set up wifi for myself? and have to pay for it? bullsheat