How do I get TV, internet and phone for a resonable price?

[jsoderbe]

Hi,

We have a vacation home in South FL, which we rent out as a vacation rental when we are not there ourselves. Out agency demand that we have TV, internet and a land line phone as a service to the renters.

My problem is the cost. Now we have triple play from Comcast, which started up pretty cheap with $99 per month a year ago. Since then the price have increased, for no particular reason, to $197 a month!!! This is just crazy.

So, anyone who can share how to get this cost down as much as possible?


Regards,

Johan

[Rick Lee]

I have those three services from Cox for about $127/month total.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by jsoderbe

Out agency demand that we have TV, internet and a land line phone as a service to the renters.

Really? who's house is it? Where these services are nice but a requirement, it might be time to find a new agency for your rental.
It's as simple as if I don't like the service I get at a business I simply find another one. I doubt very seriously you would have a problem finding renters in Fla.

[GH85Carrera]

The only way to get those services for a reasonable cost is to redefine you definition of reasonable. For 200 a month you should be getting super fast Internet, several premium cable Chanel's like HBO.

[Paul_Heery]

TV - OTA antenna

Internet - cheapest you can find

Phone - Obihai device running VOIP over your Internet connection.

[bell]

You should be able to get all 3 bundled for about $99/ month.......who is the provider? Sounds like it could be 3rd party....you need to call and speak to an accounts manager, they should not be charging that much.....
And you don't need any premium channels, some of the companies require you have the premium to hey the bundled phone....if so get a separate land line.....

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by bell

You should be able to get all 3 bundled for about $99/ month .....

That's how Cox advertises the package I have. But then the taxes make it about $127.

[Tervuren]

Soooo, who goes to vacation to Florida to watch cable TV? I can understand internet being useful to look stuff up to do while on vacation, or food, but cable TV would be pretty low on my list in a vacation home!!! lol.

[Zeke]

He might want to watch some sports and races.

[Evans, Marv]

Sometimes you have no choice. We live in a rural area and have to cherry pick what services we can get. Right now: land line - $60, Direct TV - $78, Internet - $75 (here you chose either satellite or a ground based radio network that buys from Cox & sells it on to customers). No cable or cell service in our area, so it's over $200 total for us even with just basic packages for television & a medium level service for internet. We are supposedly getting a cell tower in the area and are planning on dropping the land line at that point, unless there is some compelling reason to keep it. With the cost of a basic Verizon account added in, it's over $300/mo. for us.

[rouxroux]

Prison. TV and internet, then get an Obamaphone....you're set!

[74-911]

Can't helpyou with suggestions for reasonable pricing but having rented several condos, etc for vacations over the years I can understand the requirement for Cable TV and internet connection. But a land line ?? I don't get that at all.

[BE911SC]

Steal it. Any Wall Street broker or banker will tell you that.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 74-911

......But a land line ?? I don't get that at all.

I assume it's in case the renter is foreign or does not have a suitable roaming plan for their cell phone?

[peppy]

Originally Posted by 74-911

but a land line ?? I don't get that at all.

911

[bell]

I would think a land line and basic TV would suffice......if they want internet let them go to McDonalds and use their free wifi....
Most hotels charge for wifi....so why should you pay for that....

[jsoderbe]

Thanks guys,

Rick, cox doesnt have service in my ZIP, but that was a great deal. I guess I will shop around, maybe replace them for a combo of different operators.

The rental company is great, so I wont replace them over a land line. It is for safety, so foreigners can call 911. I dont have a problem with their demands, I just dont want to pay insane money for it....

Over here in Europe I pay $80, which still is too much. I can get that down another $15-20 if I just had the time to shop around.

To pay $197 in FL seems excessive, compared to what you guys are paying. Only extra I have is $7 for HD service, no HBO but I do have ESPN.

Anyone in South FL that want to share their solution?


Regards,

Johan