Pros: Cable, Internet & Phone in one place. Cons: Soviet-era customer service
RCN came to my area, the suburbs of D.C. a few years ago. They came in promoting lower prices, higher quality service and savings obtained by the vaunted "triple-play" of cable, phone and internet on one convenient bill at lower prices. Let's just ...
Pros: reasonably good internet and phone service; did not sell our phone number to telemarketers Cons: Absolutely dismal customer service
For seven years, I had my internet and telephone service through RCN, and during that entire time, I have to say that the customer service was simply appalling. I would not recommend using RCN if you have an alternative. Overpriced cable ...
Pros: All the normal comm services for one lower price Cons: Less than stellar service, sometimes unprofessional.
What an offer. Two phone lines, with all the trimmings, cable TV with about 30 more channels and extra boxes, and cable modem service for $140. It cut 1/3 off our bills with Mediaone and Verizon. Then I considered the possible headaches- if the procedure...
Pros: One-stop shop Cons: Dysfunctional customer service
This review is about RCN - 21st Century, RCN's subsidiary company in Illinois that serves Chicago. I have been a 21st Century customer for about one year, and generally have received economical, reliable telephone, cable Internet and cable TV service...
Pros: Good Customer service, reliable, price
Cons: speed (sometimes) installation people didn't show up on time
Pros: After reading many of the reviews I have seen the major complaint as of RCN's service is the customer service/tech service. I have had no problems with the tech staff. Most times they can help target your problem and fix your problem.
Pros: Bundle very good. Very fast cable access. easy hook up Cons: abysmal menu system both at telephone CS level as well as television programming. dreadful reps.
I am writing this while on hold with RCN. These guys REALLY put you through the wringer when anything goes wrong with their service with endless totally useless and extremely slow menus all asking for information and then slowly demanding confirmation of ...
Pros: Really fast connection, all in one provider (internet, phone, cable), price Cons: All in one provider, all-day installation, server restrictions, dhcp
So, I've seen the RCN guys in the neighborhood presumably running fiber all over the place. I get a flyer on my front door saying that I can get local phone, cable and Internet access for about $110 a month with no contracts to sign and no upfront costs....
Pros: cost, works as advertised Cons: no static IP, some initial setup problems
My girlfriend and I moved across town, and the nice folks (heh) at Verizon told us we couldn't take our DSL service with us. So we shopped around for an alternate broadband provider. RCN was pretty much the only other option, since the other cable...
Pros: Worked great (very fast) for the one day it worked. Cons: Customer service: Useless, incompetent, and they lie to you. They don't seem to understand the concept of 'appointment'.
I tried RCN of New York. I live in Manhattan.
Here is a letter I wrote to the president of RCN.
None of this is exaggerated. Honest.
After the letter I did get a phone call with an apology and my bill was finally corrected. ...
From start to finish, my experience with RCN was horrible. I could go on for pages and pages, but I will try to keep this short and highlight the major problems:
1. Installation...I took an afternoon off of work, and they never showed up. On hold...
Pros: fast downloads. reasonable tech support Cons: sometimes evening web browsing is slow
When I first moved to boston, my only choice was RCN for broadband. luckily, it was tested by a friend who lives down the block, who has had it for years in Boston. I found the hookup to be painless, as they connected my phone, TV and cable modem at the...
Pros: good prices Cons: unreliable, abysmal customer service
If your only choice for broadband is RCN cable modem service, you *may* want to consider it. Expect much greater latency than on a dial-up modem, frequent short outages and occasional multi-day failures, and to top it all, a customer service organization...
Pros: SOME GOOD PEOPLE LEFT FROM LIBERTY Cons: UNQUALIFIED PERSONAL
ONLY WISH MY FORMER CEO DAVID McCOURT WAS ABLE TO HEAR THIS FROM ME FACE TO FACE.
I WAS HIRED AS THE LEAD TECHNICIAN FOR LIBERTY CABLE AT THE LAST PART OF 1996,LIBERTY CABLE OF MANHATTAN HAD 300 BLDGS HOOKED UP WITH OVER THE AIR AML MICROWAVE CABLE...
Pros: Well, it was fast... Cons: ...when it was working.
I had never had a cable modem before last summer. My old dial-up, a 56K internal US Robotics modem, seemed to be serving me just fine. Alas, my housemates, sick of missing phone calls due to my internet IV, insisted that we upgrade. In short order we...
My first experience with RCN was when they came and did a presentation in our lobby for resilink. This is a package that includes phone with unlimited regional calling and cable with 115 channels. We decided to sign up with Time Warner did not offer...
Pros: None really.... Cons: One way cable connection. Speed is NOT as advertised.
Well, I've been deprived of broad band ever since I graduated college, and that was two years ago!!!! It was extreme difficult to make the transition back to regular 56.6k modems after being spoiled by Road Runner for 3 years.
Not to be off-topic,...
Pros: Cable Modem Service/Cable TV service is flawless. Cons: Same run-around that Bell Atlantic gives when it comes to service appointments... also, they have a VERY BAD Rep when it comes to Customer Support.
I tend to make judgements about Companies that offer services and products according to how they advertise.
In New York City, you can't go anywhere in Manhattan without seeing RCN's (Residential Communications Network) advertisements plastered...
Pros: Fast connection, no busy signals Cons: Poor support, very slow installation
I've been an RCN internet customer for 8 months now. Presently I have a one-way cable modem with a 56k upstream. I am waiting (still) for two-way modems to become available in my area. Let me say the good points first:
I have never once gotten a...
Pros: Always on, good customer service, fast fast fast. Cost savings on bundled services. Cons: None anymore, but shared network may slow things down in the future
Two years ago, this would have been a 2-star rating...
Update: Since writing this review, I have moved to W. Roxbury, MA. When their service became available, I signed up. The installers were on time and did a good job. My call to customer...
Pros: None Cons: Worst company I've ever dealt with.
I used (well, tried to use) RCN's local phone service, as I *hated* Bell Atlantic. Absolutely loathed them. After this experience, I *love* Bell by comparison. Here's what happened:
The first two appointments I made, nobody showed up. I...
Pros: Fast downloads Cons: Regular upload speeds. If there isnt already a coaxial conection they drill through your floor!
For those of us epinions ontributors that live where RCN only provides one-way cable modem service, don't get it. I live out in the NJ suburbs and i pay 40$ a month for RCN one-way cable service. Basically one-way means that you can download fast but...
Pros: there are alot of rcn poeple who care and want this to work Cons: there are also alot who could care less
well all in all its a great deal a great company more advanced then anyone at the time being. in newyork you have alot of problems with phone and cable modems . well the phone issue is most of the time bells fault rcn techs are not aloud to touch...
Pros: Really fast, fairly good service Cons: none really
Well I read some of the reviews of RCN, and honestly I can say that my experience was different, and much better. I don't mean to say that any of the other people are making stuff up, but what they are talking about simply did not happen to me. I live...
Pros: Faster than a 56 K modem Cons: Often down and slower than advertised
RCN is the worst telecom on the planet. They offer very poor service at very high prices. The ONLY reason I use the cable modem service is because it is the only high-speed internet service in my area. My main problem is that the service is slow,...
Pros: More speed compared to 56K Cons: AOL conflicts
Just got my new cable modem hooked up today - service is provided by RCN/Starpower at a cost of $31.95/month (discounted price because of bundled prices). Its much, much faster than 56K dialups - pages download infinitely faster, but the best thing about...
Pros: fast internet speed,excellent cable tv,better than average phone service,lower prices Cons: customer support needs inprovement,sales tends to lie to get a sale
before i had rcn cable modem, i was forced to use bell atlantic and america online.
let me tell you how much happier i am,not only am i saving money with bundled service, but i am flying on the internet, i am downloading around 130/k wow what a...
In December of 2004, we canceled our phone line with RCN. The fees were getting too high, new taxes seemed to be added every month and honestly, my family and I rarely used the houseline. The only people that called the house and not our cell phones were ...
Pros: None whatsoever Cons: Very unreliable service. Frequently idiotic tech support
we've been using RCN for cable TV and internet access for the last two and a half years (in Silver Spring, MD - was originally StarPower). The service is frequently down. We've had service techs come to our house twice in this time and on both occasions ...
Pros: Cheap price (at the cost of cheaper service!) Cons: Customer support, poor service. Not worth the cheap price!
I have the CPI+ package which includes tv cable, phone, and internet services. Please do yourself a favor and stay very clear from this company. I am about to discontinue my service after only 3 months of this service. The internet service is exceedingly ...
Pros: Better channel and per-per-view lineup than many competitors. Internet and television are clear. Cons: Abysmal customer service, long waits on the phone, billing mistakes that take months to correct.
I used RCN without dealing with customer service (I moved into an Apt. that already had RCN) for two years and everything was seamless. When I moved into a new apartment, I continued with RCN and the customer service was utterly abysmal. ...
Pros: The cable box has a timer on it. Cons: Everything else...
Ok we ordered a complete package of RCN in August...Cable, modem, phone the works...they told us it would be $119 for the first 3 months then $149 there after. Well the first month bill was about $350. Called up customer service and they told us since...
Pros: Decent phone, TV, internet. Great local office. Cons: National office apparently run by the Bush administration. Increasingly unreliable and expensive. Rude, unhelpful.
I have had RCN phone, cable, internet for nearly ten years now. I have had very few problems, really. It all works. The price seems to have ballooned, and I am going to check on that, but we have all sorts of special services and three phone lines. As ...
Pros: Rock Solid internet connection. Fast Speeds Available. Cons: Average Prices That Are Rising. Customer Service Should Be More Knowledgeable.
Over the years we've had a few different companies install internet in our homes. The first was Comcast. They were an absolute NIGHTMARE! Besides our internet being down every other day (No exxagerations here), the customer service was clueless and ...
Pros: speed Cons: making information available to others
Wow, it is so funny that RCN even offers cable modem, let alone anyone else. Now you have to understand, a cable is modem is like being on a LAN. You can "sniff" everything that is going through the network. (e.g.: look at what other people are...
Pros: Mostly reliable reception; one-stop shop; good technical help by phone. Cons: Appalling customer service; accounting in complete disarray.
I had RCN's cable, local phone and cable modem package for over 3 years from 10/99 to 11/02. During that period, I had acceptable TV reception, reasonable phone service and acceptable (if not stellar) cable modem reliability. On the occasions the...
I purchased a static IP address from RCN in July, since then it has changed 5 times and it takes up to 2 weeks at times to get the IP address that I paid for restored. Since the beginning of February, I lost the static IP again, and my cable modem ...
Pros: Bundled package Cons: Just about everything else
After being a Time Warner Cable customer for so many years and having gone through so many upgrades, converter boxes, and being nickel-and-dimed for every little thing, When RCN came into the building I was all to eager to give them a shot. After...
Pros: Easy. Good cablemodem speeds during normal business hours. Cons: Horrible latency/lag (800ms ping) during primetime hours and weekends.
Sept 23, 2002.
RCN does not have enough bandwidth to handle all the traffic between the Midwest and Northeast USA during primetime hours. They admitted to this during my tech support calls and said my horrible latency problem between the...
Pros: Good performance and reliability Cons: Horrible customer service, terrible installation, no idea what 'appointment' means
I live in a carriage house and had RCN install cable TV and cable modem. There was no cable running to my carriage house, so some underground wiring from the pole needed to be done.
RCN said the fee was going to be $150 on top of there special $50...
Pros: Got to know some of the techies that worked there since I called everyday Cons: hmmm everything (-;
I heard an ad on the radio about RCN cable tv company now had access to the web. I was so excited I signed up right away. The first problem I had with RCN was getting a technician over to my house to hook it up. They only did it certian days and...
In the past year, I posted messages to this listserv about the wonderful TV reception, channels, and service; I had received from Starpower cable. (Starpower is a division of RCN and offers cable TV, Internet cable access, and telephone service.)...
Unfortunately,
I couldn't find anywhere else to write about RCN services and customer support. RCN cries out about Time Warner's monopoly but RCN are the ones who keep Building Monopolies in Manhattan. Everybuilding that RCN has its service One...
Pros: High Speed Download Cons: ONE way, unreliable
I had a RCN, ONE WAY cable modem for 2 months, it was by far, most unreliable, internet solution i ever had. First being one way is useless, as it still makes my phone busy, and that i would have to dial in 3 or four times just to get it working. IF RCN...
Pros: good service, bundled service packages Cons: not the fastest cable modems
RCN is offered in the New York area. However, after Paul Allen beefed up his investment in RCN a couple of days ago, I am sure that RCN will be offered throughout the country.
RCN is a bundled service provider. This means that they take care...
Pros: It's fast during off-peak times. Cons: Slow during peak hours, tech support is no good.
I live in the Princeton, NJ area and have had TV service with RCN for 10 years. I signed up for their 1-way cable modem service as soon as I found out about it. They don't offer 2-way service yet, or any phone services either. [UPDATE: They are now...
Pros: Nothing Cons: Can't program, tech support sucks
If you have read my previous review about RCN you already know the problem I have been having with them. After several phone calls, I have solved the mystery of the un-programmable converter box.
After getting nowhere with RCN's customer service I...
In the process of moving I needed to set up internet, phone service and cable service. After having a bad experience with Media One I decided to give RCN a try. The price was right, $140 for 2 phone lines with free local calling, 2 cable boxes with over...
First, it takes months for them to change anything on your account... you are absolutely guaranteed to wait for 30 minutes for customer service, IF you can get through at all (I have tried every day this week to speak to anyone, but the lines are always...
Pros: fast, professional , what a treat Cons: none so far,
I had sbc and earthlink adsl, combined on the sbc phone line, it was awful, unreliable, though not the fault of earthlink. Dropped connections , dropped phone calls and then I took a chance. Earthlnk, formerly mindspring had been my only provider for the ...
Pros: None Cons: Lousy product/lousy customer service
In my opinion this company is committing fraud by signing people up to its bundled services. I have never had a modem connection that worked correctly and the response has been non-existent or incompetent. I have been on hold for hours at a time only to...
I switched local service from Bell-Atlantic to Starpower ...took MONTHS. Now my internet access speed is down to 33 kbps when before it used to hum along at 56 kpbs. They tell me they don't ensure the speed of dial-up connections if it's not their own !!...
The RCN High-Speed cable modem connects the user to the internet at a speed that is quite astounding. But it is 40$ a month. It also relies on the phone line for any uploads, so to send say a digital picture as an attachment to a email takes a long...
The RCN salesman who called on me completely misrepresented the installation process. "Free installation" became free plus the cost of an electrician to run the internet cable through the wall. I lost phone service completely for a week -- and...
Pros: Excellent product, great price, much improved customer service, 15 minute installation Cons: None
I have to say this company has improved its customer service tremendously over the past year. I had a bad experience when I first signed up because they were billing me for a phantom account. Like most consumers, I was furious over how long it took to...
Pros: access to fast cable modem Cons: repeated hassles, inconsistency in quality service
I think the main problem with rcn is that it IS too big for the services its offering, and consequently, its unable to offer quality service to
most anyone.
I am currently a rep for the company. I have a lot of info to learn. I feel...
Pros: Subscribe to RCN if you advocate monopoly.Sales guys respond within seconds when making sales. Cons: Overpriced service, dismal customer service,
The Drexelbrook Apartments Community management has a contract with RCN as the sole provider of cable services to the community residents (1223 individual apartments). RCN uses this monopoly to strongarm (I can't find a more suitable term) community ...
Pros: I really cant think of one Cons: Customer Service and techincal support are horrid, Picture pixelates A LOT, service goes out,
Letter I just wrote to RCN today.I would like to comment on the quality of your customer service. Also before we get started here I would like to point out this is the second time I have be so angered that ive written a letter of ...
Pros: No pros - completely terrible service. Cons: Overbilled, no answers at "customer service," can't get it cancelled.
No service, outsourced uninformed "customer service", overbilling problems, unable to cancel when requested, would never recommend to anyone, ever. RCN was due to come out to upgrade our service, and never showed up for the ...
RCN phone and tv service are the worst in New York City by hockmerenisht ,Jan 13 '07
Pros: There are no pros at this point. Cons: Find another carrier.
Recently switched to RCN phone and upgraded existing digital cable to HDTV. I have been on the phone, mostly on hold, for hours ever since.
The phone service was only partially hooked up - the promised unlimited long distance was not there. Customer service (pleasant people unable to help) said "you have to provide your own long distance, next call - you have the service, next call - a tech person will have to come out. After weeks that was corrected. TODAY I HAVE NO SERVICE AT ALL. My equipment has been tested at a neighbors house and is working. After holding for 53 minutes I was infuriated when told that the next available appt is Tuesday. Today is Saturday. No amount of pleading could help b/c their departments are mostly closed on weekends.\
The TV installation was equally messed up.
To top it all off, the charges are more than quoted, and an assortment of "service fees" have given a bill that is unbelievable.
I would suggest you go elsewhere for service.
Pros: Things are fine when they are actually working properly, but this is very rare. Cons: See above. They can't consistently provide the services they charge for.
I use RCN because my condo association is in a contract with them to provide basic cable television to our complex, and THOUGHT I could make my life simpler (and save a little money) by using their package service for my telephone and cable internet as well. I have been using them for 4 months now, and something has gone wrong 3 of those 4 months. First they cut off my extra telephone services for no reason (voicemail, caller ID, etc.). The next month they cut off my entire complex's internet service by accident because the building across the street had cut off their service (probably b/c of horrible service there!) And this month, my bill is twice the normal rate because of last month's screwup. I just got off the phone with them and they said it will take a week to resolve the billing issue and it is up to me to follow up. They are simply horrible. Incompetent fools.
40 minute wait for phone tech service by whyrob ,Jun 26 '06
Pros: Available here. Cons: Irratating slow service.
I have been a RCN subscriber for 5 years. I have had the usual problems. I can not get them to solve the rapid background dialing that has plagued me for a year. Now I had another problem with a second line and this 43 minute wait to talk to a tech is killing me. No excuse for lousey service. They sure want their money at once. I need more phone/cable options here in Metrowest MA.
Customer Service, Whats That? by ice-9 ,Dec 06 '04
Pros: Advertisement Sounds Good Faster speeds, Better Rates. Better BS Thats more like it. Cons: Substandard Customer Service, Not Reliable.
Been a customer for about a year and its been unscrupulous. Effectively they are raising there rates again with no justification. If you have a problem you better plan on canceling your appointments for the next 2 hours. Thats just to call them, never mind the actual problem. Also calling is like playing punch the phone keys till you get (CTS) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. They should put the human back into the equation. This and all cable companies need to be regulated. The consumer is not first. Inferior service for an astronomical price!
Don't Understand They don't answer email support by keepemcool ,Mar 17 '06
Pros: Product reliability is a plus Cons: E-Mail support stinks and contacting support to many menus.
I love the total package service and all around am overly happy. I have emailed for assistance because I don't want to go through the 50 million options on the phone. They never reply to the emails and yet they offer it as support. Once you get to talk to someone all is well. Guess I should be grateful they speak English.
don't go to RCN for DVR service by moseylou ,Sep 29 '06
Pros: local physical office to go into Cons: absolutely atrocious customer service and response
I found out today that RCN is doing an "upgrade" tonight at midnight that will destroy all of one's DVR recordings, settings, favorite channels, parental controls, and series and future recordings. They said they sent out notices by three mechanisms: phone, on the cable box, and by mail. I received none of the three, yet they managed to send me a bill this week. They say it is "unfortunate," as if it were a thunderstorm or weather event that destroyed something. It is not - it is a deliberate corporate decision to perform an upgrade in such a way as to destroy their customers' data and settings. they will give no credits.
Therefore, I am spending the time I would have spent watching recorded programming to blast them on every board I can find, and also to review offerings from other cable and internet services.
Pros: NONE Cons: BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE
WEAK SIGNAL STRENGTH
TECHS CAN'T FIX ANYTHING
We have had their service for several years now. It was fine until a month ago, now it is slower than dial up!! Their techs have been to our house four times now and still cannot fix it. Techs give inconsistent explanations, but cannot fix weak signal strength. DON'T USE RCN!!! We are switching back to dial up!
RCN is the only game in town as far as my building is concerned. So I get to put up with the worst service around, bar none. Three times in one week it took for the tech to simply install the system. He kept saying he wouldn't go in my apartment, even though VERY clear instructions were left to ring my landlord. After the third time the cable was installed.
About a month into service, I got static. I called RCN and, since it's naturally a Sunday night, they can't do anything of importance. The tech tells me they can't send someone out until Thursday, and that I'll be charged for this visit (!). I say that's unacceptable and she gives me a verbal shrug. I am cancelling immediately and also trying to convince my landlord to switch providers for the building.
Bottom line? Worst. Service. Ever.
Horrible Customer Service - Lehigh Valley PA by wandlwilliams ,Nov 29 '07
Pros: Nothing Cons: Everything; read my review
I have never been more disgusted than I am right now with a company. RCN, who blotched up moving my phone and cable when I moved houses in July, just screwed up a cable cancel order and made it a phone one. Now I am without phone at home and after 6 hours on the phone (from work) total with customer service, they have to send out a technician because they don't know what the h*ll they are talking about! I am switching to service electric and hope they can't be worse.
Just say NO to RCN in your community. by cdcb ,Nov 08 '07
Pros: There are none! Cons: See comments.
RCN is currently disrupting landscaping, driveways and lawns in our area presumably to gain market share in this area. In our opinion, not all of the properties have been "restored" properly (if at all)or in a timely manner. It appears some of the properties have been dug up more than once. The weather is getting colder so after they dig up the rest of this subdivision no one will be able to replace their lawns and landscaping etc. until next spring. These issues have been brought to the attention of the local RCN "construction engineer" who seems to not share our concern for the aesthetic integrity of our landscaping. Also, I have researched their product pricing and it does not appear competitive with any other current providers. We already have satisfactory choices. If RCN is trying to gain access to your local market, please contact your local government officials and discourage them from allowing RCN to dig up your neighborhood.
Horrible customer Service by newyorker08 ,Dec 26 '07
Pros: None Cons: Pack of lies, hidden expenses, crappy service.
They change your plans without telling you and you see a sudden $ 20-30 increase in your bill and when you call them they lie that you signed up for this. ?????? If you have option, go for some other provider. This one SUCKS.
Pros: Fast Internet for the price, Static IP, Good availability Cons: Bad business practices and support. Deceptive and lied about policy.
The service was fairly good, but when it came time to cancel, be sure to bring the equipment yourself and get a receipt. When we cancelled, the RCN person told us we could leave the equipment with the doorman and the tech would pick it up when they came to disconnect. Whammo! $1100.00 charge for not returning equipment and now 4-8 weeks to get the refund after going back downtown to return the equipment ourselves. The additional very bad business practice is that they will not automatically issue a refund once the equipment was returned. "Anything over $150 the customer has to call in in order to request a refund. We don't want to send the check to the wrong person"... but I used a credit card. And then they were going to keep the $50 deposit for equipment because they didn't pick up the equipment and 30 days had passed? They gave me a confirmation number for the $1100.00, but said "Another department handles the $50 refund, but we'll give it to you." RCN... YOU GAVE IT TO ME ALL RIGHT!
Pros: None. Cons: Awful customer service. Non-existent departments when you need to reach them on the phone.
Not worth the trouble or experience. I was overcharged, could not get it sorted out for 6 months, and witnessed numbers of other customers in line at their payment offices with the exact same problem. I believe this is how they run their business. Don't bother, it's going to be much more trouble than it is worth.
Pros: Good rates Cons: Substandard service. Poor tech support, poor customer service, poor follow up, etc.
2 weeks ago I moved approx. 2 miles from my previous home whereby RCN was my provider for telephone, cable and internet. In preparation for my move I contacted RCN 10 days prior to my move to establish a date to transfer over the service to my new location. At this time 2 weeks later my telephone, etc. is still not connected and doesn't appear as if it is about to be any time soon. Interacting with RCN has resulted in numerous missed appointments, subsequent excuses, technicians lacking ability to properly complete the set up, customer service lacking follow up, etc.
I am sorry to say that I am completely fed up with RCN and will probably have to switch (albiet reluctantly) to SBC.
Save yourself the headaches, do not involve yourself with RCN.
Pros: None Cons: Horrible customer service
Worthless tech support
Service is deplorable
I have experienced the worst customer service with RCN. I've had 3 RCN technicians to my home and none of them could explain why my HD cable signal tiles and the sound cuts out. I've had to take off 5 different times from 2pm-5pm and they didn't even show up 2 of those times. I get excuse after excuse when i call customer service and tech support. The best part is they charge $45 bucks if you are not home when the tech comes but if they don't show up they will give you a one time $20 credit!
Stay away from RCN at all costs! I'm switching to Comcast..
Pros: In the end, there are no pro's about RCN. Cons: Amazingly, impressively bad customer service.
I have had some of the worst customer service from RCN. The products work as expected; but if you need to adjust, cancel, or otherwise change any part of your plan, forget it --and the web self-service is terrible, too. Comcast might be a big, evil company --but at least they pick up the phone in less than 45 minutes. The operators have very bad manners and actually are quite vindictive --it's really hard to believe in today's marketplace that they'd be so rude to their own customers. Luckily, other companies are more than happy to take my $130 a month, and they'll get their chance soon. Please, take my advice, don't go with RCN, ever.
Very bad experience, Find a better company by user1978 ,Nov 29 '05
Pros: Service as advertised Cons: Read my comments....
Very bad experience with this company. They allowed someone else access to my account and let that person add stuff into the account.
After that when I cancelled the account, i specifically asked them to pick up the equipment BUT they didnt pick, and CHARGED me for it - total of $528.00 that they automatically deducted from my bank card.
I called them up and told them to PICKUP up the damned equipment and they did a week later.
BUT more than two months have passed up to this writing and they still havent given me back my money. I called them up twice already - first time the customer rep said they'll credit the money back into the credit card, and approx 25 dollars in mail. The second time i called cust rep - he said i'll recieve the check in my mail.
THEN - What's worse - they charged me $81 worth of taxes from the equipment that they picked up AND the mail i just got from them today - is an invoice for $0.02 - they're charging me for *TWO CENTS* even if they havent given me back my money!
Horrible customer service-long phone wait and no show service calls by dahlia6 ,Mar 29 '08
Pros: Internet works well, is fast Cons: Dealing with the company is impossible, prices keep increasing
Service calls from RCN are a nightmare. They never call to confirm an appointment. They often don't show up for said appointment and lie about it. Apparently they don't know how to ring a doorbell. They state they called the contact number (I got no phone call) but got no answer. Funny, as I sat in my house for 5 hours, missing work and they never showed up. I got the above story when I called to complain. And...this was not the first time they just did not show up. I am switching to comcast even though I've heard they are not much better. Hopefully their service techs know how to ring a doorbell....
Pros: none Cons: frequent multiday outages, horrible customer support
I've now had RCN cable/phone/internet service in Washington, DC for two weeks. I'm currently experiencing the fourth major outage of all services. The first lasted just over four days. The second and third each lasted a few hours. The current outage is now entering its second day, but it, too, will be at least a four day outage since RCN isn't going to send a tech to investigate for two more days (I plan to have DSL by then so I can just send the cable modem back with the tech).
Over the last fifteen years, I've had cable internet service from multiple vendors in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Victoria, BC. I've had far more problems from RCN over the last two weeks than in all those fifteen years combined.
Pros: Reliable internet Cons: Billing mistakes, excessive late fees, and poor customer service
RCN is the competitive company to ComCast. We chose RCN because they had better prices and seemed to be competent when talking with our cable installer. They however, have since proved to be a horrible company. Their billing system charges late fees when your bill was paid on time. Their customer service agents are hostile. Bills seem to constantly vary month to month with charges being applied as late when they have been paid. Late fees are assessed on these charges, which they will not remove. All together the company seems to make money of fake late fees it charges its customers. Our bill has only been correct one time. I would definitely go with another company. Unless,you like paying more and getting less.
RCN is the worst company I had to deal with. I went to RCN office and told them that I was there to pay due in my account until the end of contract and dont want to EXTEND that contract. It was 10 days earlier. I told them I will pay the bill until end of my contract. They told me okay and charged me. I came home but after two weeks I got early termination fee of $75. I called them and after twenty minutes I got chance to talk with those ASSH***s and they said me I have to use that service, Just paying money until end of contract is not enough. And even I tried to explain them for 70 minutes from my cell phone they were very rude and supervisor whom I talked with is the worst Customer Service I have ever come across. So, People dont be ever fooled by those people. I dont want to go to court for 75 dollar. So, I just told my 5 friends who were using that to end the service.
Worst Customer Service Ever by aquamarine07 ,Jul 30 '09
Pros: I can't think of a single one. Cons: Appalling service. Beyond appalling.
I could go into detail, but suffice it to say the worst, innavigable, annoying automated phone menus plus the most incompetent, rude customer service people in the history of the world...
An absolute nightmare...I sincerely hope, from the bottom of my heart, that this company goes bankrupt sooner rather than later.
Pros: None Cons: Customer Service, Unreliable Internet, Waste of money
Ive had many problems with my internet connection including it dropping out every few hours for a few minutes to several hours. I have contacted tech support about this and they tell me one of two things: "Power cycle your cable modem and router," or "There is nothing we can do to assist you in this problem." Their support staff is rude and unhelpful and cannot assist with the simplest of problems. If you want reliable internet STAY AWAY FROM RCN!
RCN is the worst company I've ever dealt with by cgibso6 ,Mar 17 '09
Pros: None Cons: Many calls to sell services, outtages, billing problems, no-shows on installations, canceling contracts
My condo bldg had a contract with RCN a few years ago. Due to poor service (outages) and poor customer services (billing issues, problems getting service set up when new people moved into the building) we decided not to renew the contract and sent them a certified letter to confirm. We switched to Directv. About a week after Directv finished re-cabling RCN came to the building and tried to undo the work (until someone in the building threatened to call the police on them). They then continued to bill us for 6 months even though we canceled the contract and had proof of receipt. We had the threaten legal action to get them to stop billing us. Now 4 years later they call me every day to get me to come back.... despite me asking to be taken off their call list and telling them that there is nothing they could ever to do convince me to give them any kind of business. They've told me it will take them 6-8 weeks to stop calling.
RCN is bad for your health and checkbook by beluzoni ,Jul 16 '06
Pros: cant smell any even if I had two noses. Cons: Very ingenious billing. June bill alone for basic cable and internet was 166.17
I am not interested in anything that smells of RCN even if it was free!
Holy Crap! What a useless service.
From March to June 2006 when I had RCN installed in my apartment there wasnt a week that either my cable or internet was down. 5 technician, count 5 have come out to my apartment and told me point blank that the signal was bad and that they needed to boost the signal from Timbuktu and yet did nothing about it.
What am I left with? a $166.17 bill for June alone.
If you guys were selling drugs or renting out a small kid I would understand but frikin cable??
I have paid my bill but you will pay more in lost customers. Mark my words.
Pros: Fast internet Cons: Bait and switch Poor and rude customer service
I was sold a static IP address for a one time installation fee of $25.00 and a monthly fee of $5.00 per month. Come bill time, the bill read $19.95 for the static IP. I called RCN to dispute owever they were rude and had the audacity to insinuate that I was a liar.
Do not believe ANYTHING they say by gmacd ,Aug 29 '08
Pros: Reliable cable internet. Actually like the DVR box but it's not worth $15-$17 a month. Cons: Dishonest. Every customer service call requires at least 30 minutes of waiting time.
I switched from Comcast for a great rate from RCN. It lasted 2 months. I should have learned from that experience.
Recently they switched the Boston suburbs over to digital. I used to record cable TV shows on computer and it doesn't work any more because now they are encrypted. So I decided to cancel cable and get NetFlix with the savings. When I called to cancel, customer support offered me a free cable DVR box to stay. I would have to pay for installation but the monthly fee would be waived. So I said yes.
I just got my bill today. The cable rental fee is on it. I was on the phone for about 1 1/2 hours today with them. Spoke with 3 people. Supposedly it is "fixed" as of today. The original rep was not "authorized" to make the offer. The guy who "fixed" it acted like he was doing me a big favor and would not prorate the bill. How much do you want to bet that it will be on my bill next month too? They lie like rugs.
digital signal is horrible by pixiedixielee ,Jun 01 '09
Pros: reasonable internet Cons: frequent picture problems
Since the conversion to digital, I make virtually a phone call per week to RCN. Sometimes I have an image in the background of my picture. They send a signal and that seems to take care of the problem. Other times I have a sort of a scrambled picture of squares, freeze frames, etc. I despise that I have to pay for this service.
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, Oct 30 '09
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