Xfinity/Comcast internet term contract vs no-contract

May 2, 2024 1:19 PM

I'm signing up as a new Xfinity/Comcast customer at a new address. I hate the tangled legalese that makes up customer contracts, and I want to know if I'm missing something about term contracts vs going no-contract.

I'm looking at gigabit internet only (1000mbps), no other frills or add-ons, bringing own equipment.

Term contract:
$65.00/mo for first 36 months, then regular rates apply (currently $115.00/mo)
The offer is subject to the terms of your 12-month term contract.
$110 Early Termination Fee applies.
$10/mo discount for autopay.
Total: $55/mo for 36 months, but the actual contract is only for 12 months?

No term contract:
$60/mo
This monthly price is an introductory rate for 12 months. There is no term contract. The post introductory price for this plan is currently $115/mo and is subject to change. Your plan includes access to Xfinity WiFi public hotspots. This price does not include the autopay and paperless discount of up to $10/mo.
Total: $50/mo but introductory rate only last 12 months and goes up to $115/mo (or more) thereafter, but no contract.


My question is- if we're sure we're going to use the service for at least 12 months (the length of our lease) is there any downside to choosing the term contract? Am I missing something about the contract being only 12 months (and early termination fee applying if you cancel before then) but the rate lasting for 36 months?

I'm also sure in the contract it states somewhere they can raise your rate regardless of what you do or choose, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...

posted by rachaelfaith to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Best answer: The only downside to the term, from my experience, is that you can't switch ISPs in that first year without taking the $110 hit. But you know that. I've seen this done when a new ISP is coming to town (AT&T Fiber? TMO 5G?) and they want to defensively lock you into being a Comcast customer while the intruder is papering the town with door cards and offers of super cheap service. It depends if a $110 fee is a big problem for your budget.

After the blitz, they're hoping you've forgotten about it all (remember the autopay?) and stay with them anyway. I say it's no big deal to take the rate as long as you can be sure you're getting that full gigabit. And don't use the free email they throw at you, because once you start getting everything at [e-mail] you will be more reluctant to switch.

Remember that Comcast is cable internet, so it might be 1000 mbit down but it will be some significantly slower rate going up. I use AT&T Fiber and get 1000 down and up, which is great for things like video chat. Your mileage may vary.

TLDR I say go for it, it's no big deal.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:52 PM on May 2

Response by poster: Yeah, unfortunately the only other player in town is Verizon 5G (not Fios) so there's not much competition. If Fios did come to town, I think we'd happily pay the ETF and move over- but otherwise, there's no reason to change providers.

And yes, thanks for the warning about gigabit up/down speeds. We're aware the up speeds are a ton lower, but! Xfinity is in the process of doing some mid-split upgrade thing nationally, and I think they're supposed to start upgrading our new area soonish, which should result in ~400mbps upload speeds. Either way, again, our only alternative at the moment is 5G, which wouldn't suit our household of device-heavy gamers.
posted by rachaelfaith at 2:00 PM on May 2

Also, keep in mind that Comcast speeds are "up to" whatever tier you are paying for. They won't guarantee you'll ever hit that. The speed and reliability of cable internet (well, any Internet connection, really, but partiularly cable) is massively dependent on the quality of the wiring. Comcast may have somewhat recently upgraded the cabling along the utility poles, etc. but that doesn't mean they've upgraded/replaced the cabling that runs from the street to the junction box on your house, or from there to wherever you'll finally connect the cable modem.

Our house was built in 1986, and even though I replaced the cable from the junction box to the modem with new RG6, the original run from the street to the house was still the 35+ year old RG59. RG59 was fine for analogue TV, but it is much lossier than RG6 and doesn't have the high-frequency performance of RG6, so it is far less suited to supplying broadband.

All of which is to say, the best that I or the Comcast techs could ever get out of my modem was about 25-30Mbit/s down, despite being on a 100Mbit/s plan. Comcast would not replace that run of cable leading up to the house because "it's fine", but quoted me some $12,000 if I really wanted to have it done. I cried tears of joy when our town rolled out municipal fiber, and I got gigabit up/down for half what I was paying to Comcast.

Before signing a contract (or heck, selecting any plan) I'd want to get a tech on site and have them run speed tests inside, where you'll connect the modem. No use paying for a high(er) bandwidth plan, if the wiring doesn't support it.
posted by xedrik at 3:50 PM on May 2

Just to temper your expectations on the upload speed, Comcast is doing 100 or 200Mbps in mid split areas, nothing higher (yet).

As far as your understanding of the agreement goes, you are correct that the price is fixed for three years, but the term agreement is only for one. If you're Internet-only, fixed should mean fixed (exclusive of changes in sales tax rates, to pick one possible example). There are no weird fees for them to change mid-term like there is with the TV service.

Given that you mention FiOS, you're probably in Comcast's Northeast region and don't have to worry about data caps. The broadband "nutrition label" will mention any such limit. In other regions it is 1200GB a month, with the option to pay extra to get an actually unlimited service. The cheapest way to do that is usually to buy the "xFi Complete" package that includes a modem and unlimited data for $15 or $25 extra a month. Occasionally they have promos that include it for free, but it's been a while since they have. If you use your own equipment, they charge you $30 a month for the unlimited data. Such logical pricing they have..
posted by wierdo at 8:25 AM on May 4

If you use your own equipment, they charge you $30 a month for the unlimited data. Such logical pricing they have..

It was my understanding that Comcast/Xfinity charges more for using your own modem than leasing theirs, because they really really want their modem/router installed, providing an additional hotspot for their "xfinitywifi" coverage.
posted by xedrik at 2:53 PM on May 6

Response by poster: I think the 'bring your own equipment' cost varies per plan and per region, ours shows no charge for bringing own equipment (luckily). And yes, no data caps for us! (for now.)
posted by rachaelfaith at 3:47 PM on May 7