![\"cable](\"http:\/\/financegourmet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/cable-tv.gif\" "\\"cable")
<\/a>The problem, of course, with those advertised cable TV rates, like those from Comcast and Time Warner, and those from satellite TV companies like Dish Network and DirecTV, is that they have plenty of fine print typed neatly at the bottom of the page where you won’t notice it. So, when you are offered a $99.99 cable TV bundle of some sort, you are actually agreeing to pay far more than the rate advertised in big, bold letters.<\/p>\nSo, just how do cable companies trick you into paying higher rates than they advertise?<\/p>\n
The answer, as always, is fine print and long disclosures. That advertised rate is a just a base rate, and there are several add-ons that will jack your final bill up higher and higher.<\/p>\n
Limited-Time Offer Cable Package<\/h3>\n
The trick to legally advertising one rate and then charging a higher amount is disclosing additional fees and charges in such a way that most customers won’t notice them, but also in such a way so as to be legally sufficient.<\/p>\n
The key to hidden fees is the difference between bold, front-page text and small, buried text. Go to the Comcast website, the DirecTV website, or pickup a brochure from Time Warner or Dish Network and you’ll see the same things. Most noticeable is a bold, color price in big font. You’ll notice something like $79.95 per month for an internet and cable bundle.<\/p>\n
Sounds good, right?<\/p>\n
You can upgrade to faster internet or add premium channels like HBO. Of course, those aren’t hidden fees, those are choices you make. If HBO is worth $10 per month to you, then by all means add it. Just don’t blame the cable company for that one.<\/p>\n
It is worth nothing that adding HBO is $10 per month, but right beside that price in slightly smaller gray text are the words, “For 12 Months.” A savvy customer should have a light blinking in their head, and be asking how much it is after 12 months. In fact, if you click through to the next page and get the details you’ll notice that your $99.95 deal is also just for 12 months.<\/p>\n
The bread and butter of all cable TV and satellite TV scams is the limited-time offer. After you’ve been a customer for a while, and you’ve stopped paying attention to the competitor’s packages, your monthly fee goes up, and it does so silently. With no additional notice, your bill is just higher the month after your package expires. Many customers don’t even notice. They are even less likely to notice if they have set up automatic payment. After all, for a lot of people, the difference between $100 and $135 isn’t enough to throw off their budget. If you don’t closely watch your expenses, you could be paying a higher rate for months before you even catch it.<\/p>\n
If customers do notice, they put their bill aside to call about it later, then they forget all about it. Pretty soon, months have gone by, and the new, higher rate, starts to transform into the “normal” rate in your mind.<\/p>\n
The good news is that if you do call to inquire about your bill, chances are that the cable company will sign you up on a new package that has a similar rate. Of course, that will be a limited-time deal as well. It’s a game the company’s computers are willing to play forever, hoping that one-day, most people will end up quitting and just paying the higher rate.<\/p>\n
Hidden Fees on Cable Bills<\/h3>\n
Even if you are diligent and keep that cable bill from rising every six months or twelve months, the cable company has other tricks up its sleeve.<\/p>\n
Unlike the cell phone companies, the cable guys don’t rely on filling your bill with fake government fees. Those taxes and the franchise fees on most cable bills, as well as any 911 service fees, are legit. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have other hidden charges to pad your bill with.<\/p>\n
While you are examining a TV package, you’ll probably notice that DVR service is free. That should make you happy. After all, DVRs have become pretty much standard for most TV watchers. However, you just missed the trick. Even though the service<\/em> is free, the DVR box is not.<\/p>\n At last look, DISH charges around $10 per month for a basic DVR and Comcast charges $11 or $17 per month depending upon whether or not it is a high-definition DVR box. Your $80 monthly package just increased in price by more than 11 percent! And, that’s just for one DVR. Think each additional DVR box is free?<\/p>\n Guess again, Na\u00efve Pants.<\/p>\n But, wait, there’s even more hidden fees. That internet access requires a cable modem to connect. Comcast charges $7 per month for their cable modem at last look.<\/p>\n All in, you are looking at $18 to $25 extra each month, at minimum. That means your $100 package is now a $118 or $125 package, and that is before any other bells and whistles you might add on.<\/p>\n There are some things that you can do to lower your cable bill each month.<\/p>\n First, and foremost, watch your bill diligently. Know what you pay each month, and investigate any increase, regardless of amount. Most cable companies prorate their bills, so if your trial offer period has expired, your bill might only go up a little bit the first month. For example, if your trial offer expires on the 15th, and your billing cycle ends on the 30th, you’ll only see half of the increase on that first bill. If your offer ended on the 28th, the increase might be very small. If you see any change, call.<\/p>\n Second, see if you can replace the equipment that costs a monthly fee with equipment you can purchase yourself. For example, watch for a good deal on a cable modem and you can buy one and then save the $7 per month. You’re savings will add up in no time<\/p>\nHow To Cut Your Cable Bill<\/h3>\n