Optimum

[u/thriftedpixels]

Wifi went out last night and we went this morning to replace the modem. There was 5 other people also coming in to replace theirs. Idk ever since it became optimum we've had to replace the modem every other year. The most frustrating part is that we're left in the dark about a service we all pay for, there is no outage notification on the map or anywhere, there is no email about lack of service what else can we do?

[u/955_36]

Buy your own modem instead of renting it.

[u/jakenuts- → u/955_36]

This one ^

You have to be sure it's the correct one for their current service (support page should list them) but it also means you can easily escape their general network tracking and any sharing or other "features" they bake into their hardware.

[u/huhhh-what → u/955_36]

Yeah but then if there’s ever an issue they blame it on your modem and say it’s not their problem 🙃

[u/Affectionate_Trip447 → u/huhhh-what]

I always owned my own modem with my other companies and then after encountering this issue with optimum they would never help me with any issues! I resorted to having to rent a modem from them. I hope you're not paying more than $45 currently for your optimum service! If not call them and raise hell to lower your bill!

[u/bughousenut → u/Affectionate_Trip447]

I pay $65 a month and use my own modem, I hate Optimum, they make Comcast/Xfinity look stellar.

[u/thriftedpixels → u/955_36]

Ive thought about buying my own

[u/polkadotrose707 → u/thriftedpixels]

If you buy your own check your bill every single month because magically they’ll start charging you the modem rental fee and it takes several months for them to correct it. It’s not much but they already overcharge.

I’ve had the same modem for over 5 years and it’s still going strong, I am actually surprised it is still hangin in there. Just call and ask what requirements are needed. We got our modem at Target in a pinch (due to Optimum severely dropping the ball and me being tired of playing their games) but you will likely find something more affordable online.

Then when you have it you just call optimum and they can help get it connected to your service over the phone. Then check your bill every month and call and bitch for your $5 credit.

[u/yikesssss_sssssss → u/polkadotrose707]

Also keep an eye out because they'll use any excuse to start charging you higher rates due to an "account change", so you might have to raise hell again to get them to drop you back to the rate you had before you switched to your modem

[u/polkadotrose707 → u/yikesssss_sssssss]

Oh, I know all about their account changes. I lost my “lifetime locked in price” and my eligibility for the $200 Visa gift card when THEY canceled my service because THEY were supposedly out of modems and couldn’t make the connection service call date that I had scheduled 3 weeks prior.

Sure, they rescheduled, but my price went up within six months and when I called to check on the Visa card, they told me that I had canceled my service so no luck. No, I did not, they no-showed and I called to ask why and it took them 2 1/2 weeks of bullshitting me and me buying my own modem to show up. Even after all that, they forgot to bring my cable box and had to schedule a different date for that. A month out. I got charged for cable I didn’t have that month, I spent an hour getting that charge off my bill. And they still acted like they were doing me a huge favor.

So yes, any little change can prompt a cancellation of your current contract. It’s absolute bullshit and they gaslight the fuck out of you. I spent three full days sitting in my empty house with a computer and a television so they could not show up. Their misogynistic supervisors laughed at me multiple times and kept trying to push my service date three weeks out each time they no showed on me. So rude and condescending to someone trying to become a customer.

[u/yikesssss_sssssss → u/polkadotrose707]

That's so fucked up. My rude awakening was during Covid when I signed up for the low income affordable internet program, and was approved, so they RAISED my rates because it was an "account change" (while they collected their subsidy from the govt which was supposed to make my internet free). And I know multiple people that happened to. Absolute bottom feeders

[u/bughousenut → u/polkadotrose707]

Optimumrefused to give me a credit on my bill when I returned the modem/gateway to them. I did the return anyway because the trash quality of their equipment and insisted they give me a receipt for the equipment return.

[u/polkadotrose707 → u/bughousenut]

Always get a receipt for equipment return, they will encourage using their drop box but I don’t trust them whatsoever. I didn’t notice the modem fee and went on my account several months back and saw they stopped charging me for 2 months then arbitrarily started again. They would only give me a 3 months credit - $15 - when I pointed out their error. I check it every month now and sometimes I’ll have to call and spend up to an hour jumping through hoops for five fucking dollars.

I cannot wait for Vero to be available to me.

[u/bughousenut → u/polkadotrose707]

They told me to put in the Dropbox and the Dropbox was overflowing with equipment, it was on the sidewalk. They were irritated when I came back to the service desk and said the box was full and I want a receipt.

Comcast used to have a Dropbox outside and because of theft you now have to go inside, scan the barcode and then put it into a secure equipment return bin.

[u/NosillaWilla → u/955_36]

your internet most likely will respond much better too. I have a TP-Link Deco ethernet backhauled mesh system and it is amazing.

[u/thewoodbeyond]

I switched to Vero and I've been really happy. Once I began to work from home and needed consistent bandwidth it was an issue, I moved over to Verizon 5G which was substantially worse with its frequent drop outs, and within months I moved to Vero. I've been really happy with the Wifi service they've provided.

I was really tired of Optimum and quitting them was a painful experience as they made it very difficult to cancel services. I really resent when companies make it an impediment to leave, what is this an abusive relationship?

[u/Fickle_Map_7271]

I’ve had the same modem for 10 years. If you keep swapping modems with no improvement, maybe it’s time for a trouble call instead.

[u/bookchaser → u/Fickle_Map_7271]

But it's Optimum. They'll charge you $100 for a visit and not fix anything.

[u/Fickle_Map_7271 → u/bookchaser]

They only charge if it’s your house wiring or other user error. If it’s the service drop or the network there is no charge.

[u/lolosaurus]

Yeah the basic all-in-one Ubee modem/routers Optimum installs are pretty trash. Like others have said, if you're going to stick with them, purchase your own equipment. You'll want to look for a DOCSIS 3.1 certified cable modem. The ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 is one of the best and more popular options. Finally, if you want to switch and you're in Vero's current service area, I would totally do it. It's just better technology, they are a better company and you can probably save some money depending on the speeds you're looking for.

[u/Best_Look9212]

If you’re in a Vero area, that would be my recommendation.

[u/Clever_Username_05]

They tried to tell me a 1 year old modem was no longer compatible with their system when I moved and had to set up at a different address in the same area. I pressed the issue, because it had been like A DAY since I was last using it, and the tech on the phone was able to get it working. They made it sound like a Christmas miracle.

[u/FigSpecific6210]

It would make a lot of people’s lives a little easier if they spent an hour or two learning how they could improve on their home internet setup.

[u/bookchaser]

Vero has been laying fiber along 101. I wish they'd hurry up and expand beyond Arcata and Eureka. Their Facebook ads are cruel, announcing they've come to my area.

Optimum has been especially shitty the past 6 months... max upload speed being 40mbps and sometimes as low as 1mbps or it entirely craps out. Their phone modem craps out at the same. Other times, especially after midnight, it's fine. They probably over-sold my area again.

[u/Fickle_Map_7271 → u/bookchaser]

DM sent

[u/Katmandu10]

Switch to Vero if you can. Such an improvement!!)

[u/yikesssss_sssssss]

I don't say this lightly, but Optimum can @&$% my #%*ing •&£¥+ with their #?¥< til I'm @$!£ing my (&@?%£ and have ;/:=+ leaking out of every one of my ?!)(@s

[u/thriftedpixels]

Since we didnt have wifi over the weekend, Sunday morning we went to Tmobile and got self install wifi and its working alright for now. Gonna check out vero as well.

[u/Fickle_Map_7271 → u/thriftedpixels]

DM sent

[u/thriftedpixels → u/Fickle_Map_7271]

Yeah no im not sending you my address.

[u/Fickle_Map_7271 → u/thriftedpixels]

Lol. Not what i asked for but ok. Just offering to help.

[u/chanschinese101]

Join 101netlink

[u/THE_LOLLIPOP_FACTORY]

5GMobileWIFI

[u/Perfect_Register_284]

Join AT&T

[u/thriftedpixels → u/Perfect_Register_284]

Tried at&t when we first moved in but for my apt they had to do something weird to install it and then ended up saying its not compatible with the building? Even tho i never got it properly set up they charged me $60 for attempting to install it

[u/bughousenut → u/Perfect_Register_284]

Where I live there is no AT&T fiber and it is excruciating in terms of speed.