"highway robbery with local cable company"

just got my first cable modem bill today... turns out i'm being charged for basic cable on top of my $39.00 a month charge for cable modem access.
when i first ordered this back on nov.8th, i was told i would have a monthly charge of $39.00 a month plus $5.00 for a monthly lease on the modem itself... i opted not to lease the modem. purchased it instead for $289.00 instead. END OF STORY! NO OTHER CHARGES SUPPOSEDLY!
i have no need for cablevision t.v.
i've had directv for almost a year now and i like it so much better than the local cablevision offerings. my question is... can they charge me for basic cable (a $17.95 charge on top of the $39.00cable modem charge) when i don't use it and i don't want it? is this even legal? i'm so mad right now, i could knock a cable lineman on his rump! i feel as though i'm being robbed.
HELP!

scott s.

While cable companies can legally require
cable modem customers to buy basic cable TV service, most do not.

Instead, the standard practice is to offer a discount on cable modem service to basic cable customers. For example, the cable modem service may carry a list price of $49.95 per month, but is available for $39.95 per month to basic cable customers.

Who is your cable provider? Have they flatly refused to remove the basic cable charge?

saint joseph cablevision in saint joseph, missouri is the name of the culprit. they have flat out refused to drop the charge... said they can't offer cable modem service without the cable tv part as well.

ask to talk to a sup at the cable office. there are supertraps out there that block video(ch2-80) and only let the digital pass. the cable company i work for uses these and the customer doesnt have to pay for tv.

To answer your question, you should of had it in writing. cablevision does these little tricks to screw its customers over and when you first got it you should of received it in writing. if not they have the right to charge you for the basic cable service. I know i switched to direct tv myself and have a cable modem myself which i own. I told them that i don't need there modem and they said that i have to buy it. Of course i told them to stick there offer up there but cable and all and they were not happy. they put me with a supervisor and said that all i would pay is for the service, $39.99. I told them that i want to first see it in writing and then i will make my decision. I'm still waiting for the paper work.
My advice is don't take it laying down and fight it. You'll get compensated somehow.

With Shaw@home here I pay $39.95 a month and that includes the modem plus they gave me the ethernet card and installed it with the first month free. No need for cable and have had no extra charges in past 4 months. I'm a happy customer. Oh I get a free month next month because a friend gave them my name when he hooked up

>just got my first cable modem
>bill today... turns out
>i'm being charged for basic
>cable on top of my
>$39.00 a month charge for
>cable modem access.
>when i first ordered this back
>on nov.8th, i was told
>i would have a monthly
>charge of $39.00 a month
>plus $5.00 for a monthly
>lease on the modem itself...
>i opted not to lease
>the modem. purchased it instead
>for $289.00 instead. END OF
>STORY! NO OTHER CHARGES SUPPOSEDLY!
>
>i have no need for cablevision
>t.v.
>i've had directv for almost a
>year now and i like
>it so much better than
>the local cablevision offerings. my
>question is... can they charge
>me for basic cable (a
>$17.95 charge on top of
>the $39.00cable modem charge) when
>i don't use it and
>i don't want it? is
>this even legal? i'm so
>mad right now, i could
>knock a cable lineman on
>his rump! i feel as
>though i'm being robbed.
>HELP!
>
>scott s.