ADVICE: Turning in dead cable modem

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ....

Just need some advice as this scenario has never happened to me before.

My cable-tv modem has died, the result of a hard fall off a shelf. I've checked it several times, but the modem is definitely dead. On Monday, I'll take it in to be replaced.

Here's the particulars - I didn't buy it, just rented it from the local company. When I go in Monday just for the purpose of getting a replacement, is it likely that I may be charged something?

Thanx-A-Lot
Frank-0-Video

[Nelson37]

Never heard of a single customer being charged for a modem exchange. I would suggest that you do not need to mention about it falling off a shelf. It just stopped working. Remember they want to be able to bill you on a monthly basis.

Local DSL provider does not even ask for modems to be returned on an exchange, upgrade, or canceled account. They don't want them back at all.

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ....

Thought so, but I wanted to check beforehand.

Thanx-A-Whole-Heap-A-Lot,
Frank-0-Video

[fritzi93]

Local DSL provider does not even ask for modems to be returned on an exchange, upgrade, or canceled account. They don't want them back at all.

I can vouch for that, I have four of them.

The first one was made obsolete due to changes in their system (Sprint) and they sent a new one. Second one stopped working, they sent a new one. Then Embarq took over. Modem "apparently" malfunctioned, they sent a new one. Same thing. I insisted the problem was at their end and finally got a senior tech on the line. He checked it out and said: "You're right, your service will be restored shortly". And he was as good as his word.

But I got fed up with talking to their techs after being on hold for anything up to an hour at a time. As I remember it, seems like there was a problem every 1-2 months. Switched to cable and no problems at all, plus it's faster *and* cheaper.

[EDIT] Now that I'm reminded of them, they're going in the trash.

[lordsmurf]

The modems you're given for rental tend to be cheap bulk-bought crap anyway.

For a modem to stop working simply because it fell off a shelf is really quite sad.

My ISP keeps trying to charge me a rental fee on the modem I own. Every year they "audit" their accounts and find a "mistake" and start charging me to rent what I own. And every year I have to get them on the phone and tell them to fix it. Idiots.

[Baldrick]

Moved to our computer section.

[redwudz]

I would also check with them to see if they will let you use your own cable modem. Cox used to charge me $10US a month modem rental. Then they announced that you could use your own. I picked one up that they had listed as acceptable for $67, a D-Link. Used it for about 5 years with no problems. Then Cox sold out to Suddenlink and the same modem was used for three more years. It more than paid for itself.

If not, I agree, just tell them it's broke and you need a new one.