Question about buying my own cable modem for Business Class use

I noticed on my bill today that the (normally) $9.99 rental fee for the comcast cable modem is now $12.95 per month. I'm not sure why $10 didn't bother me, and $13 DOES, but it does, so I am going to go and buy my own Motorola Surfboard SB6121 and install it in my home. I do not have VOIP or anything, just business class internet. My questions are as follows:

1. Is there anything I need to do to notify Comcast that I am doing this? Will my new modem just work when I plug it in? Does it need to be provisioned somehow first?

2. I realize I have to return the original rental modem, how to I do that. Ship it someplace? I'd much rather take it to someone in person, that way I can get a receipt of delivery or something.

3. Is the equpment rental fee prt of the contract agreement? What I mean by that is, do I have to pay it even though I provide my own modem, simply because it's possibly mentioned in the contract? If i'm already on the hook for it, I'll just keep paying it I guess.

If anyone from Comcast can answer these questions, that would be awesome so I can go about resolving this issue. Thanks in advance!

Responses

Accepted Solution

train_wreck

Gold Problem solver

•

610 Messages

10 years ago

I'm not from Comcast, but i've done this exact process before. Hopefully this will be helpful:

1: Yes, you do need to notify them about the change. You can call in to 800-391-3000 and select technical support, then tell them you need to activate a new customer-owned modem. They will have you read off the Serial Number & MAC Address, which are both printed on the bottom of the modem.

2: You can return the rental modem at any Comcast service center office near you. Check the Comcast website, or perhaps just google for the nearest Comcast office; when the modem is returned, the rental charge SHOULD be taken off of your next bill. IMPORTANT: make sure you get a RECEIPT for return of the modem, as unfortunately, Comcast is somewhat well known for "magically" tacking on that rental charge back on to your bill in the future. Might not hurt to make a few copies/scans of that receipt as well.

3: No, the equipment fee is not tied to the contract, and will not change the terms whether you add or remove rented equipment.

Lastly, if you haven't already bought that SB6121, i might recommend looking into the SB6141. It's the updated version of the 6121, and will give you better reliability and performance down the line. see http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net

0

Comcast_Jon

Administrator

•

1.5K Messages

10 years ago

Hello refrax,

Welcome to the forum.

Train_Wreck's post is right on the spot (thank you train_wreck!) as he stated please keep all your receipt during this process.

Thank you

0

refrax

Visitor

•

4 Messages

10 years ago

Thanks! I got the 6141 based on your recommendation, and am on hold for techincal support now.

0