The Best Guide to Cable Packages and Alternatives

Mediacom Internet Service

Mediacom internet service is offered at three different speeds, provides some additional options, but has been criticized for its weak customer service.


Mediacom Communications offers high-speed cable internet that can be combined with your television cable package to produce savings. Mediacom’s services include e-mail, security, their website medicomtoday.com and also a money-back guarantee. They also offer 24/7 customer support, but their customer support is often criticized for taking a long time to actually respond to complaints. Nonetheless, if you have Mediacom as your cable television provider, their internet actually provides quite a good deal for most needs.

Mediacom Internet Packages

Mediacom’s internet service has three different tiers. There are a couple of things to note about their packages. First, they have no actual guarantee on speed. Many companies have some guaranteed level, usually at about a third of the advertized download speed. Mediacom simply has none, meaning that if you don’t get the speeds advertized, you are simply out of luck and will need to cancel. It is also worth noting that, for some reason, all companies consider “3 Mbps” to actually mean “300 kbps” (which is a real annoyance, but a discussion for another page). Second, they reserve the right to increase your fees at any time. As a result, you are not getting a guaranteed price, even if you lock yourself into a contract with them. One of the biggest issues Mediacom customers have expressed is surprising increases in costs, so be aware of this.

The first is called “Mediacom Online Intro“, and runs at 3Mbps. This will be sufficient for most online needs, but it will require buffering if you watch long or high definition videos online. If you purchase games, you will also want to purchase the hardcopy, as you can expect downloading a game to take hours. Nonetheless, if you are watching lower resolution videos online, just playing games or simply surfing the internet, it will be sufficient for your needs. The service is only $29.95 per month for the first year, provided that you have another service with Mediacom, which is likely the lowest price you will be able to find.

The second tier is called “Mediacom Online“, and runs at 12 Mbps. This package is appropriate for the typical online surfer, as it will enable you to watch high-definition streaming videos, download games within a reasonable time, and play games online with little lag time. Mediacom has done something a little strange with their Mediacom Online service. It also costs only $29.95 per month for the first year, but only if you purchase their Triple Play pack, which includes phone, internet and television. As a result, it is actually quite a bargain.

The final tier is called “Mediacom Online Max“, and runs at 50 Mbps. This package is for those who do substantial online downloading, such as those who routinely download games and movies of hundreds of gigabytes or more. However, you pay for the service. It costs a whopping $99 per month, so it is really only worthwhile if you are a very heavy downloader or money is no object for you. Nonetheless, it is by far their fastest service.

Mediacom Internet Services

One of the nicer things about Mediacom internet is that they provide extra services, some of which are offered by other companies, but some of which seem to be of their own devising:

E-mail: Like most internet companies, they provide you with your own e-mail address.

Anti-Virus and Other Security: One nice bonus provided by Mediacom, but not provided by other internet companies, is that they provide free anti-virus software. This can save you significant money by not needing to purchase Norton or some of the other online anti-virus software that is available. They also provide pop-up blockers and anti-spyware software.

Mediacomtoday.com: While everyone can access this site, you will be able to integrate the site with your e-mail and online surfing experience. Mediacomtoday.com is actually quite a nice site, and the makers have clearly put some work into it. It is a lot like the main page of Yahoo!, providing the latest news and a number of gadgets like weather and traffic reports for your area.

30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Perhaps the nicest feature of Mediacom internet is that it has a money-back guarantee. Most other companies try desperately to lock you into contracts and actually punish you for leaving. Mediacom is confident enough to provide a guarantee that allows you to get your money back if you are not satisfied. As a result, you have the option of simply trying them out. If you don’t like them, you can simply move on.

Mediacom Customer Service

Where Mediacom has consistently scored lowest is in its customer service. It’s not so much that the people aren’t friendly: they are. However, they also have developed a reputation for simply not fixing things and, in extreme cases, not showing up for repair appointments. The issue is likely organizational.

To deal with their customer service, I have the following suggestions:

1. Always be polite. You need the person on the other end of the line on your side.
2. If you get really stuck, you can ask to speak to a supervisor (this isn’t rude; often the person on the other of the phone simply doesn’t have the authority to do what you are asking).
3. Ask for help on their forums. They also seem to respond to concerns on www.dslreports.com.

Conclusion

Mediacom offers some good bargains if you are already a customer with them through telephone or internet. They also offer some unique services. However, their customer support is generally problematic, so you will need to have patience if you have a problem.

Return from Mediacom Internet Service to Mediacom Cable Packages.