Comcast Service Center

What is there really to say about a place that has 230 reviews and one star? So many people can't be wrong, and they definitely aren't.

I needed to exchange my ancient HD and DVR boxes for newer ones. I called Comcast hoping to have the boxes shipped to me, but they said they preferred that you go to the actual customer service center to exchange that. Okay fine, so I did it on the next Saturday. While there wasn't some huge line here like on other Saturdays, the line was pretty substantial considering only two or three people were working. And then, after about half an hour, it's not exactly great to hear that they don't even have DVR boxes there, and that I needed to call and had it shipped to me. What? Isn't that just swell.

The place itself is a dump, with all the displays empty and broken. This service center is just a necessary evil.

Comcast is miserable, everyone knows it from their terrible customer service on the phone, and coming to their actual facility will make it even worse for you. I promise.

This location is right under a bridge adjacent to the train tracks which run through Brookeland. There are lots of homeless people milling about, or maybe they are at homeless but just look like they are, and they are more than happy to help you bring whatever equipment you have inside... I'm not sure it would actually make it inside or not but what I'm getting at is that the people around this place are scary.

Inside it's not much better. In fact it's so bad that they have a security officer right at the front door, which is of course very disconcerting. There is a cattle line wrapping around the interior of the space. The Comcast employees are sitting behind sick bulletproof plexiglass. There is a kiosk to pay your bill right by the front door.

While I was waiting in line, someone who looked to be maybe a job seeker was also in line, analyzing whether they had seen the same workers there previously. They were talking on the phone to a friend. Their analysis was that every employee was new and being trained.

I stopped by to return my cable box and get a cable card. They promptly gave me the wrong cable card and charge me $40 for a service fee change. So when I got home, they told me I should come all the way back over to this hellish place to get a new card.

I have the mail one to me instead. I think that says it all.

The phone number takes you to the Comcast main menu. The line is super long (and moves at a snail's pace) just to return equipment. The problem is probably because they have three tellers for 50+ people. Plus the location is hard to find and get to. Why am I here? Because they couldn't come pick it up from my apartment for multiple days.

First things first, to get here from the west, cross over the Michigan avenue bridge (over the train tracks) and immediately at the light at the end, make a pseudo-u-turn. You'll see Comcast on the right. An uber from the city will cost $10-$15. Alternatively, you can take the metro to the Brookland metro stop, which is pretty close by.

Second tip (which I forgot to do) is bring something to do. The line will be long, and there are no TVs or anything to keep you occupied. Bring a kindle or a book or some homework. Expect probably an hour wait. I'll update my review once I finally get through this!

Comcast/xfinity has gotten from bad to WORST!
I called comcast the other day to complain about an increase on my billing (Netflix premium upgrade which I did not make). Called their customer service who was extremely polite (as expected) and suggested to lower my bill. Since I used my smartphone to call them, the rep told me to just confirm the adjustment through my phone, of course, without reading the "fine print." Not surprisingly, a series of unfortunate events happened.

Immediately the following day Netflix (which the bill is originally incorporated into my Comcast/xfinity billing) charged a separate bill into my credit card. When I called Netflix they told me that Comcast altered my subscription and removed Netflix. I immediately called Comcast after three (3) representatives and was put on hold for more than an hour only to tell me that I have agreed to a new 2 year contract with a new subscription increase of more that $30. When I told them about "misunderstanding" that was actually brought about by the first "customer service representative," I was told that my old subscription is no longer available and that I am now committed to the new subscription that I have agreed to with a much higher monthly bill. To top it all, they told me that I am now bound by a new 2 year contract with them. I am planning to CANCEL my contract immediately and will pay whatever penalty they will impose but will NEVER avail of their services EVER AGAIN!

BUYERS BEWARE!!!

Amusing office in a not so good part of town next to Catholic University. They have bullet proof glass and drawers to pass things to the tellers like at a bank separating customers from employees. I pondered while standing in line eagerly surveyed by the many overhead cameras, whether it had anything to do with the local crime rate or was rather a testament to how precarious their relationship is with their customers?

Terribly understaffed. Despite being there on a Friday, there were more widows closed than open, leading to long lines. And this is the office for the entire District. A separate line was set aside for seniors and the disabled, but it didn't move any faster or offer them a better place to wait. The wait to complete a relatively simple transaction that we shouldn't have been required to come in person for was wasteful and unacceptable. No one in the long line was particularly cheery about it.

The people who were there were laconic and unfriendly. Given that this was across the board, I'm less inclined to blame them and more inclined to blame the company for undertraining, overworking, and probably underpaying them. But regardless of how one attributes it, the customer service was not good. I pay them good money and I have a right to expect better.

As is often the case in DC, Comcast seems to simply be an example of a virtual monopoly. If there was another option for TV and internet in my neighborhood, I'd try it, but there isn't.

Reason number 8000000 as to why Comcast is Clueless:

So I am at the library to "chat" with Comcast since my cable/internet is STILL not working at home (for reasons unknown). I called this morning, was told it was a 1 minute wait (yeah! 1 minute) but hung up after 36 minutes, so that's when I decided to "chat" when I could get to some free wireless.

So I log on. I am number 76 in line (that's a lot of angry people). I wait. I wait some more. Finally, "Jinky" comes on (Jinky??). Jinky gets disconnected three times (clearly, Jinky uses Comcast as well) but assures me that I am in good hands and he/she will handle it. After my fingers are typing away at rapid speed, Jinky has the nerve to tell me that I didn't have to wait on the phone for that entire time early this morning, that I can ALWAYS log onto Comcast for their chat services.

Um, hello? If the internet isn't working, how can you chat online?

The experiences I have had with Comcast are terrible, but since Fios in the area is not much better, I've decided to stick it out. Bottom line: incompetence.

Their processes are not integrated at all. One of my handful of experiences: Their departments had my address different on two different records and cancelled my service, after I told them to correct it on a courtesy call. Then they tried to make ME wait over a week to have a person come fix it for THEIR mistake. They also told me the automatic billing would restart on the new account and it never did. They said I would have to wait 3 billing cycles for it to restart. All this trouble for their error and they made me suffer and didn't even make an effort to accommodate me until I argued with them.

I really wish I could give negative stars.

I should start by stating, I have never been to this location, and probably never will, because comcast has the worst customer service via phone and chat service (online).

I absolutely hate that Verizon Fios is not available in my new area. I had it in my previous home...for many years and never had the amount of issues I have had in the past 3 weeks, trying to become a new comcast customer. It seems they have a team of incompetent, misinformed, rude employees, equally assigned department-wide.

I called several times, following the automated prompts, to no avail. The automated system kept disconnecting the call. Finally, I was able to get through to a live agent.

I only want internet, but they keep trying to upsell/bombard me with other products/services. My home is already prewired for comcast, because the previous owners had comcast service for everything (phone, internet and cable). I have my own modem, compatible according to their recommended modems, so I don't need a technician for installation. The representative on the phone informed me that I can forego installation, waiving the fee ($39.99), because the setup package would come with self install instructions. HOWEVER, she was quoting a monthly price/rate, much greater than the price/rate advertised online. She informed that she cannot offer the same deal listed on the website, so I politely declined and proceeded to try the online registration...

Online registration was a joke, because they kept trying to charge me for installation, that I DO NOT NEED, BECAUSE THE HOME IS ALREADY PREWIRED TO comcast. :-( When I tried to speak to "Ashley," the online chatbot rubbish, she told me new customers cannot waive installation and self-install equipment.... which was a completely different statement from the live agent on their customer service line, who informed me that I could self-install, considering I have my own modem and the home already has comcast installed.

This company is horrible and misleading. It is unfathomable how they have become a conglomerate in the cable/internet/phone industry. They, not only, make things difficult for customers, but also ensure they have the worst attitudes, while "serving" customers--the people who pay their company. Piss poor customer service must be their primary mission and the second mission... wallet rape.

I would rather pay more for less with a competing company than give my money to these degenerate ingrates.

After reading the reviews I was reluctant to go to this location. However, we wanted to pick up our equipment instead of waiting for it to be delivered and I loved that there was even an option to do that! SO, I tried my luck on a Monday morning and there was NO line. The attendant was helpful and I was able to add another box to my account with no problem.

It seems like maybe they are under new management since there was a TV in the main area (saw some reviews saying there was no TV or anything to look at while waiting in line) and the manager held the door open for me while insuring I had a pleasant experience.

All in all, I assume the best time to go is during the week in the morning- if you can!