Hi seniors ! do you ever feel " held hostage " by the phone / cable and utilities companies ?

Question

( hope your not tired of all my questions , i have an active imagination , lol)

every month we have to pay for these services . i realize that's life , but a lot of seniors are shut in's and need these services to either comfort them or even a bit of entertainment .

some have very fixed incomes and i feel at times we either pay or go without basic services .

how about your opinions ? thanks .d.

Answer 1

I believe that they need to transfer all the welfare monies over to the senior citizens and take care of them!  Young people can find work, the elderly can't.

Answer 2

My township is not wired for cable.  I had a satelllite dish for many with just basic but they kept taking off the few good channels and putting on more junk channels so I quit them three years ago. I don't miss it at all. they must miss my money because they keep sending me letters saying they want me back.  

Answer 3

My tv doesn't work because I don't have an antena, cable or dish. I do rent dvds and watch a lot of films. I use the computers at the local library because I don't have a computer at home. Because I unplug most appliances if I'm not using them, my utility bill is very low. Last month it was $17. I couldn't believe it. Just because an appliance, tv, radio, washing maching, dryer is not being used doesn't mean it's not drawing power. Pull out the plugs. I just leave my refrigerator and stove plugged in.

Also, there are senior discounts on all utilities. They don't advertize them but you can get a discount if your area offers it. I think you have to have an income limit. Check with your local utilities.

I know this doesn't entirely answer your question, but I hope it helps in some way.

Answer 4

My Mom needed her cable TV.  Biggest thing in her life, sitting there, watching "Mash" or whatever other reruns she enjoyed, while she crocheted or knitted.  My brothers lived with her, and they paid for the utilities.  I don't suppose she ever saw how high that bill was.

My MIL paid for her own utilities, and was always looking for ways to lower her monthly costs.  She lived in a Seniors high rise.  Did not turn on the lights until darkness kept her from being able to see where the furniture was.  She did not turn on her AC until the room temp was so high she was near to fainting.  I used to tell her that she could go ahead and use the AC.  It was part of her rent agreement, and she did not have to pay for it.  "I know, Dear."  She used to tell me.  "But somebody has to."   Nobody could convince her differently.

Answer 5

I'm paying more for satellite TV now, than I paid for a mortgage on my first house. I have a problem with that. I just don't see how a young family can survive at todays price levels.

Answer 6

I can remember when cable came to town the monthly rate was $3.95 in the mid 1960s, and the average phone bill was $12-$13.  Now, those two things often run more than $100 per month.  When I run for President, I will propose all utilities, including cable and Internet will be reduced 20 percent for those households of seniors 65 years and older.

Answer 7

I never grow tired of your questions, an active imagination is a good thing to have here on Yahoo. That is why I am here, to answer questions. I refuse to be held hostage to anything, (yahoo questions does not count!). If no cable, I read. Anything except for boring books or mags. The basics for me are what we all need to survive. There are many ways shut-ins can help themselves, good friends and neighbors can also help. I am talking about comfort and entertaining. We had our dear and wonderful 'miss Lucy' who was a shut-in. My kids and I were over at her house almost everyday. We loved her and she loved us too. She was 83 and had a serious heart condition. When she died two years later after we met her, we just cried forever, it hurt us so. Poppy

Answer 8

I have come to some conclusions in my life... two of which are:

1. There is NO such thing as INcome... it's all a balance of OUT-go!

2. There's no such thing as MY money... it's the gas company's money... the electric company... the insurance company... the phone company... the credit card's company... the mortgage company... the plumber's... the electrician's... etc etc.

Have a Senior day.

Answer 9

i would go without tv cable if it wasn't for my mom liking some programs.  most of tv shows today are a waste of my time.  also most of her friends are in Arizona so i got her unlimited long distance but still a big price.  now if only some sales people would realize the 'do not call list'  means just that!

Answer 10

Not hostage.  I do feel all of these companies cold-bloodedly overcharge.  I also know that AT&T has something called  "lifeline" service where if your income is lower than $X, you get a reduced monthly phone charge--I however, don't qualify (yet).  I think all companies out to have a (significant) senior citizen's discount for anyone who's monthly income is less than $X (and you have to prove both that you are a senior citz and what you monthly income is).  But they don't.

I myself know that if the cable company increases my monthly rate one more time, I'm having it disconnected.  I already feel I pay too much just for tv (remember when it was free?) and for hundreds of channels I never ever ever watch but they come with the package.  I've been through phases when I don't have tv so I know I can do it and at this point, I've pretty much caught up with all the CSI Miami & Vegas episodes so I'm good (I could always rent the videos too).  Phone bill could be better but I don't use it a lot so it's ok so far.  Utilities, I'm hoping by the time I quit working, we'll all have sun & wind power so we won't be as dependent on the big utility companies.

Answer 11

I try to look at it as taking the place of the money I used to spend going out for entertainment.  I've been reading a bit about telephone devices for your computer that could greatly lower the phone bills.  I don't think any of these are great yet, but maybe in the near future.

Answer 12

Yes, I hate being so dependent on "companies" for the things we all take for granted.. its always such a hassle as well, when there is a mistake or you need service.

I do not pay for satellite or cable.. I have rabbit ears only..  most of TV is horrible, and we do not have much time for it anyway.. I can't stand to give them my money for junk programming... I do pay for internet, and it burned me that I had to pay for a home phone as well, in order to get it....

Answer 13

Hi Dizz - yes I agree with you.  However, recently I won a minor battle and fired AT&T and DirecTV -  now I have all three services, tv, phone, and internet for LESS than I was paying for just phone and internet services.

AT&T is very proud of their services.   But they need to wake up and smell the coffee - not everyone can afford all "those bars"!           CJ

Answer 14

You are so right, prices on these just keep going up every year, and for some who can't get out and do much this is what they look forward to.

Just like certain stores give senior discounts, it would be nice if these utilities would do the same.

Answer 15

I think that most of us are held hostage by the utility companies.  I do what I can to keep my rates down.  In my opinion, cable and dish TV are a luxury.  Youtube offers many movies online for free, and although they are in parts, it's still free entertainment.  It's much cheaper to rent a few movies from a video store than to pay for TV.  What aggravates me is when the utilities increase their rates and then try to tell us that across the nation we are getting a good deal and paying much less than other states.  huh?

Answer 16

It's terrible how we are all treated. Young or old makes no difference.  These companies want to make their money and they don't care who gets hurt.  We do either ned their services or need the entertainment to keep from going crazy.  Either way we 're at the mercy of them.  It is bad but what can we do.  

Answer 17

I feel held hostage when we only have one cable service available, and have to pay more for services than people that have more than one company available.

Answer 18

I agree!

I just have internet i get whatever rabbit ears can drag in on Tele.  But electricity water...never ends. Sad that the World could not let those who are Seniors have everything FREE!!!!!