What Is Spectrum TV Essentials?
Spectrum TV Essentials is a live TV streaming service that includes over 70 entertainment, lifestyle and children’s networks. But there’s a catch.
The Ultimate Spectrum Guide for New or Potential Customers
If you are a new customer to Spectrum or you have been thinking about signing up, keep reading because this will provide you with a fully inclusive overview of everything you need to know about being a Spectrum customer.
Table of Contents
- How to Sign Up for Spectrum Services
- How Much Will My First Spectrum Bill Really Be?
- How to Get Your Spectrum Equipment
- How to Keep Your Spectrum Service When Moving
- How to Cancel Spectrum Services
- Spectrum for the Long-Term
- How to Get a Reduced Spectrum Rate
Summary
Let’s face it. You’re ready to switch providers and Spectrum has been on your mind for a while. Or, perhaps, you’re moving to a Spectrum region. You think ahead, so you want to prepare for the day that you actually decide to switch to or sign up for Spectrum, which is why you landed on this page. You hit the jackpot. This article will surely help you form a solid decision in your mind on whether Spectrum is a good option for you, with little to no lingering questions or hesitations left up in the air.
How to Sign Up for Spectrum Services
If you have already decided that Spectrum is right for you and you want to sign up, you have a few options. You can come into the store, do it over the phone, or even sign up online. You should first confirm if Spectrum services are available in your area. You can check availability on our ZIP code lookup or you can speak with a Spectrum Customer Care Representative (you might need to run a credit check at this time as well). Then you can begin the exciting process of choosing everything that suits your specific user needs, from Spectrum Internet, TV and phone plan, to sports packs, premium channels and more!
As far as installation goes, you can almost always choose between a self-installation or a professional-installation when you sign up for a Spectrum home Internet plan.
- Spectrum professional installation: Opting in for a professional installation will make the process easier than ever. You will schedule an appointment to have a technician visit your home and depending on availability, they will arrive within two to five days to take care of the entire installation process for you so that you can start enjoying your Spectrum services as soon as possible.
- Spectrum self-installation: If you’re pretty tech-savvy, opting in for a self-installation allows you to install everything on your own and will save you a little bit of money. Your equipment will be shipped to you via FedEx within two to three business days.
How Much Will My First Spectrum Bill Really Be?
It is important to know how much to be expecting on your first Spectrum bill. As with other internet service providers, Spectrum bills for state taxes and other charges, such as FCC fees. It is a possibility that you could see other amounts for installation and/or equipment depending on your Spectrum package.
It is important to note that certain fees such as shipping costs for equipment, installation (depending on the install option you chose) or even the entire first-month bill might be required as an upfront payment when placing your Spectrum order. If not, it might be delayed and, therefore, reflected in your first billing cycle.
How to Get Your Spectrum Equipment
Depending on which plan you chose, you will receive the essential equipment which will be either shipped directly to you or brought to your home by the technician during your scheduled professional installation appointment.
Equipment for Spectrum Internet:
If you decide to go with standalone Internet and a self-installation, the equipment that you will receive consists of a modem. The instructions for the Spectrum self-installation will come with it in the mail. Spectrum does provide the modem for the Internet for free, however, there is a charge for WiFi service. Therefore, most Spectrum customers provide their own WiFi router after receiving their Spectrum equipment. If you would like to provide your own modem, you may also do so, but it is very important to ensure that it is a Spectrum-compatible modem. And don’t worry about paying for expensive virus protection software because you will receive a FREE Security Suite.
Equipment for Spectrum TV:
The equipment you will receive when opting in for a Spectrum TV plan will be a DVR and Spectrum Receivers. Depending on the amount of rooms in your home that you would like to have TV service as well as which ones with DVR service, you can choose this prior to the installation and the technician will bring the full requested amount with corresponding equipment.
Spectrum DVR allows you to record up to six shows at once. You can have either: Spectrum Receivers – this allows you to watch all the channels Spectrum offers in the TV plan you chose – or you can upgrade to DVR service for all the other rooms.
Take into consideration which rooms you watch the most TV in because those are the rooms where you will want to make sure you have full capabilities: record, pause and rewind.
| Spectrum INTERNET | Spectrum TV |
|---|---|
| Modem | Spectrum Receiver |
| Instructions (If opted for self-install) | DVR (if upgrading other rooms) |
How to Keep Your Spectrum Service When Moving
With Spectrum, it’s easy to move while avoiding any complication involved with keeping Spectrum as a provider. As long as the area you are moving to is within a Spectrum region, all you have to do is sign in to your Spectrum account and put in your move service date. It is fairly easy to find on your account, but if you are not sure how to find it, one of the many available Customer Care Representatives will be happy to walk you through it over the phone. It typically depends on your location, but you might be able to take your existing modem to your new place and connect it without any technician assistance.
However, it is important to note that if you are moving but you want to change your plan, you’ll want to speak with a Spectrum Customer Care Representative to get everything sorted out. For example, you might be moving to a bigger home or maybe you are downsizing for a little while. In these cases, you will probably want either more or less TV service in each room. By calling or visiting the store, Spectrum will definitely be able to make all the necessary changes to your plan for you prior to your move-in date. This is so important to remember to do ahead of time because Spectrum wants to make sure you have everything you need on the exact day you need it! To read more about moving your Spectrum service, check out the following article for further details – Moving but want to keep your Spectrum service intact?
How to Cancel Spectrum Services
What if the area I’m moving to is outside of a Spectrum region? If this happens to be the case for you, unfortunately, you’ll need to change providers. In this situation, you will NOT have an early termination fee.
NOTE: In reference to Spectrum’s cancellation policy, you will, however, be charged for the remainder of your current billing cycle. It is a good idea to keep in mind an end-service-date that will coincide with the end of your billing cycle.
Spectrum for the Long-Term
One of the most desirable realities of being a Spectrum customer is, of course, that there are no contracts, giving you the freedom to change plans, move or even end your services completely at your own will, whenever you please. This is certainly a great benefit that you might not have in the bag when going with another provider. Some Spectrum plans do still have promotional rates lasting for varying time periods, usually 12 months. Also, Spectrum doesn’t limit your internet with data caps or extra fees.
Spectrum deals and promotional rates
It could be very beneficial for you to remember when signing up for services, to ask your Spectrum Customer Care Representative what the non-promotional price will be and note it so that you are aware of what you will be expecting 12 months down the line. When a new customer signs up and the 12-month promotional time period is over, there is an increase in the monthly price of approximately $20/mo.*, on average. Although it is also important to keep in mind that increases in Spectrum prices can occur, and being that there are no contracts, non-promotional rates may change more than once.
On the other hand, it is safe to say that you can absolutely upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time for whatever the need may be. This is very beneficial in the case that you find you need faster Internet speeds or prefer an entirely different TV package. Or maybe you just want to lower your monthly bill.
NOTE: During the promotional period, if you do decide to change your Spectrum plan, there is a risk of possibly losing your current decreased rate.
How to Get a Reduced Spectrum Rate
Although there is no golden ticket for a better deal or a new promotion that begins after your first one ends, Spectrum Customer Care is always readily available online via chat or by calling or visiting your local Spectrum store. You can reach out and try to negotiate a new deal.
It is not easy to negotiate a deal following a promotional rate, however, there have been cases of loyal long-term customers successfully lowering their Spectrum rate. Customer Care Representatives are on-call via phone and standby via on-line chat. You can always visit your local Spectrum store as well to speak with someone in person.
Try Spectrum services risk-free with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sign up for Spectrum online?
Yes. You can sign up online, over the phone or in store.
What if I want to do a self-installation to save money but I do not know exactly how?
Instructions for your self-installation will be sent in the mail along with your equipment.
Why is my first bill such a low amount?
It's possible that certain fees such as shipping costs for equipment, installation (depending on the install option you chose) or other charges might be delayed and will not reflect until your second billing cycle.
What if I don't want to buy a modem from you?
You can provide your own modem if you'd like but it is very important to ensure that it is a Spectrum-compatible modem.
What do Spectrum Receivers do?
Spectrum Receivers allow you to watch all the channels Spectrum offers in the TV plan you chose.
How do I keep my service with Spectrum if I'm moving?
As long as you're moving to a location within the Spectrum region, all you have to do is log in to your Spectrum account and put in your move service date.
Does Spectrum charge fees for cancelling service?
Spectrum does not charge early termination fees but you will, however, be charged for the remainder of your current billing cycle.
Written by Jessica Moore
