Business Profile

Internet Services

Astound Broadband powered by RCN

Headquarters

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Astound Broadband powered by RCN's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

Customer Complaints Summary

713 total complaints in the last 3 years.
268 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

Initial Complaint
Date:04/21/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I am writing to report what I believe are unethical and predatory billing practices by Astound Broadband powered by RCN. I initially signed up for internet service (300 Mbps) at a promotional rate of approximately $30 per month. Over time, without any change in service, the monthly fee increased significantly—first to around $70, then $100, and eventually to $158. Astound claims the original rate was promotional, but I believe a more than 400% increase is excessive and unreasonable. I only recently became fully aware of these charges after reviewing my billing statements. I feel pressured to continue paying, despite the unfair pricing, because non-payment could damage my credit. This creates a system where consumers are vulnerable, and companies can take advantage without accountability. I am requesting that your office investigate these practices. I also believe I am owed restitution for the excessive overcharges I have incurred over time. I am attaching copies of my billing statements that show the price increases. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Business Response
Date: 04/23/2025
I tried contacting the customer through the number provided on the ticket but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Initial Complaint
Date:04/16/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
UnresolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I have been a customer for over 3 years. My bill was once $25 per month until the ACP expired. My bill then increased to $55. As of March 2025 my bill suddenly increased to $150. Whereas my neighbor's remains at $60. My service has since been terminated for past due payment owed. I have received a new bill for the month of May asking for $107.44. I called the company today asking why am I being billed for a service I'm not receiving. I was informed that I will continue to be billed until payments are rendered.
Business Response
Date: 04/21/2025
I tried to contact using the number provided on the ticket but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Customer Answer
Date: 04/30/2025

Complaint: ********

I am rejecting this response because: I was giving three explanations from three different employees working for the same company. This isn't making any sense. I was told that money was credited and taken off. I have nothing showing such activities. I was told my service wasn't terminated although I didn't have access to it. Astound hasn't done or said anything to resolve this issue to my liking. I have been a customer for over three years. I deserve better treatment than what I've experienced. Thank you for your time

Regards,

****** ********
Business Response
Date: 05/05/2025
I tried to contact using the number provided on the ticket but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Customer Answer
Date: 05/06/2025

Complaint: ********

I am rejecting this response because: The response from Astound isn't a response at all. They're trying to fast talk me instead of dealing with your department. I cannot be told that my bill is incorrect from one employee and can be fixed. Then told the bill had been changed without any documentation. And also told that they can continue to charge me until all payments are made. I am no longer a customer and would appreciate it if direct calls to me stopped. That is why I went through your office hoping to get straight answers and the bill corrected. Thanks again

Regards,

****** ********
Initial Complaint
Date:04/14/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Hi, I recently stopped my internet with Astound Broadband due to costs. However, my parents agreed to help with the costs because my kids need the internet to do their homework. I believe my billing cycle ended on 12 April. On 13 April I called Astound in order to continue my service so there was not interruption in service. However, they charged me a reconnection fee of $125 when there was no disconnection. I request that this be waived for these reasons and pleaded with the receptionist who said that there was nothing that she could do, she was sympathetic and easy to deal with but she could not help me. She recommeded that I contact astound by email in order to get this fee waived as it is twice what I pay each month for internet. I was unable to find an email account to sent this request to. Please help me. My finances are deteriorating and I don't know how I am going to absorb the extra $125 fee. Also of note, the receptionist did not need to do anything in order to keep my service going because it was never disconnected. Thanks for your help.
Business Response
Date: 04/21/2025
I tried contacting customer at the number provided on the ticket but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information
Customer Answer
Date: 04/22/2025
[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

****** ****
Initial Complaint
Date:04/02/2025
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
Astound is new to my area. They dug holes around my condominium complex at the end of 2024 and all the holes they dug are still not filled in or made safe. It’s a total eyesore and a safety issue. We need them to come back to finish what they started.
Business Response
Date: 04/03/2025
I tried contacting customer through the number provided on the ticket but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Initial Complaint
Date:03/29/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I am writing to formally complain about a billing discrepancy and the unacceptable treatment I received from one of your representatives on March 28, 2025.Billing Error:As a new customer, I was promised certain incentives, which were not reflected in my first months billing. When I contacted your support team to resolve this, the representative not only failed to correct the error but also behaved in a highly unprofessional manner.Unprofessional Conduct:The representative was dismissive, raised their voice at me, and made disrespectful remarksincluding questioning whether I could "understand or not" and implying a "language barrier." They then refused to provide their name before abruptly ending the call.Failed Resolution:Upon calling again, another representative acknowledged the billing mistake and apologized for the previous agents rudeness, assuring me the issue would be resolved and my complaint escalated. However:The billing problem remains ************* complaint was never forwarded, as promised.I received no follow-up email documenting the incident or the steps taken to address it.This entire experience has been frustrating and unacceptable. I expect:Immediate correction of the billing error, including any owed incentives.A formal apology for the representatives conduct.Confirmation that this incident has been documented and addressed internally to prevent recurrence.I will be looking for ways to escalate this matter to the relevant consumer protection authorities. Insulting your customers over the phone and shutting it without any provocation is unacceptable.
Business Response
Date: 03/31/2025
I reached out to the customer regarding his billing and customer support concerns. We went over the bill and the amount owed for services. Will be also submitting feedback.
Initial Complaint
Date:03/26/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I contacted Astound, Powered by RCN, in February via webchat and then in email on March 3 to cancel my service. On March 24, I received a letter from Astound letting me know that my service would be discontinued because of non-payment. This was strange because I previously cancelled my service. Upon calling them on March 26th, they let me know that my service cancellation wasn't processed and that I owed a late fee for a payment that occurred after cancelling my service. Astound has made it extremely challenging to cancel my service (including not processing my cancellation request for more than a month) and then engaged in extremely deceptive business practices by assessing a late fee on a month of fees that I don't owe.
Business Response
Date: 03/31/2025
I tried contacting customer at the number provided on the ticket but there was no answer. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Initial Complaint
Date:03/24/2025
Type:Service or Repair Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
When I called to cancel our service I was told there was nothing further I needed to do, specifically no equipment that needed to be returned. We did not use their equipment for our service, but I asked twice just to be sure, as I have found Astound/RCN to be exceptionally dishonest and untrustworthy as a business generally. Frankly, I expected their to be something they would come up with to justify more charges after the fact, as they are well known for it.The *** assured me there was no equipment to return and nothing more I needed to do. Then I received a $100 **** for "Phone Equipment". We didn't have a phone. When I called, the *** could not help me but said she could see we did not have a phone and she opened a case (********) and someone would call me later. I received a voicemail and called back again. Today I spoke with someone who also could not help me and refused to transfer me to a supervisor. He put me on hold and claimed he spoke to the supervisor and that the equipment charge was for internet (even though the **** says phone equipment) and would not be removed. After a ridiculously worthless conversation which ended with the *** telling me if I don't pay they'll send me to collections, I am now filing this complaint (and any other complaint/negative review I can find on the internet). I do not have any RCN equipment to return. These charges must be removed from my account and the account closed immediately.
Business Response
Date: 03/25/2025
Tried contacting customer at the number on file but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Initial Complaint
Date:03/24/2025
Type:Customer Service Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
On Monday, March 24, my TIVO box was not working. I contacted the Astound **************** line where it was concluded that the box was bad. I told them that I would drive over to the facility on ******************** to obtain another TIVO box. Upon arrival at *****************************, the sign on the door stated that the office was permanently closed. Therefore, the **************** number was dialed again. Upon answering the young attendant told me that all customer service representatives should know all offices in ******** and ******* are permanently closed. Therefore, I asked to speak with a supervisor. After 20 minutes of waiting on the phone, she returned to say that a supervisor would return the call in 24 to 36 hours. I demanded that someone be sent to my home to exchange the boxes today. She said the earliest would on Tuesday, March 25 between 8 am and 10 am. Therefore, I have essentially wasted my entire Monday morning because I wanted to watch 20 minutes of a taped Good Morning American Show on TIVO. This is NOT customer service. If ******************** had customer service, they would be in my building. The only reason that I have Astound is because it is the service within the building and I live in a 600+ unit building. This is the 3rd time that I have had major issues with Astound/RCN or whatever acronym they are known by today.
Business Response
Date: 03/27/2025
I tried contacting the customer with the number on the complaint but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Customer Answer
Date: 03/27/2025

Complaint: 23108372

I am rejecting this response because:
This call came into my phone as a potential spam message. When the message was received and the call was returned, it went into a AI answering system at Astound that never allowed access to the caller.

Regards,

******** ****
Business Response
Date: 04/03/2025
I tried contacting customer by the number on the ticket but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Customer Answer
Date: 04/04/2025

Complaint: 23108372

I am rejecting this response because: I did not receive the message.

Regards,

******** ****
Business Response
Date: 04/09/2025
Reached out to the customer, no answer, left voicemail and provided callback information.
Initial Complaint
Date:03/20/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
I canceled my internet service with this company for my house on January 16th at 3pm and was told that my internet service will be disconnected in less than 30 days when my last bill will be due on February 12th and that I need to return the internet modem that I was renting from them for $10 a month. I returned that internet modem on February 10th using *****. I figured I'm done with these guys and won't hear from them again. Next two weeks, I receive advertising mail from them at my physical mailbox urging me to COME BACK to their company. And that they MISS ME being part of their family. (no harm here so far). Fast forward to March 20th: I check my email to find a bill from this company due APRIL 12th. I go back and check my bank account and find out that they also charged me on MARCH 15th. I call this company to ask why they charged me for an extra month and also attempting to charge my automatic payment for a SECOND EXTRA month and they inform me that it was a mistake in their system and that they didn't PROPERLY submit the WORK-ORDER which would have put the cancelation in effect. (the cancellation that they admit they have on file since January). After that, the agent and her supervisor then inform me that they have 3 more DEVICES rented out to me that they need me to send back to them. I explained to her that the only device I had in the house, I have sent it back to them but she says it shows in her system that the old company (WOW-internet) have issued me 3 other devices and they need those back. I explained to her that I don't have any other devices and that the technicians or agents might have mistakenly issued devices to my account that I don't actually have in my house. but she insists that her system is foul-proof and that she will look for the devices in her inventory and if she can't find them, then I will be responsible for them. Even though 5 minutes earlier she admitted that her system was mistakenly charging me after I canceled months ago
Business Response
Date: 03/27/2025
I tried contacting the customer but the call went to voicemail. I left a voicemail with my department's contact information.
Initial Complaint
Date:03/19/2025
Type:Billing Issues
Status:
ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
Resolved:
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Unresolved:
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
Answered:
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Unanswered:
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Unpursuable:
BBB is unable to locate the business.
RCN/Astound raised their prices on me this billing cycle unexpectedly, as usually happens this time of year. However, this year, I had called into the billing dept on Jan 18th to get in front of the issue - I was assured by customer service that there would be no increase in my bill this year and that my current rate and "customer loyalty credit" (which they used to adjust the bill price for customers who actually pay attention to their billing increases and call in to complain) was good through March of 2026. Lo and behold, I open my bill for this month and it has increased by appx $15, despite being told in January in no uncertain terms that it would not be increasing. I called in to complain, per usual, and while they were able to "adjust my customer loyalty credit" to put my bill back to where it was before the random increase, they would not budge on prorating my bill for this current cycle. While the increase from the proate only comes out to about $4, its the principle here that is the issue. You can't just lie to customers that their bill wont increase, then when it increases and they call to complain, skim an extra $4 off the top. I should not be prorated for this billing cycle. I should pay what I have been paying and will continue to pay for the forseeable future, not $4 extra. When I spoke to the billing supervisors on duty today, "Chrystal M.", she was extremely condescending and snarky to me, and did not help with my issue at all.
Business Response
Date: 03/21/2025
Reached out to the customer to advise of 4.00 one time credit, and rate going forward with expectation on any future rate changes. No answer, left voicemail.
Customer Answer
Date: 03/24/2025
[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

Better Business Bureau:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,
***** ****

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Astound Broadband powered by RCN is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.