[JohnFen]

For your immediate issue, if you're getting charged for services you did not order and Comcast won't make it right, take them to small claims court. You don't need a lawyer to do this. The odds are very good that Comcast will make it right when they're notified of the lawsuit. If they don't, they'll probably not show up and you'll get a default judgement.

For the larger issue, I don't know. Since Comcast is the only real option where I live, I've been wrestling with this question for years.

[dev_throw]

Thanks, I am intimidated by the process of court but I'll look into it. Will they be notified automatically, or do I have to serve them the notice?

It is insane that we tolerate this in 2023. I actively switch to other providers even if speeds are lower, but it is impossible to avoid their monopoly. Short of lobbying for municipal broadband, I am at a loss as well.

[JohnFen]

You have to serve them, but you can do it through a registered letter. There is very likely a nonprofit legal services entity in your area that can advise you about how the process works and what you need to do, at low or no cost.

It's not nearly as complex or intimidating as it seems. Most of what is needed for normal court is not needed for small claims. The whole point of small claims court is to make courts useful for smaller cases, to regular people who aren't legal experts or loaded with money.

The one gotcha most people aren't aware of is if a court (small claims or otherwise) rules in your favor, it's still on you to collect whatever was awarded. The courts won't do that part -- all they do is give you the legal power to do it.

However, 90% of the time when a company is involved and they don't have a strong case, they'll just settle with you before the court ever hears the case.

My main piece of advice is to collect and retain every document you can that relates to the matter, including emails, personal notes you may have made, etc., and bring it all into court (if you actually end up having to be in court.) Have it organized so that if/when the judge asks for something, you can find it quickly.