Why is Xfinity So Bad? (Read this First!)

Having a stable internet connection is essential these days because of all the work and streaming most people do online. If you’re looking for an internet company to use at home, you might have heard many complaints about Xfinity. You might already be using Xfinity and wondering why the connection is so bad. 

Xfinity experiences many complaints because of poor customer service, slow internet connection, and high prices even for long-term customers. Not everyone agrees that Xfinity is bad though. 

You might still be wondering if you should use Xfinity as an internet provider or if you should make a switch to another company. We will go over the most common complaints for Xfinity so you can make an informed decision. We will also discuss some good features of Xfinity. 

Slow Internet Service

Xfinity is not cheap, so if you’re constantly experiencing slow speeds, you need to make sure you call customer service to have it fixed. There could be an issue with your home network, but most of the time the problem lies with Xfinity. 

When the issue is with Xfinity, you might be noticing some or all of these problems:

• Loss of internet connection even though the signal on the router is showing full bars 
• Fewer Mbps of bandwidth than the plan you have paid for 
• Slow speeds during certain times of the day such as when many people in your area are online in the evenings or on weekends 

Sometimes Xfinity experiences outages which could be the issue if you don’t experience internet connection problems on a regular basis. You can use a website like DownDetector to see if there are current outages. 

Home Network Problems 

Most people who experience issues with Xfinity complain about one of the issues listed above. 

If the problem is with your home network though, you will experience one of the following instead:

• Wired connections work fine but WIFI connections are weak 
• Slow connections when there are many people in your house on the network 
• Slow internet on certain devices only 
• Network issues and progressively slow speeds even if you restart the equipment 

Seeing if the problem is with Xfinity or with your home network can help you solve the problem and decide if you want to stick with Xfinity or not. 

Too Many Users or Devices on WiFi

Many problems with Xfinity internet have to do with their plan’s bandwidth versus internet usage. Many devices use more bandwidth, especially when streaming. The more devices connected to your WiFi, the more bandwidth you need to keep up with demand.

Some areas have a higher number of people at peak hours, and your internet could become slower due to so many online people. 

If you find that your problems are always during peak hours (usually when school lets out at about 9 pm), that could be the reason for slower internet speeds.

Poor Customer Service 

If you are experiencing issues with Xfinity, you might have called customer service a few times in the past. If you experience extremely low-quality service while on the phone with them, you’re not alone. 

Some of the most common customer service complaints include:

• Long phone wait times 
• Inexperienced customer service representatives 
• Still being billed even after a representative says services are canceled 
• Customer service representatives who do not speak English 

Experiencing constant issues combined with not being able to get things fixed with customer service is an endless cycle for many Xfinity customers. It’s enough to make sure many people cancel their internet plans and move on to another company. 

High Prices 

While Xfinity might seem like a good deal when you first sign up, there are often fees added on every year when you renew. Even if you are a long-term customer, you will see your internet bill increasing each year. This is different from other companies that show their loyal customers better rates and offer discounts. 

Some of the most common complaints when it comes to prices include:

• A sudden monthly fee for the modem 
• Increasing prices if you want to change to a higher bandwidth speed when your current one stops working 
• Extra charges for any services you want to cancel 
• Only offering new rates and lower fees to new customers 
• Suddenly sending higher bills without notice of the increase in fees

Also, there have been many instances where a representative on the phone will quote you a discount but then not send a written confirmation. Without proof, you’re stuck paying the soaring prices. 

Is Xfinity Right for You? 

Despite all the negativity online, some people rave about the service and speeds of Xfinity. Most people do admit though that the speed largely depends on where you live. 

Customers who agree that Xfinity has some of the best internet speeds often live in areas where there is maximum bandwidth available and no overcrowding of people using the service to slow it down. 

Here are some tips for making the most out of Xfinity:

• Ask people in your neighborhood about their experience
• Do a trial run at a neighbor or friend’s house to determine the speed
• Get the maximum bandwidth you can afford 

Also, new customers tend to get the best rates and discounts. Wait until they are having a sign-up deal to ensure you’re getting a good value for the money. 

Ways to Fix Your Xfinity Internet

There are ways that you can attempt to better your internet speeds when you have Xfinity or any other internet service provider. Some of these methods are listed below.

• Upgrade your internet plan
• Power cycle your modem and router
• Place your router in an ideal location
• Minimize WiFi interference
• Add a WiFi Extender
• Upgrade router firmware

It’s possible one or more of these solutions could solve your internet speed issues. Following these solutions will likely yield better service for your home network overall, not just your Xfinity internet.

Upgrade Your Internet Plan

If you run aninternet speed test to see how fast your internet is, you will likely find that you aren’t getting your plan’s full advertised speed. This is because the way internet service is structured means that during peak times, your internet can slow due to the large volume of people on your local equipment. 

If you notice a significant reduction in speed, it may be time for you to upgrade your service plan. The more devices you have accessing the internet, especially streaming video, the more bandwidth you require to maintain a steady, fast connection.

While you’re at it, you might also want to purchase your own router and modem rather than renting one.

Power Cycle Your Modem and Router

Modern technology sometimes just gets a bug in the system. Most of these bugs are minor and can be fixed by just power cycling your modem and router.

How to Power Cycle Your Modem and Router

1. Remove the power from your modem
2. Remove the power from your router
3. Wait 5 minutes
4. Plug the power back into your modem
5. Wait 5 minutes or until all the lights on your modem are steady and green (this depends on your model of the modem)
6. Plug the power back into your router
7. Wait 5 minutes for all the lights to become steady on your router
8. Test your internet connection

Place Your Router In An Ideal Location

If you connect to your internet router via WiFi like most people, your internet may be just fine, but you are experiencing interference on your WiFi network. 

Your WiFi router should be centrally placed in the area you wish to service. Also, since WiFi is sent via radio waves, it works best the higher up you can place your router. 

Minimize WiFi Interference

Another method to help with WiFi placement is to be aware of certain devices in the path between you and the router that can seriously affect signal quality. There are tons of things that can affect signal quality; these are just a few.

Avoid These Obstacles to Minimize WiFi Interference

• Refrigerators
• Large appliances
• Bluetooth devices
• Concrete walls
• Microwave ovens
• Large metal objects or panels

Another thing to be aware of is that your WiFi router often broadcasts two WiFi networks: a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz WiFi network. You may notice less interference with the above list if you connect to the 5 GHz network.

Add a WiFi Extender

If you find that there is lots of interference or the WiFi router’s range cannot reach all the corners of your house, a WiFi extender may be just the thing you need. A WiFi extender is essentially another WiFi router that extends the radio signal of your WiFi network. 

If you imagine the area covered by your current WiFi router as a 10-foot circle, adding a WiFi extender might turn your WiFi network from a 10-foot circle to a 30-foot circle. The WiFi extender allows your network to reach further than the antennas on your router were meant to. This is perfect for people with large areas that want to be covered with WiFi internet.

Upgrade Router Firmware

It’s also possible to upgrade your router’s firmware and get some better functionality out of your router. This isn’t likely to speed up your internet a noticeable amount except in fringe cases. However, upgrading the firmware on your router will allow the software inside your router to operate at the latest version.

Having your router updated to the latest software version should allow the WiFi antennas in your radio to operate at their peak capable performance. It may not speed up your internet, but it will make your home network more reliable, which could show in making your internet speeds more reliable.

Final Thoughts 

Overall, Xfinity is rated as a poor internet service provider because of its slow internet speeds, poor customer service, and increasing prices for existing customers. Xfinity might not be bad for you though depending on the area you live and the bandwidth you have.