Years ago I had an issue with my service, so a tech came by and replaced my modem. I stress that it was My modem. I provided it. I canceled the service when I moved halfway across the country and kept the modem. I actually gifted it to my roommate, but that doesn't really matter.

At no point did I sign up for the rental of a modem, I never agreed to the additional terms of renting a modem. No one at Comcast could provide me with anything regarding my approval of anything as the sole end user of their service. I told them to kick rocks.

A couple months goes by, I get a formal letter issuing me an invoice for a couple hundred bucks in rental and fines for late payments. I call them, tell them the scenario and that I am not going to pay them another penny.

Couple weeks later, another letter. This time informally responded with a written letter, stating all the facts and asking for anything showing my agreement of rental of the modem. Never heard back.

A year goes by, I get a letter from a collections agency. I responded exactly like before, asking for anything proving I owed anyone anything.

Another year, another letter. At this point it's three years later or so, and they stopped for a while. Until five years later and I get another letter. Fuckers are relentless. At this point I am sure they are just trying to catch anyone dumb enough to pay, but that ain't me.

Fuck Comcast. And fuck Janet jaurez, who I have been getting collections phonecalls for since I got my current cell phone number in 2005.

You usually need to return those when you cancel service so hold onto it unless you want to pay the replacement cost if you ever change service.

Comcast is literally the most hated ISP in the US.

The question is, are paying a lease on that modem? If so return that and buy a Netgear or similar

I have a long and special history with Comcast. My city has given them the sole monopoly cable contact. So -- I believe -- they are obligated to provide me service. The distance from pole to house is too long. No less than 3 service people have come out and said they have to put in a thicker cable like those used on the telephone poles. Nope -- the work order always disappears. Of course, they have to pretend they will eventually do something, because -- city monopoly.

Used a signal booster for a long time and that helped (I had to buy it) except at holidays when everyone was home. Then more people in the area got service -- dropping the signal.

After some years, T-Mobile 5G moved in and I happily dumped Comcast (monopoly only applies to cable).

There is more, but you get the idea.

Never give Comcast a monopoly on service. Even had me considering satellite Internet in the middle of the city at one point!

Why would you throw it in the trash? If you do want to get rid of it give it to a thrift store or hell sell it on Craigslist.

And as others said do keep it because you’re pro paying a monthly fee for it/will pay a fee when you cancel and they want it back.

So comcast is evil and everything, but that policy kind of makes sense.

Comcast is trying to set up widespread hotspot coverage. In order to do that, they need participating hotspots in each of their customers homes.

If I were in charge of making something similar, I’d do the same thing.

The question is, are paying a lease on that modem? If so return that and buy a Netgear or similar