Your father always told you to read the small print. That’s great advice if you’re thinking about signing up for Spectrum TV.

Yes, there are no run-for-the-hills contracts to sign, but if you sit down and do the math, the wise choice is to stay far away. Like many cable and satellite TV providers, Charter Communications’ Spectrum TV is also suffering. In fact, about 6 million abandoned satellite and cable in 2019, according to Wall Street analyst firm MoffettNathanson. This figure will only grow larger in 2020.

Remember, though, that you don’t run a charity, and there are better options out there for you and your family.

All isn’t terrible in the world of Spectrum TV, as you can land an initial 12-month deal for $45 a month. The price points are decent, and in both the Silver and Gold plans, you will get access to premium channels like HBO, SHOWTIME and Cinemax. Keep in mind that access to each of these channels by themselves is around $15 a month. Those positives, however, take a sucker punch to the nose when you see that you will only have access to about 200 channels. For the price you’re paying, that’s surely not a bargain.

Here’s the real caveat: Spectrum TV’s DVR will take your money and run. These days, in this age of streaming TV, a DVR is a must-have as it can record more than one channel and enables you to watch the shows at a later time. Apparently, Spectrum believes that this relatively ubiquitous service shouldn’t come cheap.

Those dreaded DVR fees now come in at a whopping $25 a month. If you want extra receivers for your other TVs, be prepared to pay even more. Keep in mind that you could be forking over even more hard-earned cash for the sports programming surcharge, set-top box rentals and, of course, taxes. It’s not unheard of that some customers are paying an extra $50 to $60 just on fees alone.

Maybe you want to discuss those outrageous fees with a customer service representative? If you thought Xfinity’s customer service was lacking, according to ACSI, Spectrum isn’t that much better. It has improved its scores in recent years, but it is still below average.

Yes, there are no rigid contracts and early termination fees, but those hidden costs and surcharges can surely add up quickly. As for the content, if you’re satisfied with only the standard popular channels, you’re likely good to go. But if you’re looking for more edgy content, for the money you’re paying, you can definitely do better than Spectrum TV’s 200-channel lineup elsewhere.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV.