COX is ripping me off...and what can I do about it?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
I read a while ago that you can actually negotiate pricing with your cable company. I thought it was interesting but I've never had the balls to do it.





I pay about $110 a month for basic and digital cable, one box, and the lower tier Internet service. I wish it wasn't so expensive but there doesn't seem to be any reasonable alternatives. The Cox internet is 7mb which is very useful for my work.
 
My experiences with Cox's internet is great. I had it since they first started to offer that service 7 to 8 eights ago, and I never had any problems with them. I don't think you have a lot of alternatives unless you go with DSL or wireless from Sprint, etc. I believe DSL is not as fast or reliable as cable modem. Wireless broadband works great if there is only one user. If your whole family wants to share internet access on multiple Macs / PCs, then you will have to invest a speical router which is more than $200. If you don't like to use the wireless broadband from Sprint anymore, then you just wasted $200 on that special router.



Cox Phone services seems to be out pretty often during the early morning hours. I only know that because my house alarm system shows error everytime there is an interruption of services. I was told by the alarm company that it seems to happen quite a bit on cox phone services. That being said, Cox phone services is the cheapest landline service around.



My problem is with their cable services. If you don't use their digital box, the pictures quality is bad. And they are more expensive than DirectTV. I don't have DirectTV because I don't like to have those boxes underneather my wall hung TVs.
 
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 ?The Federal Communications Commission, hoping to reduce the rising costs of cable television, is preparing to strike down thousands of contracts this week that gave individual cable companies exclusive rights to provide service to an apartment building, the agency?s chairman says...Commission officials and consumer groups said the new rule could significantly lower cable prices for millions of subscribers who live in apartment buildings and have had no choice in selecting a company for paid television. Government and private studies show that when a second cable company enters a market, prices can drop as much as 30 percent.
 
almon,





my rates sound similar to your neighbors. what i always do is check online what the latest promotions are and ask for them too. especially since theres no contractual obligation and alternatives like dish are cheaper, i have never found them unwilling to give me whatever promotion they are offering new customers. its up to you to be proactive about it.





for internet i use att dsl. it was 12.99/yr for the first yr, then jumped to 29.99. i noticed a new customer signing up today would pay 15.99 for the first year, for the same speeds. they told me they couldnt give me the new customer rate but offered me a permanent rate of $19.99. fair compromise.
 
<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I'm another less than satisified Cox customer who really has to keep them because there are not many other options out there. I did get a 6 month discount just by calling and telling them that Dish Network is cheaper, and they knocked some money off my bill. One thing I will tell you is that keeping the phone plan to receive the suite discount a bunch of sh*t. Here is why. </p>

<p>They typically charge you $9.99 a month for basic phone service, and tell you it ends up being free because of the suite discount of $10. But it still ends up costing you $7 a month in taxes. Yes, this is not a lot of money, but you are esstentially paying $17 to receive a $10 discount. I called Cox and brought this fact to the attention of the customer service rep, and she actually told me that I was putting myself in danger by cancelling my land line because calling 911 from my cell phone put me through to CPH and not my local police dept or sheriffs office. I told her that during a fire I probably wouldn't have electricity anyway, and my cordless phone would be useless. Now that I have no phone, I get on average 1 promo offer a week from Cox offering to give me "free" phone service. </p>
 
<p>Oh this is one of my biggest "Since I moved to Irvine" issues. When I lived in Orange we had Time Warner Cable. We had more HD channels. Better speed on the internet and almost no quality issues. But here is my list of demands to COX. </p>

<p>1. Fix the DVR. Its sooooo Slooooow. Changing channels is a joke.</p>

<p>2. The subsciption screen. Even though we are subscibed this pesky yellow screen likes to come on for 5-6 seconds.</p>

<p>3. The weekly mailing that I dont have the phone. I have called and written. But the only way to stop this is to get the phone.</p>

<p>4. More HD channels. Whats up. Spend some of the money on channels and ditch the advertising.</p>

<p>5. Watching the endless Cox Commercials with the guy in the blue sweater. I think his name is Max. They just never stop. Way over saturation of a captive audience. Someone`s realtive must be the ad agency and is making a killing.</p>

<p>6. Lower the price. I ordered this on the internet only to find out my rates were going to jump in 6 months. Bait and switch is what this is called. When I got the bill on the 7th month I found out about the startup rates. Thanks Cox. </p>

<p>If my demands are not met. I am going to have a bunch of paper shooting targets of "Max" made and sell them on the internet so those of us who are stuck with the overpriced "add ridden service"can take out our frustrations at the shooting range. Putting a few rounds in the advertising mascot will bring some satisfaction to all of us that are stuck with your poor cable services. </p>

<p>Good God. The puke even has his own website. <a href="http://www.cox.com/digitalservices/digitalmax/microsite.html">http://www.cox.com/digitalservices/digitalmax/microsite.html</a></p>
 
<em>"calling 911 from my cell phone put me through to CPH and not my local police dept or sheriffs office."





</em>i'm sorry to say this but if you're relying on customer service by california pacific homes to save your life during an emergency, you might as well start making funeral arrangements.<em>


</em>
 
I've heard that some people use HDTV antenna's (indoor), and were able to get 20+ channels. Though I'm not sure if we have any TV towers nearby for this to work.





You could save on phone charges by using Skype, and buying a cheap prepaid cel phone service with minuets that won't expire for up to 12 months.
 
<p>@ PeterUK: I hope you disputed those charges.</p>

<p>When I moved into my new place, cable didn't work when plugged in (previous renters used direct tv and screwed with the wiring). I called Cox and they sent someone over. They got everything working and left. No paperwork, no signing, nada... just re-wired the cable and done. </p>

<p>Then I get my bill for like $160 extra (I forgot the exact amount). I called and had to dispute the charges. I told them no one ever told me there would be a charge. I was never informed and I didn't sign anything (which is all true... I was never aware of the charge). I basically stated that if I knew upfront I would have to pay this much for them to fix their own service, I would just go with directv since they offer free installation. Eventually, I ask to speak to their supervisor.</p>

<p>I am later moved onto some dispute resolution where they ruled in my favor since I was unaware of any charges. Whenever disputing something, always write down the name of the person you are speaking to and the time/date. Always follow the chain of command and speak to a supervisor, then to THAT persons supervisor if nothing is resolved.</p>

<p>And yes, I agree, Cox is expensive.</p>
 
<p>I just set up an HDTV and with digital indoor antenna. We get the main local channels, 2, 4, 5, 7,9, 13 in digital-HD. We also get Channel 4's all weather channel and news raw feed. For I think, 7 or 9 we get similar. For PBS channels, for get 3 or 4 main ones. Plus 2 or 3 additional digital HD channels of PBS per channel running different content. We then get, in wide variety of local ethnic channels covering Chinese, Mexican and Vietnamese programming. Some Armenian and others too. All crystal clear. With a $20 antenna from WalMart.</p>

<p>With the exception of maybe Discovery Channel, the reason I want HDTV is basically on PBS anyway... I'll have to rethink getting cable or satellite after we moved.</p>
 
<p>You guys (&gals) will love this. The reason why I got DirecTV was because of COX.</p>

<p>Strike #1</p>

<p>When we first got it we had HBO for 3 free months. We asked to cancel it and of course the next month we got a bill. I called them and they apologized and removed it. </p>

<p>Strike #2</p>

<p>Shortly after I am channel surfing and I noticed that we now had the STARZ movie channels. Sure enough Cox must have made an honest mistake and activated the stars channels when I simply asked for HBO to be removed. I was pissed and actually told the rep..."So when I called to cancel the HBO subscription you took that to mean 'I want the STARZ movie channels' is that correct?" </p>

<p>Strike #3</p>

<p>I was going over the cable bills (the wifey usually cuts the check) and noticed I was being charged $3 and some change every month for that damn channel guide they've been sending! At this point I was fuming; they had been sending me this catalog for over 9 months!!! I NEVER signed up for one. I told them that I wanted to be refunded and they said no, we'll only give you credit for this month. So I canceled. </p>

<p>Is some ploy by COX to get as much cash in every month as possible and then only refund errors when noticed by the customers!?</p>
 
<p>IrvineCommuter-</p>

<p>Irvine Company cannot deny your use of the dish if you have the proper view of the sky from an area of your apartment within your own control.</p>

<p>It is in the lease and on the FCC website.</p>

<p>SCHB</p>
 
<p>They would charge me an extra fee because the apartment is pre-wired for Cox (at least that is what they told me). Did not look that hard in the lease but no one else in our complex has a dish. Other Irvine Company properties has dishes all over the place.</p>
 
I have an indoor hd antenna as well and can get all channels except for 7. Not a huge loss for me, as hd is used primarily for PBS.





I currently use Cox for regular digital cable and internet. Sucks that I don't get BBC America or Speed. Each channel belong in different packages that I'll have to get if I want them. Sucks when Time Warner offers those 2 channels (as well as a bunch of others) as part of their default digital lineup.





@socalhousingbubble


I didn't know that IAC can't deny the use of the dish legally. I lived in IAC's Rancho Alisal in Tustin Ranch a few years back and the management went around and had everyone take their dish down, including my roommate's. Their reason was lame, something along the lines of the head office thinking that having dishes make their property look ugly.
 
A bit off-topic, but I finally had a chance to play around with Joost tonight. It's been hyped as a youtube killer, so I was ready to be disappointed. :) Turns out that it's surprisingly well executed and brilliantly conceived. A bit rough around the edges -- I found the interface shiny but a tad confusing, plus the Atlantic channel was broken. Still, give it a spin -- I really do think this is a glimpse into the future of television.





<a href="http://www.joost.com/">http://www.joost.com/</a>
 
I did some browsing on amazon.com and found this item... it's an outdoor HDTV antenna that is popular for in-door installation:





"Multi Directional HDTV Antenna" by Antennas Direct, about $45:


http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-DB2-Directional-Antenna/dp/B000EHUE7I/ref=sr_1_1/104-6138154-4615126?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1193732448&sr=1-1





The reviews seem fairly positive, though the antenna is quite ugly and requires mounting on a pole.





==========





There's been a rash of articles lately about how the "middle class" is living on an edge today, versus their parent's or grandparent's generation. Hmf. Well back then they didn't pay for cable TV or cel phones, today my cox cable bill + AT&T cel phone bill combined is equal to a car payment. Yet I think most of us pay our cable bills without blinking.








I think... next time when I move, I'll sit down and work out a plan to minimize some expenses. I'll get an indoor HDTV antenna, use prepaid cel phone card, and get $15 or $20/month DSL service. I'll um... cook and eat at home more to save $.
 
<p>Here's a little help. There is an online guide to help you select an antenna type, oriented if necessary and predict which channels you will get based on your address. <a href="http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx">http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx</a></p>

<p>I found the indoor with the gain adjustment allows good reception for us. Too much gain and you get noise, too little and we lose Channel 7.</p>

<p>I have the same problem with my dish subscription. The Discovery Channel is on one package. National Geographic Channel another package and of course, HBO a premium package.</p>

<p>What ever happened to our a la carte programming initiative? I am a bit cynical though, I can see it now, the cost for an individual channel like NationalGeo will be $9/month and the cost for the package that Geo is in will be $10 and there won't be any mix and match 5 channel packages.</p>
 
<p>From what I remember, cable and tv companies do not like a la carte because they take money from the more "profitable" channel (i.e. ESPN, CNN, Fox News) to subsidize the lesser channels. I am not sure why they could not still do that with a "profit sharing" type of arrangement but that their justification. </p>
 
<p>IC & eek:</p>

<p>Here is the FCC summary:</p>

<p><em>The rule applies to individuals who place antennas that meet size limitations on property that they own or rent and that is within their exclusive use or control, including condominium owners and cooperative owners, and tenants who have an area where they have exclusive use, such as a balcony or patio, in which to install the antenna. The rule applies to townhomes and manufactured homes, as well as to single family homes.</em> </p>

<p>and linky:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html">http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html</a></p>

<p>You have to have the proper view of the sky, you can't poke a hole through the wall, and it can't be mounted to their structure.</p>

<p>They CANNOT deny use of a dish because they consider it ugly.</p>

<p>Pull up your lease or look for an addendum and you should find a section covering satellite dishes. If not, I can try to comb through mine when I have time.</p>

<p>SCHB</p>
 
<p>A couple of questions about satellite:</p>

<p>1) Direct Tv or Dish Network?</p>

<p>2) What happens after the initial commitment (12 months). Do your rates go up? DO you have to pay a rental charge for the equipment? </p>

<p>3) Has anyone bought the DirectTv (or Dish Network) box from Costco? Is it worth it?</p>
 
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