Telemarketers for Cox Communications falsely claim digital cable service is required for the 2009 TV transition
If you have Cox Communications basic non-digital cable service, your television will continue to work after the analog-to- digital TV transition next February.
The switch from analog to digital cable is now less than a year away and UCAN has received some complaints that telemarketers have been trying to get Cox customers to upgrade from basic cable to digital cable as part of the transition. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED.
If you have basic cable connected to your TV, you will not need a converter box and you do not need to upgrade to digital cable. Digital cable and High-Definition are different services, and you do not need either service for your television to work after the transition.
For more information on the Digital Transition see UCAN Consumer Advocate Art Neill's blog: The day the TV died. Why your analog television won't work in two years. So, if you hear from any telemarketers, remember if you have basic cable you do not need to make any changes to continue to watch TV after the digital transition.
If you currently have an antenna, you may need a converter box, which are available at retail stores and you can receive a discount voucher for it from the Federal Government.
Communications: Cable & Satellite TV -
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cox is a fraud
Greetings, My issue is that on 5/14 i recieved a call from a rep who offered me upgrade my service to add digital cable phone and internet, i accepeted this offer for the great cost and the fact they told me no contract. wow i thought. well i called today about my bill and was told i was on contract for a year! after speaking to 5 reps one n sales advised me to call the number who called me initially and made the offer, I went in to my phone records online and called the number back (410-774-8194 and 602-889-3655) which turned out to be a third party making outbound offers on behalf of cox they said they cant help, so the guy xfer me to billing(again) who xfer me to a supervisor name jimmy who said he could take the contract off for me but would have to charge me basically double for the services! how awful! after 100 plus minutes total spenton this issue jimmy says to me " well do u wanna cancel?" i never mentioned cancelling to jimmy i said no i just wanted what i ws offered with no contract but since he asked i thought well hes no help may as well cancel so he puts me on hold to xfer me to cancel after holding forever he hung up on me all i heard was a dial tone ...he never called back. I will make sure all my friends and family with cox cancel my sister did she cancelled went to verizon fios one down cox rating very un helpful no customer service fradulently gets third party to call and offer me services for said price with no contract then goes behind my back and adds a 1yr contract great job frauding customers i will blog so everyone is to beware of what u do!
Cox tech response
Glad the technician posted here to clarify the situation
Cox Tech Responds
I am a Home Service Technician for Cox Communications and I cannot argue that this did not happen, howerver I can tell you that myself and the great majority of the technicians that I work with will refuse to install a Digital Cable Box if it is unneccesary and/or is sold under false pretenses like the ones stated above. Many technicians including myself voiced complaints to our managers regarding the sales practice and I do know that disciplinary action was taken on those responsible. I hope this helps and puts some faith back into Cox Comm.
Cox Tech Responds
UCAN would like to add a thank you to the Cox tech. UCAN believes the marketing was done by 3rd party outside contracted telemarketers and that the actual company professionals not out to earn commissions, would never do such a thing! I commend Derek and any other Cox staff people who voiced complaints to managers regarding some of the sale tactics. I personally use Cox for my home service. I was the victim of many of these digital cable box sale calls. After speaking with the executive department in San Diego, the regulatory person was very serious about getting to the bottom of this problem and fixing it.
Thank you again Derek!!!!!
Bye Bye Cable
I also got a call from Cox telling me this. I decided to try this out for myself. I bougth a DTV converter, plugged into the TV with a simple antenna and I had CLEAR DIGITAL television with all the local channels. The government subsidizes this with a $40.00 coupon.
Once I saw all local channels in great (better than cable) image I went ahead, called COX and cancelled my cable.
THAT WILL SHOW THEM TO STOP TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FALSE SITUATIONS, claiming that people need to upgrade their basic cable service to their Digital Cable or these customers will loose the signal.
If you've been contacted by a Cox Telemarketer telling you this........BEWARE. YOU DO NOT NEED TO UPGRADE. Get a Digital Converter Box at Best Buy, Walmart or Circuit City for $50 plus antenna (unless you want the Government to subsidize -$40) and say bye bye to Basic Cox Cable.
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