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Telemarketers for Cox Communications falsely claim digital cable service is required for the 2009 TV transition

Posted February 27th, 2008 by Mike Scott

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. 


Filed Under
Communications: Cable & Satellite TV -
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Cox tech response

On August 16th, 2008 starview (not verified) says:

Glad the technician posted here to clarify the situation

Cox Tech Responds

On August 10th, 2008 Derek (not verified) says:

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

On September 2nd, 2008 ucansue says:

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

On March 6th, 2008 Anonymous (not verified) says:

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.

Re: Text Filters for Comments

On June 25th, 2008 battery (not verified) says:

[…] On the substantive side, a few legislators got to ask the cable people serious questions. Points for substance go to Garrison (D-Marietta), Stewart (R-Athens), Okey (D-Carrollton), Barrett (D-Amherst), and Foley and Williams (D-Cleveland). […]

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