UPDATE: Nex Horizon Communications, Inc is ripping off San Diego consumers!
Last month, UCAN received a complaint from a customer who canceled service with Nex Horizon Communications, Inc, formerly known as National City Cable, Inc. and Chula Vista Cable, Inc.
The deceptive business practices has led the City of Chula Vista to terminate the franchise agreement. Nex Horizon failed to comply with various regulations and also failed to pay the fees associated with being a service provider.
However, the most alarming part of this story is the deceptive business practices used against a 73 year old customer who was lied to on January 5, 2010 until May 13, 2010. The former Nex Horizon customer, who lives on a fixed income, was told when she terminated services back in January that she would receive a refund of $63.89. She contacted UCAN in April when she had not received her money.
After speaking with two customer service representatives, Peggy and Donelle, I was assured that the customer would be receiving her check shortly. They went on to say that the company had merged and, therefore, the billings department was backed up. I was told the check would arrive the first week of May.
Well, the check never came. I called on Monday and left a message. I called on Tuesday and left a message. I called on Wednesday and left a message. On Thursday, I called and spoke to Donelle for the umpteenth time. After many conversations, Donelle finally admitted... I mean explained... that Nex Horizon had filed for Chapter 11 and was going bankrupt. But, wait. There is a kicker. Nex Horizon is still open for business in Chula Vista!
After, I got off the phone with Nex Horizon, I immediately called the Chula Vista phone number provided on their website and asked if I could sign up for service. I had yet to read the court documents which reflect that Nex Horizon filed for bankruptcy in a Colorado Federal Court, and was curious. To my surprise, a customer service representative answered and when I asked if I could be provided service, the customer service rep said, "yes."
Wow. I contacted the General Counsel's office for the City of Chula Vista and was happy to find out that Nex Horizon's license had already been pulled. However, they are still in business!
If you subscribe to Nex Horizon or Chula Vista Cable, Inc. or National City Cable, Inc and have a question please call the Fraud Squad at 619-696-6966 or you can file an online complaint.
UPDATE:
Our outgoing governor isn't the only one terminating the bad guys. According to a notice on its website, "The City of Chula Vista is processing the termination of the NexHorizon Franchise." NexHorizon, as you may remember, is the cable company that took over Chula Vista cable.
In addition to the complaints we received about NexHorizon not processing its customers' complaints, we received a complaint from a customer who has had intermittent internet connectivity from NexHorizon for the past two to three months. The gentleman is frustrated because he simply wants to use the service for which he paid.
Here's a link to Chula Vista's notice. Spread the word!
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nexhorizon
I would like to know why, I can not have Cox cable or AT & T as a provicer option in my mobile home park? Park owner canceled the agreement with Nexhorizon. Under that agreement I paid $29.45 per month. In order to have internet, I have to have to pay for their cable. Combined I pay $98.00 per month. So in order to get better TV choices, I have direct TV @98.00 per month. This is not fair to the consumer. Today I verified my nexhorizon cable is not working. Guess I am being ripped off. I pay almost $200 per month, when I should be paying around $100. Every time I went to the office or called Nexhorizon, the customer service was horrible. I would asked for the office manager, that was seemed to never be in the office.
Nex Horizon = Dish Network
Do you realize that Nex Horizon is using Dish Network and giving that service to their customers? I am a Nex Horizon customer (unfortunately) and used to pay $20 through our Mobile Home Park, when the owner terminated the contract and we were forced to pay through them dircectly, I am now charged $45.56 every month for BASIC CABLE! I happen to have Dish Network on other TV's in my home, and realized that Nex Horizon is charging us for cable, yet they are using DISH NETWORK! Sometimes "press select" even appears in the corner of the tv when commericals are on (this is something only through Dish Network), also "no signal" appears at times on the channels when they go out(they even had a channel DISH EARTH that used to appear on our channel). For over a YEAR we have received premium channels, yet last week they were all taken away without any notice, when I spoke to the customer service rep (I use that term VERY lightly), she informed me that I would now have to PAY EXTRA for those channels I have received for over a year!!!! When I asked how to file a compaint, she gave me some bogus P.O. Box in COLORADO!! Sometimes our channels work sometimes they dont, they re arrange channels without informing the customers, and constantly give the same bogus exuse of "we are working on it, we are updating our system". CITY OF CHULA VISTA POLITICIANS PLEASE HELP THE CUSTOMERS OUT BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING SCAMMED BY A COMPANY WHO IS BASICALLY STEALING OUR MONEY AND RUNNING A MONOPOLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO USE THEIR GARBAGE COMPANY!!! From $20 to $45.56 for NOTHING - THIS IS NOT FAIR AND A SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
FCC should step in
I live in National City and currently use NexHorizon. Wow was I surprised when I had learned that my HOA had signed a "contract" with NexHorizon to provide wired cable to the entire complex. This is reprehensible and I am currently in the process of having the "contract" terminated based on collusion and monopolistic issues. There is no way that a company should be allowed to step in and snuff out free-market to consumers that have no say. forget the crappy actual product and non-existent customer service that NexHorizon provides. This is flat out illegal and the FCC should investigate all of these "franchise agreements" and terminate them all. How does COX/AT&T put up with this anyway? Consumers unite!!!
i have had nc/cv/nexhorizon
i have had nc/cv/nexhorizon cable/internet for many many years now. when it was taken from nc cable it was still terrible. internet went out everday sometimes for hours at a time. I called many times to the chula vista office and they said it was upgrades being done that was causing the outtages. just up until 3 months ago was i succesful in getting decent bandwidth and limited blackout time. This mind you, only happening after about 10 calls to the local office and their 24 hr troubleshoot line. The people at the local office are a joke. They never know anything, then when i ask to talk to someone who might know what's going on, they say no one is in the office. They always say they will call a technician and call back with an answer. of course im always the one calling back just to hear them tell me that they are doing some work in that area so thats why its down. they came to my house 3 times in total to do whatever it is they do. this is in a span of about 4 months. To this day i still have never talked to this elusive supervisor "Dan". Overall my experience with them has been a long fought, frustrating battle of bother them till they fix the damn problem. No matter how long it takes.
Now you may be asking yourself why don't i switch to Cox or something? I would love to, unfortunately I am in an area where Nex is the only provider available to me without going satellite. Which would mean horrible internet and inconvenience. I am looking into this company further though.
Nex Horizon is a lousy, fibbing, and dishonest fly by night bus.
Nexhorizon is the liars.
What a bunch of crap. It is obvious that the last two comments in support of this crappy company is from its employees. Your service is terrible. You don't reply to customer complaints and flat out lie. Cox is not trying to monopolize the market here in Chula Vista. It is that they are a much superior product to the crud you put out. I have ATT as an internet provider and no word about Cox trying to push them out so quit spreading that terrible rumor.
What happened to some of the channels on analog? TCM, Nick, food network and other channels have not be in service for months. What lie aree you going to say about that?
You have been telling your customers that you are upgrading your service but need special parts to do the job. Well, that lie has been used for the past 5 months! How long does it take to get a part to upgrade to digital for heavens sake. You are a lousy operation and glad that Chula Vista is getting rid of your ass! Good ridence!
ucan lies
You post is inaccuarate and you are spreading false information. You should get all your facts straight before you spread misinformation concerning any situation. The question people should ask when reading ucan's sh#& is what is ucan's motivation. If this customer was dissatisfied with their service the can do as any consumer and patronize another vendor of services. The truth is the city of chula vista has been working with cox communications to eliminate nexhorizon and at&t from the market in order to monopolize the market. This story is truely about competition in the market place. Much like the proponents of big corporations work to manipulate markets for their own greed. Shame on you for slinging mud and and judging a situation from only one source of information.
Next Horizon
If you really believe that, I've got a bridge over the bay I'll sell you cheap. I've had cable service in the 3rd world that puts these Next Horizon guys to shame.
Changing channels is like pulling the lever on a slot machine; you never know what you'll get, or if you'll get anything at all. This has been going on for over a year, and they always say "Our tech's are working on it".
Re: ucan lies
Hi, anonymous.
Thanks for commenting on our blog post. It's always great to hear both sides of the story.
It is clear that UCAN's motivation is to advocate for consumers. However, it is unclear how consumers could get the rebates NexHorizon's owes them by patronizing another vendor of services. In this case, the consumers had already canceled their NexHorizon service and switched to another service provider. NexHorizon failed to provide a payment it promised to the consumers. Additionally, if the consumer is in a contract with NexHorizon, there potentially could be early termination fees if the consumer switches his vendor of services before the end of the contract.
We would like to verify your assertions that the City of Chula Vista is working with Cox to eliminate NexHorizon and AT&T. UCAN would gladly post a blog about a government agency working against a company for the benefit of another company, but outside your assertions in this blog post, we have no verification of the truth of your statements. We understand the need for privacy when dealing with these sensitive issues (hence your use of anonymous as opposed to providing your real name or contact information), so please feel free to give us a call at (619) 696-6966. Thanks!
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