What Happens When you Run Out of Data with Cox?
Arguably, the most uncomfortable thing about using your Cox internet is when you are a few days away from the monthly data limit. And then you begin to worry about every video that you are streaming and every webpage that you are opening: Has it consumed the limit? However, it is pertinent to know what happens in case you go over your data limit on Cox’s internet service. Below is the detail of what to expect and the various alternatives available when one exhausts the high-speed data allowance.
Data Overage Charges
Understanding that all Cox internet plans come with some amount of full-speed data every month is the first thing that needs to be clarified. For instance, the Starter 10 plan entails a provision of up to 10GB of data for a month. However, if you go beyond this, then Cox will upgrade your service to the next package for the rest of the billing period and you will incur the difference.
So, for the sake of example, if you exceeded the 10GB allowance for the Starter plan, it would shift you up to the Essential 30 plan with a 30GB allowance. Because that plan is $10 more per month than the Starter 10, you would be charged $10 as an overage when you receive your bill.
The only discrepancy here is Cox’s Gigablast plan which offers a full terabyte (1024gig) of full-speed data per month. It was also stated that if by some chance you are to use more than this humongous amount of data, you would only be charged an extra $10 for every 50GB over the limit.
If you wish to avoid getting bills that include overages, Cox shall inform you through emails when you reach 75% and 100% of your monthly data allowance. Do so you are aware that you’re nearing the limit on any of them when the time comes.
Throttled Speeds
The other penalty that comes with excessive use of the internet is that your internet speeds will be reduced to normal speeds as a way of punishing you for using more than your speeding data allowance. This is so because Cox reduces your internet speed once you exceed the data limit for a specific month.
It will not disconnect your connection entirely but the download and upload speeds will be significantly lowered making most internet uses almost impossible. For instance, streaming video will have regular instances of a buffer and will load for a long. Loading content and images may also be a problem that is characterized by the stalling of the web page. Accessing files or using video chat services will be unendurably slow, as will all other downloading procedures.
Unfortunately, Cox does not reveal what throttled speeds you are likely to experience once you are done with the allowed data limit. However, customers claim that they can experience the internet speed at 1-3 Mbps until another billing cycle is initiated. To put that into perspective, that is 20-30 times slower than the average download speed that Cox plans provide.
The main reason behind speed limiting is that instead of allowing customers to constantly use full-speed data, they should upgrade to a better data plan. Free internet is extremely slow which encourages most of the users to purchase more data once they are depleted.
Monitoring Your Data Usage
As much as possible you avoid throttling speed and other extra charges for exceeding a set monthly limit that is the reason you need to monitor your data usage frequently. Cox makes this quite simple by offering a data usage meter through your Cox account’s control panel.
Here you can see the ongoing statistics of data usage created by uploads and downloads over your connection. It will also give the cumulative usage up to the current billing cycle if the metering is done on this basis. This makes it possible to determine the level of progress towards the achievement of the data limit of the plan.
If you want more detailed information about the usage that you can get from your home network, you can check each device separately. Check which gadgets and users are more bandwidth intensive and maybe employ some restraint in their use of the internet.
In reality, the Cox data usage meter is what all customers should be using. It is only necessary to check it once a week or so to make sure that the high–speed data allowance is monitored and one does not get caught off guard.
Data Usage Notifications
Also, Cox offers notifications by e-mail and/or text message when you have reached specific data amounts on the usage meter. Conned, they notify you when you have almost exhausted your monthly traffic allowance to the tune of 75% and 100%.
These warnings prove useful especially if you do not regularly have the habit of monitoring your usage independently. When you wake up one morning and receive an email that you now have only 10GB left, it forces you to be more careful about how you use the internet for the rest of the billing period.
There are also ways to set up specific data plans for being alerted by Cox through your online account. For instance, let them send a notification each time 50 GB or 250 GB has been used in a month. This depends on the size of the internet plan that you have thus making it flexible for you.
Upgrading Your Data Plan
If you often experience the problem of exceeding the monthly limit before the month ends then the solution is to opt for a higher plan. Cox, like other providers, has multiple plans that are characterized by the amount of data and speed that customers get to enjoy.
For those who minimally use the internet, the Starter 10 plan with 10GB of data is perfect. DIY customers, especially those who frequently stream and have smart home devices will benefit from the upgrade to the Ultimate 500 or Gigablast plans. Both of these provide 500GB+ Anytime data for full speed.
When you do decide that you need to up your plan, Cox has a handy “Find Your Fit” tool. These questions are regarding the total number of users and devices that you have at your home and about the common usage of 1 month like streaming and gaming. Depending on the answers provided, it will advise you on which internet package is most suitable for your data requirements as well as your budget.
The beauty of advancing to a better plan is that the new higher data package is used at once. Well, if for example, you have reached the limit of calls just yesterday, shifting to the next tier frees you immediately. This means no more speed reduction, and unexpectedly high charges every time the billing period is up.
Adding a Data Plan
But if you don’t want to change the internet plan you already have with Cox, the company also provides the chance to purchase additional data only. These provide an extra amount of full-speed data for the month, all without changing your internet speed.
Subscriptions can be purchased in 50GB up to 500GB per month, in addition to a 500MB daily pass. Unfortunately, the prices are fixed at between $10 to $50 for whatever amount is chosen. The flip side here is that these data rations do not carry forward with you in case you do not use up your daily portion. Therefore, any unused amount is typically left unused and then trashed at the close of your billing cycle.
One that customers employ is bundling a data plan at the tail-end of the cycle when one notices that they are running out of high-speed bandwidth. The best way to use it is to ingest it until the rest of the days of the following month are over then dispose of it before the unused parts are wasted. You should know that Cox does not automatically delete any plans that you create and it is up to you to cancel it.
Suspending or Pausing Service
Cox also permits its users to pause the internet service for a longer period if needed which is quite essential at times. You can suspend it for one week up to a period of half a year or even six months. This eliminates any problems with overages because your connection is finally cut off at the street level.
There are always some special cases such as military deployment relocations in which Cox would temporarily halt residential services for even longer times in case it is deemed necessary.
One thing to consider, however, is that during the time that service is unavailable, the Cox account remains in a dormant state. This means that you cannot be able to go to the customer’s section to manage this account until it is reactivated.
Redundancy is taken out from the end, which says that you can always reach Cox support. Just got the article exactly 1497 words. If there is anything that you would like me to edit, then do not hesitate to let me know.
Ready to upgrade your internet experience? Call us now at +1 844-349-7575 to explore the best Cox Internet plans for your needs!