Why Did Cox Raise my Bill?
Now, if you have recently paid your Cox Communication monthly bill and have realized that the rate has gone up, then you will be searching – why did Cox increase my bill? However, cable and internet providers especially in the US have been found wanting in this aspect as they continue to sneak in rate hikes for their existing customers annually. Cox pricing changes can be attributed to several factors and this may explain why it has gone up.
Promotional Pricing Expired
Another cause that many people report when it comes to a sudden spike in their Cox bill is because their promotional pricing has run out. This usually means that the Cox cable and internet service providers are likely to give you their best and cheapest rates for the initial time you subscribe to their services usually within the first six months, one year, or two years. These are mere promotional rates aimed at attracting customers to their facilities and having them hooked to the services.
However, when that period elapses, your power tariff reverts to the standard retail tariff, which is typically much higher. Thus, if you have subscribed to the Cox services for 6 months and you were lured into signing up for the service by a certain low introductory price, well such a low price no longer applies. The amount indicated in your new bill is the full, nonpromotional base rate.
Equipment Rental Fees
Are you a new Cox customer who connected to the service in the last 30 days? This can increase your monthly spending by the cost of renting equipment that you never knew you needed before. Cox charges a rental fee for each piece of equipment they provide, such as:
- Cable boxes: $10$15 once a month
- DVR service: Individual cost: $10$20 per box
- High-definition equipment fees
- Modems and routers: >$10$15 monthly
Yes, man, all those rental fees can stack up. Ensure that you explain what equipment you have and the fees you are charged for each every month. One may want to buy their modem and router to do away with some of the charges that come with it.
Broadcast TV Surcharge
Cox and other pay-TV providers have introduced what is called “Broadcast TV Surcharge” and the cost has been added to the bill increasing it by $5$20 per month. This tariff is intended to allow cable operators to compensate for the expenses of retransmitting local broadcast networks. The practice of imposing the surcharge is somewhat irritating to the consumers but, at the same time, completely legal and approved by the FCC. Perhaps the only thing you can do regarding the Broadcast TV Surcharge is to try and let go of cable TV as much as you possibly can.
Regional Sports Fees
I am sure that being a sports lover you have come across a more recent addition to your bill called the Regional Sports Fee. This is another annoying surcharge that cable providers have been piling on that places an additional $5$10 per month. These regional sports fees assist in addressing the steep rising licensing costs that regional sports networks demand from service providers such as Cox for the right to broadcast local professional and college teams’ games. These costs have been inflating very much so the organization transfers them to the consumers.
Internet Infrastructure Upgrades
Cox could also be offering higher rates to help finance the expansion of its broadband networks like fiber optic. In this case, the pressure to accommodate customer growth in streaming, gaming, and overall home internet usage has pushed companies such as Cox to massively upgrade the network infrastructure. These costs translate to higher rates that are passed on to the subscribers. Well, it is worth recognizing that those infrastructure investments are helping with the speeds and the bandwidths, but we are paying for it.
Good Old Fashioned Greed
As these various industries show, there are always several reasons behind an increase in prices; however, sometimes, the cause is simply common corporate greed. For most households, cable bills have increased more than double in the last decade and to top it all the average income per household has not seen a significant rise. At a certain point, one has to ask if these recurring price increases year in and year out are warranted or if incumbent cable providers such as Comcast and Charter are simply milking as much $ as they possibly can from a rather inelastic customer base.
Managers, directors, and other CEOs continue to increase their pay packets yearly and shareholders reap handsome profits, all the while consumers are being overcharged with a constant stream of fees and rising tariffs. Alas, in many areas there is little competition and we are left to cover our losses and pay the bills month after month.
What Can You Do?
That is not all you can do when you observe that your Cox bill is unnecessarily high. Here are a few tips to help mitigate the pain:
- Call and politely threaten to cancel – Even customer loyalty reps will have some leverage that can be used to offer you specials or bundled rates.
- Reduce your offerings – Are cable packages that offer 300 channels necessary or are high-speed internet packages necessary? Reduce monthly expenses on services to match the requirements of your business.
- Examine competitors in your zone – Companies are evolving so there must be a way to change your provider to get better rates in the initial stages
- One should avoid using rented equipment – It is cheaper to buy your modem and router instead of paying monthly charges.
- Be a pain on social media sites – The cable providers have an intense hatred of customers publicly posting on Twitter and Facebook, complaining about high charges.
In conclusion, one cannot escape from getting annoyed at the sudden rate increase in internet and TV service providers. However, with a little effort, time, and foresight one can always minimize the financial losses. The gears of avarice will simply keep on churning at the Cox corporate offices, but a viewer need not simply lie back and take it. Consumers also do not take the back seat and are ready to battle for what they can do to reduce the shock of those high monthly tariffs.
Ready to upgrade your internet experience? Call us now at +1 844-349-7575 to explore the best Cox Internet plans for your needs!