Dear Cox,
Our household got a second usage notice today. Hadn't seen one in some months ("Preferred" package). Had never seen one on previous accounts.
Are there any plans to change the cap?
How is it that, even with the "Ultimate" package, that the cap basically allows for (comparatively) less use?
400GB/mo. @ 100Mbps = 9.5 h (/mo) = .312hrs per day (at full speed)
250GB/mo. @ 25Mbps = 23.9 h (/mo) = .79hrs per day (at full speed)
My node doesn't seem overloaded. The infrastructure seems to be able to handle more than 9.5, or 24 hours of sustained use in a month's time.
The only alternative in my area is AT&T. I've heard that their uVerse isn't capped, but might be, or might be later, so who knows. Would really not prefer to switch to them.
I've never bothered to worry about a cap until seeing these notices.
Now, I'm not sure what to do.
Would it be unreasonable to consider (increasing the cap to) 1/4 of the speed's max potential, for 4hrs. a day? That'd be 314.3GB/mo on the 25Mbps plan (http://www.dslreports.com/calculator?sz=11250000000+B&c1=Calc&time=120+h&speed=6.25Mbps)? How about rounding that up to 315, or 350 for kicks, and maybe just to say to your customers that you're still a better deal than any other provider?
How about a yearly review of that, to increase fairly with consumption trends, and at least to keep up with speed increases?
Should customers be expected to make do with *less* when the price only continues to go up? More speed is nice and all, but 50GB cap increase in 3yrs. time, while speeds have practically doubled is a little weird in my opinion.
It's 2014. In 2011 (3 years ago now), AT&T said it would do 250GB caps on its uVerse. They haven't increased theirs.
In 2011, Cox had a 200GB cap. and had this to say about it:
"If you determine that your Internet data usage consistently increases, we recommend that you consider a Cox High Speed Internet package that more closely matches your use of the service."Ok. I'm no expert on this, but hasn't everyone's usage consistently increased over the course of 3 years? Pardon a bad car analogy, but that's a bit like saying that if you find yourself on a highway with ever increasing speed limits, that you should drive more slowly, and less often.
Also, I can't seem to find the source article here, but that one also references this:
According to DSL Reports, the MSO is issuing subscribers four warnings. In the first three warnings, Cox suggests that subscribers order a tier offering a larger data allowance. In the fourth warning, Cox warns subscribers that there service may be disconnectedIs that still the case?
In either case, how would one go about communicating to Cox that they would prefer a better dialog on this issue? It seems rather one-sided, and when the other side puts out passive-aggressive notices that "you should consider another package" ...it makes things a little difficult...
Sincerely,
A Cox HSI customer since about 2003 (with a couple of short breaks in-between due to locations not being in the service area).
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