Beware of COX account transfers... I was billed for cable boxes that COX forgot to pickup.

Beware of COX account transfers... I was billed for cable boxes that COX forgot to pickup.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

I rented my own house for a year.

The new tenant said that they would like to keep the existing COX services (T.V. + Internet).

I called COX and asked how I should handle this situation...  COX said that they would establish an ACCOUNT TRANSFER.

The COX telephone representative created a new account for the tenant (with information that I provide) and then says he will call the tenant to finalize the transfer.

COX representative says that I am now OUT-OF-THE-LOOP as my account will automatically close when tenant's account activates.

THE PROBLEM:

A month after the shutoff date, I receive a bill for equipment that was not returned (SURPRISE).

It turns out that the tenant did not want T.V. service.

While TRANSFERRING services and dropping the TV service , COX failed to make a notation that the equipment must be picked-up.

COX telephone support said that it was my responsibility to return the boxes (Remember that, after my initial setup of the account transfer, the COX representative said that from this point forward, I was out-of-the-loop... The tenant's activation would finalize the transaction and automatically close my account.

THE COST:

I will be charged for the boxes because I will not pull a great tenant into this COX created issue.

AND, COX will disable the boxes - i.e. I'm not "buying" the boxes for future use... just being penalized for their mistake. Too bad because I will be back in that house in one year and those boxes will be useless.

THE RANT:

Rather than COX arraigning to pick up the equipment that they failed to pick up initially, COX says that I must pick it up from my tenant and return it. I can only imagine COX saying the same thing to my 84 year old mother. Yes ma'am, please climb behind your TV to disconnect the box and return the 15 lbs of equipment in the nearest COX store in a car that you can no longer drive... sorry for the inconvenience ma'am.

While COX phone support is, more often than not, pleasant and apologetic, I am so tired of having to call them... Every time I walk away frustrated and feeling like I'm the one "swallowing the pill." 

ARGH!