I Don't Have DVR Service, But Am Unable To Delete Series Recording

Odd. Is it a Cox leased DVR? If so, how did you get it without DVR service? What make/model is the DVR? In some locales, Cox was issuing Motorola DVRs without service instead of standard STBs. If so, the DVR functions won't work, so don't worry about it. My condolences.

It was personally installed in my home by a Cox employee per the main Cox headquarters in Atlanta and it does all sorts of weird things. It is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD. It won't let me watch recorded shows because I don't have the DVR service, but by mistake I tried recording shows for an upcoming series. Now, it records every time that show comes on, but I can't stop the recording except individually every time the show comes on. I didn't realize it at the time when he installed the cable box why he said to leave it plugged in all the time because it uploads programming every 4am. My entire TV service shows that most of the programming are all recorded and inserted into my cable schedule and when certain national commercials come on it will quickly change and put into spam local commercials. It's creepy because I can hit the rewind button on any show and it will start rewinding it and commercials and start where I left off and only resets when I switch channels.

JamesH said:

It was personally installed in my home by a Cox employee per the main Cox headquarters in Atlanta and it does all sorts of weird things. It is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD. It won't let me watch recorded shows because I don't have the DVR service, but by mistake I tried recording shows for an upcoming series. Now, it records every time that show comes on, but I can't stop the recording except individually every time the show comes on. I didn't realize it at the time when he installed the cable box why he said to leave it plugged in all the time because it uploads programming every 4am. My entire TV service shows that most of the programming are all recorded and inserted into my cable schedule and when certain national commercials come on it will quickly change and put into spam local commercials. It's creepy because I can hit the rewind button on any show and it will start rewinding it and commercials and start where I left off and only resets when I switch channels.

So Cox gave you an EOL 8300HD without requiring you to get DVR service?

"My entire TV service shows that most of the programming are all recorded and inserted into my cable schedule and when certain national commercials come on it will quickly change and put into spam local commercials. It's creepy because I can hit the rewind button on any show and it will start rewinding it and commercials and start where I left off and only resets when I switch channels."

Uh huh...

I would suggest swapping it out for a HD only receiver. Probably newer equipment and no annoying problems like the one described. If not, you are using handicapped hardware.  

Check your billing statements and make sure you have not been paying for DVR Service.

Back in December 2012, I received a letter from Cox stating that any DVR in use without DVR service MUST be traded in for an regular STB if you did not have DVR Service.  Otherwise Cox would start billing for DVR Service regardless of whether it was activated or not.

On December 1st, 2012 Cox Communications' new DVR
downgrade policy goes into effect. In order to remove DVR
service from an account, the DVR receiver must be returned to
Cox within 30 days and exchanged for a receiver that best
matches the Cox video products remaining on the account. If
the DVR receiver is not exchanged within 30 days, the account
will continue to be charged the DVR receiver fee and billing of
the monthly DVR service fee of $10.00 will resume until the
DVR receiver is returned.

Like others have said, you could get the box changed out for a different one.

It should also be possible to call tech support, have them temporarily enable the DVR feature on the box to allow you to access the DVR options and cancel the recordings, and then they can disable it again.