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Cox class action overview:
- Who: Cox customers sued the internet, TV and phone company.
- Why: The plaintiffs say Cox used a deceptive pricing scheme to covertly increase the monthly service plans for cable TV.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.
Cox ran a deceptive pricing scheme where it covertly increased the monthly service rate for its cable TV service plans in the middle of promised fixed-rate term contracts, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Donald Christianson, Isabel Prado, Neil Moura and Daniel Polinsky filed the class action complaint against Cox Communications, Inc., and CoxCom, LLC Aug. 30 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
According to the Cox class action, the company enticed customers to enter into 24-month contracts for its cable TV service plans by promising a fixed monthly rate for two years.
Cox class action lawsuit claims company disguised increases as surcharges
Customers who entered into these 24-month contracts then gave up their ability to freely quit or downgrade their service for the 24 months without incurring a significant early termination fee, the plaintiffs allege.
“Customers locked themselves into these 24-month contracts because Cox had represented to them that Cox was similarly locking itself into charging no more than the promised fixed rate during the contract term,” the lawsuit states.
However, Cox’s representations were false because it increased the monthly service rate mid-contract by increasing two disguised monthly service charges labeled on the bill as the “Broadcast Surcharge” and the “Regional Sports Surcharge,” the Cox class action claims.
“Cox failed to adequately disclose these service charges during the signup process, and Cox never disclosed the fact that Cox could, and would, use these service charges as a covert way to increase the monthly service rate mid-contract despite Cox’s promises to the contrary,” the plaintiffs allege.
Since 2015, Cox has increased the Broadcast Surcharge and the Regional Sports Surcharge at least once a year—each time between $1.00 to $3.50 per Surcharge—on all of its cable TV customers regardless of whether they were in the middle of a purportedly fixed-price contractual period, the Cox class action alleges.
“Plaintiffs estimate that Cox has extracted over $70 million since 2015 from more than 1 million California and Nevada cable TV subscribers via mid-contract increases to the Broadcast Surcharge and the Regional Sports Surcharge,” the lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs are looking to represent a California class and a Nevada class of consumers who entered into a term contract for Cox cable TV service where Cox increased the amount of the “Broadcast Surcharge” and/or the “Regional Sports Surcharge” in the middle of the contract.
They are suing for violations of California consumer laws, and breach of contract and seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
In 2020, Cox was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging that the provider overstates its internet speeds to deceive consumers and charge higher prices.
Were you affected by the alleged Cox cable TV service surcharges? Let us know your experience in the comments!
The plaintiffs are represented by Paul Karl Lukacs of Hattis & Lukacs.
The Cox class action lawsuit is Donald Christianson et al., v. Cox Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-01290-RSH-MSB, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
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20 thoughts onCox class action alleges company increases monthly rate during fixed-rate term contracts
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Yep nothing’s changed. I was giving a price . Then the next month the price was different.when I called they said that the person before didn’t put something in right and that that price is no longer available. On top the price they charged a fee for late payment cause I didn’t pay they bill due to calling and trying to figure out why they price difference.
They double the rate for internet – thought I didn’t notice
Cox is the worst company I ever encountered and I filed many complaint against them with regulators which I encourage you all to do (especially FCC, FTC, Utilities Commission and especially Attorney General in your state). Cox was served with multiple complaints and their answers are evasive and ridiculous. Please add me to your list.
Add me please
after agree the price a month for one year they were billing the price we never agree also sport fees and other surcharge. I am no longer with cox but they are sending demand and collection in spite of our statement to them not to send demand. also cox owes us money
Cox is an Over priced misleading Cable Company that is easily being hacked and there security measures are not up to par and I’m having to switch out my wifi router every 2 weeks.
There over priced and easily compromised
. I’m still having piggy backing on my account here I’m Henderson Nevada.
I’m going to Cancel Cox once and for all.😩