TJTomBy an edhat reader
Over the last couple of years the Cox provided email service has deteriorated. My household has experienced many problems that a Google search has reviled are also being experienced by Cox customers across the nation. Cox support personnel are able to solve problems associated with incorrect setup parameters on customer devices but many other issues go unresolved and the Cox representatives basically put the blame on the customer.
Now Cox has posted a notice at https://www.cox.com/residential/support/cox-email-creation-policy.html which says “In recent years, fewer customers have taken advantage of a Cox Email account, so we decided to modify our email service to better serve our customers. As of August 15, 2019, Cox no longer offers the ability for new and existing Cox Internet customers to create new Cox Email accounts…” This notice was not sent to customers or posted on the monthly bill. However, we receive a couple of mailings a month from Cox attempting to get us to sign up for additional “services.”
If people are not using the Cox email server it is likely because it is so unreliable. I have had a couple companies ask for another email address when I supplied my Cox address. They explained that they were having too much trouble communicating with customers via Cox email. Bank of America recently posted an alert on my online banking home page which said “Your primary email address ********@cox.net is undeliverable.”
Now, the Cox solution for their inept management of their email servers is to start eliminating the email service. The corporate speak “…so we decided to modify our email service to better serve our customers…” is really shameful. Email is a basic service of any Internet Service Provider (ISP) and it’s not rocket science. The poor email service continues and I think it is likely that this is a first step toward total elimination of the email service.
This is another example of what happens when a utility is granted an exclusive contract and left to do as they please. Is this an example that can be used to rein Cox in?
I have no desire to use Gmail. Any other recommendations for an alternative email provider?
yahoo…gmail works fine, not sure why you don’t like it. just disable google hangouts app on your phone, that will cover the security issues.
I don’t have Cox, but my neighbor does, and when he called a worker to come out for some problem, I watched from my upstairs window, the worker toss 2 old padlocks over our fence, when all he had to do is walk 2 feet to the trash can !!! Well, I didn’t say anything to him, but after he left I went over and retrieved those padlocks, put them in an envelope with a note about the incident, and took it over to their office….. Hope management issued a notice to all their workers, NOT to do that.
That’s the same strategy the UK and other European countries use. They own the communications infrastructure and let private companies compete on top of it. Visitors often comment on how expensive mobile phone and internet costs are here in the U.S. The Koch brothers (now brother I suppose) have done quite a job selling their “guvmint is bad” message (to their profit).
State utilities are even more desirable as we see the increasing corruption of the “public utility” private model. These private companies (PGE, SCE etc.) were supposed to have a respectable safe return in exchange for quasi-monopoly franchises but they have tried to feed their fat pig execs and board members and ignore the service obligation to the community to do so. Along the way they have bribed and bought Public Utility Commissioners who were supposed to protect us. Enough of that. If this be socialism, sign me up.