Cox Communications wants me to pay, when it is Cox who is unable to provide the service. Phoenix Arizona

I received a letter from Cox Business dated January 27, 2009, Invoice# 183197501 for my business, Arizona's Choice Landscape and Irrigation. The letter is demanding the remaining 14 months of my 2 year contract for a total sum of $2,030.00. The letter states if not paid within 45 days, then the balance will be sent to a collection agency.

Now, here is the situation of why I do not feel liable for the early termination of the contract. My business office moved on December 1, 2008. I called Cox Communications to have my services transferred to the new location. There was no intent on my part to terminate my 2 year contract.

The associate at Cox told me that Cox does not have any services installed in the area where I moved to, so therefore the services cannot be transferred. The associate told me that my business would be the only one in that area that uses Cox and it would cost too much money for Cox to install cables underground just for one business.(Ironically, I moved less than a half a mile from Cox' business location on Deer Valley Rd. You would think Cox would service that area. My new address is 21438 N 7th Ave, Suite A, Phoenix, AZ 85027). The associate went onto to recommend that I look for another company to set up services at my business.

I do not feel that I am liable to pay for any additional amounts other than what amounts are due until the date Cox cancelled my services on December 16, 2008 for late payment (I was late due to moving). Any additional amounts, I do not feel is correct on Cox Communications to dun for since I was not the person cancelling the contract, nor trying to get out of my contract. Cox could not provide the services to me at my new location and therefore that should be the burden of Cox Communications to deal with, not my burden.

When I spoke to another associate on or around December 21st, she told me that it does not matter that Cox cannot bring services to my area and that I signed the 2 year contract, so I am liable. I told the lady that it is not like I moved out of the city limits or to another town, I moved actually closer to their main office and therefore in my mind, there shouldn't be no issues for Cox to provide services to the new location. I am still within city limits, etc.

For this inability for Cox to provide services, the customer is being punished for it. I mentioned to the lady that what she is telling me is ridiculous. I told her that is like my signing a 1 year contract with a customer to do their landscape for them, perform a few services, and then turn around and ask my customer to pay me for the remaining 11 months because the customer moved 1 mile down the road, and ironically 1 mile closer to my office! The lady said that no matter what I say, it will not matter. I will have to pay. She said that she is mailing me a copy of the signed contract. That was the extent of her helping me.

I filed a complaint with the Attorney General's Office just before writing my complaint on this site. I think the world needs to know what type of underhanded business Cox is doing right now and how ridiculous their claim for payment really is.

Tanya
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.