Complaints from throughout the U.S. are being received by Consumers Union, publishers of Consumer Reports, as cable companies transfer channels to digital-only operation.
Cable companies are using confusion about the upcoming digital TV transition – which applies to TVs with antennas, but doesn’t apply to TVs with cable – as a chance to increase the bills of cable customers, according to the article “Confused About Cable?” in the October issue of Consumer Reports.
The cable companies indicate the changes are needed to free up bandwidth. However, Consumers Union believes that when consumers pay more for the same channels, it’s a rate increase.
Some cable companies are requiring customers to rent a digital cable box for each TV set to see channels that used to be available without one. The costs add up at $10 per box per month.
Here’s what Consumers Union recommends that you do:
- Talk to your cable company about free installation and a lower monthly fee for a set-top box.
- Notify your state’s attorney general if the cable company says the channel changes are due to the DTV conversion mandated by the federal government.
