Bell Mobility rumoured to be ending System Access Fee
The Mobile Ninjas website is reporting today that Bell Mobility will be eliminating its system access fee from all existing postpaid plans.
The website cites an internal Bell memo which says the company would be dropping the $6.95 system access fee (SAF) this Friday November 20th.
Dropping the SAF fee should come as no surprise after Rogers Wireless dropped its access fee in October while Telus dropped its fee on November 5th.
In its place, Rogers increased the base price of all plans by $5 a month and introduced a new Government Regulatory fee which varies based on government fees in the province customers live. Telus simply raised plan pricing by $5 a month and added free voicemail.
The result was most Rogers customers paid about the same or slightly more under the new plan while Telus customers paid several dollars less a month.
No word from the Ninja’s on how Bell’s postpaid plans pricing will be affected by the move.
Comment below or discuss in our Canadian Mobile Phone forum.
Our entire cell phone system in Canada is a RIP off —-we need USA competion
Sure hope Bell DOES drop the system access fee, I’m currently paying some 65.00 monthly for my “$25″ plan the plan includes extra’s that are included in the plan but charged as extra fee’s on the plan including system access, $25 + $7 + $7 + $8 + tax + extra texting fees…… They said yes this is the cheapest one only $25 monthly……..
Where exactly did you get info on “……..Government Regulatory fee which varies based on government fees in the province customers live”? there is nothing government with the Government Regulatory Fee Rogers has imposed….you put government in something doesn’t mean government approved it or it was even put forward in front of the government for any sort of approval.. Please get your facts right….thanks.
Where will they hide their new fee?
Heavon forbid they’d actually let you save some money. I’ve always disagreed with the system access fee. I was pleased to see the headline saying that they’re finally eliminating this fee. I’m extremely disappointed to see they’re more-than-likely going to raise rates instead.
Let’s see if Bell raising the bar and doesn’t follow the herd with the raising of the monthly rates. I’m not holding my breath though.
So…both Rogers and Telus drop the “system access fee”, which NEVER should’ve been implemented in the first place, and then RAISED their mobile plan rates by $5…and Rogers also adds a Gov’t Regulatory fee? Are you kidding me? Man…I’m SO glad I don’t own a cell phone, or Blackberry etc. You people who DO own them need to wake up…flood their websites, regular mail…whatever it takes…and make it known that you are fed up with them and will threaten to switch carriers. But like most of our society you will “bury your heads in the sand” and just accept things the way they are.
Bell needs to remove the fee. but removing it will just increase the plan pricing. Their pricing is ridiculous. anyone know where I can get a good deal on the 16gb iphone? i’m trying to upgrade but they won’t lower the price at all.
Was that a typo in the article system acess fee $6.95???? My Hell oops Bell (lol) bill shows 8.95 system access fee. What gives?
I’m also being charged 8.95…called Bell (supposed “customer service” ) and was told 6.95 is for those who do online billing (which I don’t do.) She went on to say that if I wanted to lower the 8.95 charge, they’ll put it down to 7.70, but then charge $2 more for paper invoices…adding in the .75 (911 fee) the total will be 10.45, which is MORE than they charge now at 9.70 (8.95 + .75 (911 fee)). This is a typical Bell response…I don’t know why I bother calling them at all…!
James, you’re absolutely right! Everyone gripes, but no one acts! The defeatist attitude prevails! The reality is that the consumer has the power to bring the corporate giants down, but refuses to wield it!
Well, we’re still waiting for those two or three companies that should come out soon and provide some competition to those thieves. It’s going to happen though I hope almost everyone switches and shows Bell/Rogers/Telus that they will not pay anything that’s put on their bill.
Of course most people seem to be fine with paying crazy sums a month for iphones/blackberries/data plans. And it’s not that these people are well off. Their salaries are fairly low but they still pay for ultra-expensive plans. Why?? It’s definitely teaching the big trio a lesson – people will pay almost anything and not complain.
The other thing is, how long will these new companies hold out and before they get bought out by the big guys. I was really disappointed when Virgin got bought by Bell. You can’t turn and choose anything that doesn’t line up their pockets.
But some day Canada will catch up with the rest of the world in terms of cell phone/internet providers and I can’t wait to see Rogers and the like lose customers.