Bell's landline LD Network Charge $4.50 a month?

[Flavario]

I noticed in this months landline phone bill, Bell has added a $4.50 network charge in addition to my long distance Digital bundle plan which was part of a service bundle (no longer offered by Bell)

I was getting 1,000 minutes long distance (US&Canada) for $5.00 a month, network fee included as part of my agreement to keep 3 services (wireless, telephone & internet) with Bell. (This offer was only available over 2 years ago) They've upped this now to $9.50 a month without ANY prior notice.

When I questioned the CSR about the increase, she blamed the CRTC. And that it was required because of the CRTC.

They've also increased my wireless access fee from $6.95 to $8.95 a month. ($2 increase) although I was aware of this increase.

[peano]

Originally Posted by Flavario

When I questioned the CSR about the increase, she blamed the CRTC. And that it was required because of the CRTC.

She is a liar. It is simply another way for Bell to gouge their customers. The CRTC should call Bell claiming to be a customer so they can hear this BS and fine them. I am sure the CSRs are trained to say this - unofficially of course.

[digihd]

It would be illegal for the crtc to act in that manner.

[Nemnoch]

2 things:
flavario a notice to all customer's on the digital bundle was sent out earlier in the year advising customer's of the increase/addition of the network charge.
i know this because i have the same plan and was aware in advance. it doesn't bother me as the cost is still less than 1 cent per minute.

peno is correct, the representative should not have told you that it was a crtc tarrif charge. call back if you have the representatives employee code and ask to speak with a manager.


nem, who says less than 1 cent a minute is still a good deal.

[Q]

I never got any notice of any increase to anything.

[digihd]

Q
When you first sign up its right there (we have the right to change the fee/service at any time).

[Flavario]

Originally Posted by Nemnoch

2 things:
flavario a notice to all customer's on the digital bundle was sent out earlier in the year advising customer's of the increase/addition of the network charge.
i know this because i have the same plan and was aware in advance. it doesn't bother me as the cost is still less than 1 cent per minute.

peno is correct, the representative should not have told you that it was a crtc tarrif charge. call back if you have the representatives employee code and ask to speak with a manager.


nem, who says less than 1 cent a minute is still a good deal.

No notice was sent to me. I read all the inserts in my bill too. They require 30 days IN ADVANCE to cancel any service (so they can still bill you another 30 days of service) but when it comes to a price increase, they don't attempt to inform you at all.

Yes, that plan is a good deal but I never used anything near 1000 minutes a month. I'd end up paying less than $9.50 a month in long distance even at 5 cents a minute.

[Flavario]

Originally Posted by digihd

Q
When you first sign up its right there (we have the right to change the fee/service at any time).

Not legal unless they provide proper, reasonable or sufficient notice to subscribers. I guarantee I received NO such notice! I am sure I'm not the only one!

There was a class action suit against Bell back in 2000 for a similar stunt, they had a long distance plan called FIRST RATE that had specifc hours of usage. They changed the hours of usage to a few hours earlier (ie: unlimited LD starting at 9am instead of 7am) , and some users were never informed about the change. They billed these people and demanded payment for services. I believe Bell lost class action and had to pay back all these people who were on this unlimited long distance plan.

I found this link

http://www.classactionlaw.ca/claims/...firstrate.html

[hugh]

That fee has been around for years on Bell LD plan. Presumably you were grandfathered. I wonder why the change now. Did you change something else on your plan?

[Flavario]

Originally Posted by hugh

That fee has been around for years on Bell LD plan. Presumably you were grandfathered. I wonder why the change now. Did you change something else on your plan?

No, the network charge was included in the $5.00. That was my first question to them when I signed up, because network fees were about $3 a month at that time. I wish I still had the original promotional material, but it was Long Distance plan was 1,000 LD Canada/USA minutes for an additional $5.00 a month.

This deal was only available to subscribers that also had monthly Wireless plans $40 and over, and High Speed Internet. In addition, you got $5.00 off your internet service and $5.00 off your wireless plan.

Overall, it was a good deal.

[Q]

exactly what Flavario said is what I have except I got it without having a wireless plan.

my oct. bill was still at $5. I will see what my Nov. bill which should come within a week has.

[digihd]

Flavrio
They do not have to give notice.It there in the fine print when you sign up.The way they do it now is all legal.

[Flavario]

Originally Posted by digihd

Flavrio
They do not have to give notice.It there in the fine print when you sign up.The way they do it now is all legal.

I have no problem of them raising rates, because if I don't like the rates I just take my business somewhere else. It's the notice I have a problem with. They did it to my wireless and they did it with my land line phone, and they did it two years ago with my Internet service. A reasonable company would give you advance notice. I don't care if its a 2 cent increase, or a $100 increase.

BTW, just because you sign a contract and agree to their terms doesn't mean what they are doing is considered legal. Do you really think Bell could eliminate Unlimited Weekend/nights calling on cell phone plans and not notify their customers about it?

[Nemnoch]

Originally Posted by Flavario

No notice was sent to me. I read all the inserts in my bill too. They require 30 days IN ADVANCE to cancel any service (so they can still bill you another 30 days of service) but when it comes to a price increase, they don't attempt to inform you at all.

Yes, that plan is a good deal but I never used anything near 1000 minutes a month. I'd end up paying less than $9.50 a month in long distance even at 5 cents a minute.

I just checked my bills. check on your first bill after june 1st. it should be printed on teh seond page of your bill if you are on one bill (which I imagine you are) it could also be on the information section of your bill on the first page (underneath the information about monthly charges)

nem, who is checking his bills

[Flavario]

Originally Posted by Nemnoch

I just checked my bills. check on your first bill after june 1st. it should be printed on teh seond page of your bill if you are on one bill (which I imagine you are) it could also be on the information section of your bill on the first page (underneath the information about monthly charges)

nem, who is checking his bills

Yes, I'm on the One Bill. I checked all my bills from this year, starting from January 2006. There is no notice on any bill within the year regarding this added increase. However, what I find interesting is the description of the Digital Bundle LD Plan from January 2006 - April 2006 is:

PLAN BNLD Digital Bundle Long Distance Plan: 1000 min. of direct-dialed calls to Canada and US., 24/7, includes network charge.

From May 2006 till Oct 2006, the description changed, and the "includes network charge" was omitted.

No network charge ever appeared on my bill until November 2006.

Here are some of the other increases they mentioned on my bills since January 2006

- Removal of the $55.00 charge for people moving/or new installation fee. They now are raising everyones rates 80 cents a month to pay for this.

- 30 days advance notice to cancel most (if not all) services.

- Late payment charges are 2% for unregulated items, and 1% for regulated items.

So, if omitting "includes network charge" from a one line description in the invoice is considered enough notice, then they got me.

Just out of curiosity, what does your notice say?