Billing Me For A Month In Advance?!

soyboy · 2007-12-31, 11:52 AM

I don't believe this. Videotron on my first invoice is trying to bill me for 13-dec to 12-jan AND 13-jan to 12-feb. What the hell is this? This is the scam their trying to pull on me? Is this standard practice to charge a month in advance, and assume what cable programming the customer will use? And on top of that, they lump it together as one sum and charge the 6% GST. So if the provincial tax drops one percent, will they bill me for 3 months in advance? I'm furious enough to cancel my illico right now. I'd like to have your thoughts and facts on this before i call.

Jake · 2007-12-31, 12:05 PM

When is the payment due? I suspect it is not due until January 12th 2008. This is normal. And yes GST should be lowered since the services are for 2008. There may be two items listed (pro-rated) since your billing period spans two tax rates.

soyboy · 2007-12-31, 12:14 PM

payment is due 13-jan. What they did is simply total my services for both months under the current GST. The program services are listed separately under the different month periods, but are added together ($43.00 twice). Are you saying that they can do this?--putting all under this current GST?

thx

Jake · 2007-12-31, 03:38 PM

No I don't think they can do that legally. But it may show up as a credit or adjustment on next statement. I doubt they are equpped to handle the GST change the way you suggest. I have seen similar adjustments when changing packages half-way a month. If I can find my statement I will take a look.

soyboy · 2007-12-31, 04:52 PM

i see a little note on the side that says that the 5% rate is applicable on invoices produced as of the 1st of january, and that no retroactive adjustments will be made. just swell...

jammertime · 2007-12-31, 05:16 PM

It's ok, I'm here to help. Take a deep breath, relax and repeat after me: "It's only 43 cents. It's only 43 cents."

Jake · 2007-12-31, 10:36 PM

That works out to a nice $1.5 million bonus for Videotron. Based on their subscriber numbers fro cable, TV, telephony and wireless.

pcharlebois · 2008-01-01, 04:10 PM

There bound to be more invoice that will be screwy, like when the lowered the GST last time. You win some you loose some.

You could always call and see what they will do.

I had a 30 hours Internet outage a few months ago, and it just got seetled after serveral phone calls for a tolal of $1.27, now was that worth it, I don't believe so, however, I did get a rather nice appologie.

PhotoJim · 2008-01-02, 12:21 PM

Well, it's a $1.5 million bonus for the federal government, actually. If Videotron collects it as GST, it has to pay it to the government as GST.

As for paying in advance, it's not illegal to require payment in advance. If it were, prepaid cellular services would not exist. It's normal in the cable television industry (my cable provider does it too). If you don't like it you can use a different provider.

If you think about it, requiring payment in advance lowers the cable company's credit risk, meaning that you as a customer are less likely to have to pay for deadbeat customers who don't pay their bills. (If you think you don't pay for these, think again. The profit margin for all products includes the business's expenses for bad debts. If it keeps its debts down it can have a lower product price.)

Jake · 2008-01-02, 12:57 PM

Quote:

it's a $1.5 million bonus for the federal government

Maybe not. Depends on how they calculate the GST owed to the government. If they total the services for 2008 and cut a check for 5% of that amount then they come out ahead. I am sure they pay accountants big bucks to figure out this and many other tricks.

jrmtl06 · 2008-01-08, 08:00 PM

All cable and satellite providers charge 1 month in advanced, nothing different from Videotron here. The bill is ALWAYS due on the first day of the billed month.

It is the same for Bell and it's local phone service and it's also the same for all wireless providers.

The only services you pay AFTER they are consumed are the long distance calls and the electric bill, since they can't know in advance how much you will use.

As for the taxes, if it's not already calculated correctly, it would be on your next bill. There is no need to call, these are done automaticly, Videotron, or any order company, as no reason to charge you more taxes than it needs.

2007-12-31, 11:52 AM	#1
soyboy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: montreal Posts: 41	Billing Me For A Month In Advance?! I don't believe this. Videotron on my first invoice is trying to bill me for 13-dec to 12-jan AND 13-jan to 12-feb. What the hell is this? This is the scam their trying to pull on me? Is this standard practice to charge a month in advance, and assume what cable programming the customer will use? And on top of that, they lump it together as one sum and charge the 6% GST. So if the provincial tax drops one percent, will they bill me for 3 months in advance? I'm furious enough to cancel my illico right now. I'd like to have your thoughts and facts on this before i call.

2007-12-31, 12:05 PM	#2
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 7,185	When is the payment due? I suspect it is not due until January 12th 2008. This is normal. And yes GST should be lowered since the services are for 2008. There may be two items listed (pro-rated) since your billing period spans two tax rates. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2007-12-31, 03:38 PM	#4
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 7,185	No I don't think they can do that legally. But it may show up as a credit or adjustment on next statement. I doubt they are equpped to handle the GST change the way you suggest. I have seen similar adjustments when changing packages half-way a month. If I can find my statement I will take a look. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2007-12-31, 10:36 PM	#7
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 7,185	That works out to a nice $1.5 million bonus for Videotron. Based on their subscriber numbers fro cable, TV, telephony and wireless. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

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2007-12-31, 12:14 PM	#3
soyboy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: montreal Posts: 41	payment is due 13-jan. What they did is simply total my services for both months under the current GST. The program services are listed separately under the different month periods, but are added together ($43.00 twice). Are you saying that they can do this?--putting all under this current GST? thx

2007-12-31, 04:52 PM	#5
soyboy Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: montreal Posts: 41	i see a little note on the side that says that the 5% rate is applicable on invoices produced as of the 1st of january, and that no retroactive adjustments will be made. just swell...

2007-12-31, 05:16 PM	#6
jammertime Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 186	It's ok, I'm here to help. Take a deep breath, relax and repeat after me: "It's only 43 cents. It's only 43 cents."

2008-01-01, 04:10 PM	#8
pcharlebois Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal, Videotron, SA8300HD, Toshiba Regza37HL67, HT Onkyo TX-SR601 Posts: 8	There bound to be more invoice that will be screwy, like when the lowered the GST last time. You win some you loose some. You could always call and see what they will do. I had a 30 hours Internet outage a few months ago, and it just got seetled after serveral phone calls for a tolal of $1.27, now was that worth it, I don't believe so, however, I did get a rather nice appologie.

2008-01-02, 12:21 PM	#9
PhotoJim Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Regina, SK; Access Comm DCT6412+2000+1000 + Digital Voice; Primus TBB; Vonage Posts: 394	Well, it's a $1.5 million bonus for the federal government, actually. If Videotron collects it as GST, it has to pay it to the government as GST. As for paying in advance, it's not illegal to require payment in advance. If it were, prepaid cellular services would not exist. It's normal in the cable television industry (my cable provider does it too). If you don't like it you can use a different provider. If you think about it, requiring payment in advance lowers the cable company's credit risk, meaning that you as a customer are less likely to have to pay for deadbeat customers who don't pay their bills. (If you think you don't pay for these, think again. The profit margin for all products includes the business's expenses for bad debts. If it keeps its debts down it can have a lower product price.)

2008-01-08, 08:00 PM	#11
jrmtl06 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 72	All cable and satellite providers charge 1 month in advanced, nothing different from Videotron here. The bill is ALWAYS due on the first day of the billed month. It is the same for Bell and it's local phone service and it's also the same for all wireless providers. The only services you pay AFTER they are consumed are the long distance calls and the electric bill, since they can't know in advance how much you will use. As for the taxes, if it's not already calculated correctly, it would be on your next bill. There is no need to call, these are done automaticly, Videotron, or any order company, as no reason to charge you more taxes than it needs.