well it seems in a cashless society the big local phone company still likes to nickle and dime its customers. Aliant just went in a new direction for mobility. Bell decided it wanted to ‘outsource’ its mobility service, saving them millions of dollars. YET they up’ed the service fee from $8.95 to $9.70. That’s an extra .75¢ they are making off us. They decided to cut costs, pay a lower wage to outsource, and yet we pay more???? The people saving and making money are the shareholders and bigwigs. Next thing you know our call service providers will be based in India and they’ll up the fee again….I urge everyone to call Aliant on your cell @ 611 and complain.
This article appears in May 22-28, 2008.
Aren’t service fee’s etc. somewhat regulated by the CRTC? I thought they have to prove to a board that the increase was justifiable?
that is correct. Crtc regulates, radio, tv, phone, and internet provider regulations. All increases are discussed before a panel months in advance. For the regulations and the reasons given, are provided in detailed copies of the minutes of all hearings.your answer is somewhere on this page.http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/public/2007/8045/noticete.htm
Uh guys… While the CRTC regulates local landlines and some aspects of cellphones, it doesn’t regulate the rates, quality of service and business practices of cellphone companies…(unless this has changed while I wasn’t looking…)Thought you might like to know before you get too involved in solving yet another of the world’s problems…
it regulates rate increases. They have to apply for that. Check the link i sent.
Its your claim… YOU check it… Find the part that says rate increases including cell phones are regulated and I will retract my prior statement… I got some yard work going on here today, so I will check back from time to time… Hope you are having a good day on your deck today Homie… Sun is shining… beautiful…
here is an example of a rate change… the introduction of the rate change for 911 services.http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2004/dt2004-70.htmthere is a rate, and a rate cap on the service.————–http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1992/DT92-3.HTMa battle of rate monopolizing.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/public/2007/8045/noticete.htmThis page clearly states the CRTC does not regulate cellular rates, but they do regulate certain business practices by carriers so to protect the subscribers from unfair business transactions. The list shows the does and don’ts of the CRTC in the cellular industry.
Ooops – I posted the wrong link earlier. Try this instead: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/t1021.htm
Thx ex-hali…
That 75 cents is Bell/Aliant’s 911 fee. It has been there for quite some time. It did increase from 50 cents (I believe) but all cell phone companies in Canada have this 911 fee. Nova Scotia’s fee is 43 cents. The system access fee is $8.95 (which is annoying, but again all the cell providers have them – Rogers and Telus at $6.95). The new Bell bill may combine the system access fee and the 911 fee, but that’s the ony way I can see that $9.70 happening.This link will show you $8.95 as the system access fee:http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_ON/PrsShpWls_RtpIRPList.page?wlcs_catalog_category_id=InternetRatePlansI can’t help but wonder what the outsourcing is, of which you speak. Where did Bell outsource their mobility? Do you mean the customer service? Cuz most companies outsource customer service to call centres, whether we – as customers – realize it. Where are you getting your information?No offense, but you seem misinformed in regards to everything in your post. Even the number to call – it’s *611 and not 611.
There is actually a lawsuit regarding system access fees and their legality. This is a ridiculous practice and evidence of gouging at the hands of the big telecom companies.
sorry, ex hali, i guess that was a better way of wording it. They have to inform the crtc of the rate adjustments.my bad, i knew it was something close to that…. i knew shit like this couldnt go on without some justification to the big heads
sorry, ex hali, i guess that was a better way of wording it. They have to inform the crtc of the rate adjustments.my bad, i knew it was something close to that…. i knew shit like this couldnt go on without some justification to the big heads
Homie, you get yourself into a hole, and you just don’t know when to stop diggin’… At least Sissy had the sense to bail, when the thread started to go sour…
if you read the link i put in, the rates and the limitations of the increase are given. Look for yourself.” SIZE=”3″> Proposed rate and price cap classification 5. MTS Allstream proposed that, for price cap classification and rate determination purposes, its WSP E9-1-1 Service be assigned to Category I competitor services. MTS Allstream stated that the proposed rate for WSP E9-1-1 Service of $0.0280 per wireless working telephone number per month was based on its Phase II costs for providing the service plus a 15 percent mark-up. “they report these rates, and have to provide an explanation of the increases. That is having something to do with it. I know there is one example of where the CRTC ruled that Bell was charging customers twice for the same cell phone service. They may not regulate it, but they do protect us from certain gouges.
http://www.thecoast.ca/publicationreturnframe.lasso?-token.address=www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/public/2007/8045/noticete.htmcorrect me if i am wrong…. but is this not an example of a rate adjustment?
Cell phone companies, they suck. This is why I got rid of my cell phone several years ago. Add 50% to your plans rate. Cheapest plan $22, every month my bill would be at least $50 – $60 add extra minutes and LD and it was way more than that . That is why I got sick of it. Fee for this, service charge for that. With the bill broken down and exposing all of these charges I was getting pissed off. In a way I wish I could just see the total and my Overage in Minutes plus my Long Distance. Fees and service charges are getting out of hand everywhere to. Like getting a plane ticket, Ho-Lee-Fuck !!!
NICK:looks like my add got the best of me again….thoughts all there, content 85%, the rest still stuck in my brain… my bro and his gf work in mngt for aliant…when i can sit down and spell it out in detail(2morrow)…got everyone going though ‘smiles’…. btw, picking on me for leaving out the *, sorta senseless, goes without saying
System access fee’s went up AGAIN with aliant?? What the bloody fuckin hell??it went from 2.95…. then to 6.95 for a year or so, then up to 8.95…. Like seriously.. WHAT THE FUCK ALIANT!?I’m switching to telus…
You can call Aliant and complain…but you will be redirected to Bell’s Customer Service. Bell Mobility took over Aliant’s cellular service.BTW…the system access fee did NOT increase. I just compared a bill from a few months ago to the one I just received. The $9.70 is BOTH the system access of $8.95 AND the 911 fee of $0.75 added together. It says that right on the bill: “Sys Access Fee $8.95, 911 Fee………$9.70”. The NS 911 fee is $0.43…federal 911 fee is the $0.75.
I don’t have a cell phone.check http://www.zombo.com
Yep, it’s true.. if you call Aliant’s “customer service” you will get a robotron from Bell who is sitting in Toronto and knows absolutely NOTHING about Aliant’s services or former services.As someone who has had an Aliant cellphone since 2001, and was a dealer for Aliant Mobility from 2002-2005, I know the policies pretty damn well.. so when I moved to Ontario for the summer I expected to be able to put my phone on temporary suspension for the summer.. well what a shock, the Bell Reps have never heard of Temporary Suspension, and even though it isn’t mentioned ANYWHERE in the literature I received or could find online about the changeover, Temporary Suspension (for the uninformed, this is when you suspend your service and pay 5$ a month to keep your phone number, this also suspends your contract wherever it is, but it works well if you’re goin overseas and can’t use your phone or are in the hospital long-term or lose your phone) is no longer available due to the changeover. Also, if you have an Aliant contract and you move out of hte Maritimes you no longer can switch the contract to the regular Bell network. SO because of this stupidity, I am now paying 20$/mth for a phone I cannot use because I dont’ live in the area. In lieu of temporary suspension, the representative offered to lock my phone so that no one can use it, but I’d still be paying 20$ for airtime that I woudln’t be able to use if I tried since my phone would be locked from anyone using it. Yes.. because that makes sense to pay full price for a plan that I can’t use. KUDOS ALIANT I used to be loyal to you but this is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous..