Bell, Telus customers to pay for incoming text messages

[ds2chan]

wow.. this sucks for me since I'm with Telus and I don't have a text messaging plan.. I don't send out text messages but I can't stop other people from sending me one..

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/07/08/text-messages.html



Bell, Telus customers to pay for incoming text messages
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 | 2:18 PM ET CBC News

Cellphone users with Bell and Telus are going to have to fork over a little more to receive incoming text messages, under new pricing plans slated to roll out in August.

Under the new plans, customers will be charged 15 cents to receive incoming text messages, including uninvited spam messages. Previously, customers without text plans were only charged for outgoing messages.

Customers with a text messaging rate plan or bundle will not be affected by the new charges.

Bell's new pricing plan takes effect on Aug. 8, while Telus will begin charging customers for messages on Aug. 24.

Spokespeople for Bell and Telus were not immediately available for comment.

Kaan Yigit, an analyst with Solutions Research Group, criticized the pricing strategy, suggesting users who rely heavily on text messaging may consider switching to other carriers, including Rogers and Virgin.

"The user has much less control over the messages they receive so it's a terrible customer experience to be charged for such a thing," he said in an e-mail interview.

"A 14-year-old kid gets 30 Happy Birthday messages and gets saddled with the bill, for example."

Customer Debra Messinger, of Halifax, said she plans on switching to another provider once her contract expires.

"Oh baby, when my contract's over, I'll be long gone, for sure," said Messinger.

Tom Kriskie, also of Halifax, said charges for incoming messages were unfair.

"You're at the whim of other people if they send you a message," Kriskie said. "Bam, you're charged …15 cents, and I don't think that's very fair at all."

In the first three months of 2008, Canadians sent a total of 4.1 billion text messages, according the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. In 2007, Canadians sent more than 10 billion messages.

[Wild Weasel]

Have you sign up for an unlimited texting plan and then text the hell out of people I don't like that have Bell plans... :chuckle

[ds2chan]

Have you sign up for an unlimited texting plan and then text the hell out of people I don't like that have Bell plans... :chuckle

lol.. that's evil..

[gabbygenier]

well thats stupid if u ask me. ill just do what Wild Weasel says hell do haha but then again most of the time im somewhere where my phone dont work. there goes that idea.
JUNK!!

[SilentJay]

Thank goodness for unlim data/text :P Greedy bastids.

[eqlso]

I think the quote is case sensitive...so might need to do all caps. I guess I feel safer using Rogers, but chances are if one company does this, others might follow along :(

[RedRaptor]

Horrible...

[TheProfessor]

I think the quote is case sensitive...so might need to do all caps. I guess I feel safer using Rogers, but chances are if one company does this, others might follow along :(


Yeah, my initial reaction was thank God Rogers isn't doing this, but seriously, how far behind can they be?

[kid_icarus]

lol as far behind as they are compared to european and asian wireless providers =)

in almost every technological and pricing aspect

[DumpInfo]

wow that is bs!! I can't believe they would charge you for stupid crap that comes from someone. Awful just wrong! :flaming

[iconicrocket]

Another example of corporate greed. I use to remember not long ago when all of the wireless carriers were suffering, then Roger took over Fido and their profit margins just got that much fatter.

We need Fido to be spurn out or another national carrier fast. And next time the wireless carriers cry about their margins, I'm going to smile then.

[x_o_k_x]

wait a minute.. dont we already gettign charged to SEND txt msges, so why do we have to get crarged for recieving?? That means the company is getting twice more money now.. what a rip off!! Im a txt msging whore lol and all my hotmail+facebook+msn is going through my Blackberry. That means I'll be paying way too much now. I think its time to get IPhone from Rogers..

or go back to the old days..using letters:chuckle

[Flagrum_3]

LMAO, It's the OL' Reel and Snag'em trick!!,...They get everyone hooked on the feature and then they burn you! ....Rogers is not far behind, that you can be sure!

Best thing is, unless you absolutely need all that extra stuff ie; for business purposes, just don't sign up for them or eliminate them, I don't allow text messaging on my phone in or out, extra features will nickel and dime you to death!


_3

[silvermist99]

http://tech.msn.com/news/articlecnet.aspx?cp-documentid=8420201&GT1=40000

Its happening down south also.

[Slade]

Solo Mobile already put this into effect. They sent a mail out last month notifying all their subscribers about it :flaming

[cwp_sedan]

wait a minute.. dont we already gettign charged to SEND txt msges, so why do we have to get crarged for recieving?? That means the company is getting twice more money now.. what a rip off!! Im a txt msging whore lol and all my hotmail+facebook+msn is going through my Blackberry. That means I'll be paying way too much now. I think its time to get IPhone from Rogers..

or go back to the old days..using letters:chuckle

If you have a txt plan then they won't be charging you, so I'm not sure what your are talking about? You would be their exception along with everyone else who has txt part of their plan.



Solo Mobile already put this into effect. They sent a mail out last month notifying all their subscribers about it :flaming

Good thing they didn't send a text message saying you just got charged for recieving this message lol.

[b3GS]

wow.. thats bullshit... like the cell phone companies up here don't rape us enough

[DumpInfo]

B3GS, that's exactly it! We already get raped by our bogus plans now this...I hate how they take advantage of us compared to the US with there amazing plans and cheap cars :bang

[x_o_k_x]

If you have a txt plan then they won't be charging you, so I'm not sure what your are talking about? You would be their exception along with everyone else who has txt part of their plan.

Actually I have my fives, or whatever its called. So anything else I'll be charged..

[cwp_sedan]

Actually I have my fives, or whatever its called. So anything else I'll be charged..

My firend just got a new plan with txt and he said that they told him he would be charged, so who knows anymore. :bang

I thought I would never say it but I'm glad I have Rogers at the moment...lol.

[cwp_sedan]

.

[RX9]

i gonna call them to find out, b/c my plan is very very old, that was $25/month, you got 200 day mins + night and weekend free, starting at 1800 to 0800. i dont know if this will effect the "10yrs+ old" customers. otherwise i gonna cancel their service for sure.

[3GFX]

Telus is making me crazy, I've tried switching to the most appropriate plan, but they've done me over well. For the past two months my bill has been upwards $100. I'm not impressed at all.

I'm switching to rogers shortly, so I can get the plan and phone I want. I've been faithful to telus for about 6 years with nothing to show for it. I'm gone.

[RX9]

^^^i have already saw "GB" transfering from telus/bell to others.

[3GFX]

I'm already off contract so if anyone who works for rogers wants to cut me a deal to switch, I'll do it ;)

[KenYork]

Could you not just call to remove all incoming text from your account altogether?(if your plan is that good)

[SilentJay]

You can totally disable the texting feature, but its kind of an extreme step, especially since text messaging can be quite useful...





Edit: Wooo, 700 posts :)

[Gizzmo_jr]

It's still a horrible cash grab. Like Canada doesn't suck enough for Wireless Communication from its providers, they sure as hell seem to make it worse every time.

[zedtech]

Ottawa calls Bell, Telus on carpet
July 09, 2008
Allan Woods
Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA—The federal Industry Minister is calling the chiefs of Bell Mobility and Telus to a meeting to explain an "ill-thought out decision" to charge cell phone users for incoming text messages.

Jim Prentice issued a statement saying he doesn't want to interfere in the operations of two private companies but has "serious concerns" that they will begin charging customers 15 cents for text messages they receive starting next month.

Bell plans to levy the new charge starting Aug. 8. Telus will follow suit Aug. 24.

"I do have a duty as Minister of Industry, when necessary, to protect the interests of the consuming public," Prentice wrote in a statement. "I believe this was an ill-thought-out decision."

One of the chief concerns is that cell-phone users, particularly the young, will be charged for spam text messages that they receive.

According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, an average of 45.3-million text messages are sent by Canadians each day.

Spokespeople for the two firms have said that customers can contact them to have charges for spam messages deleted from their bills. Heavy text message users also have the option of signing up for a special plan that could reduce overall costs.

Prentice has sent letters to the chief executives of the two companies asking for a meeting before the new charges come into effect Aug. 8 to explain the decision "with a view to finding a solution that provides the best service to consumers at the best price."

[RX9]

so, we need to call them every month for the money back? thats BS! telus' hotline usually hold ppl 20mins. i am switching!!

[plontoc]

I'm already off contract so if anyone who works for rogers wants to cut me a deal to switch, I'll do it ;)

I work for Rogers...

[RedRaptor]

I've been with Telus since they were Clearnet (1998). If I have to pay 1 cent for a text message received, I am switching to Rogers and getting the IPhone.

[condor888000]

I want to jump ship and get away from Bell ASAP. But I have a year and a half left on my contract....

[oni]

Yup, Bell sucks!

[x_o_k_x]

I'll pay the fee for ending contract if I have too, but Im switching I if I get charged a cent.

[condor888000]

Its like $20 a month to cancel, and like I said I have over a year left...I'm a student, no way am I paying that much.

[ds2chan]

well, at least it sounds like somebody from Parliament is trying to help out (although, that's probably his job).. I've never had an issue with Telus and I've been with them for years.. like RedRaptor, I was always with Telus even when they were Clearnet..

[FoXy]

You know what? All the cell phone companies in Canada are going to do it sooner or later. I am with Rogers and really it doesnt matter. Cus generally if you text, you probably text a fair amount. I used to get 125 'sent' a month but i kept going over so now I get 2500. EVEN IF I were getting charged for received too, the most i've ever sent and recieved IN TOTAL in one month is just over 1800. Thats A LOT! I add on an extra $20 package and it gives me all sorts of good shyt, including caller ID, voicemail, internet usage and ALL kinds of messaging.

Its ALL a money grab. But in reality most of us arent willing to give up our cell phones so we are kinda screwed. :bang

[06Touring3]

definetly agree wiht Foxy...it will become industry standard soon enough

Telus is sneaky...

I recently (sayyy 6 or 7 months ago) got a Pearl and shortly after they began offering the $15 "unlmited e-mail/instant messaging" data plan...what they did NOT mention in any ads I saw was that it's $15 for unlmited DATA....unlmited web (d/l included) instant messaging e-mail and GPS...and now they charge $30 for it...and I don't even think GPS is included

But i also have ultd text now...i learned my lesson once with over 1000 txt's in a single month...ouch

so in total i pay $25 for unlimited everything compared to the $30 they offer now

[FoXy]

See its the ppl who dont think they text a lot who dont bother upgrading. I KNOW I do so I would be dumb not too. I did however learn that the hard way. After going over $23 on my bill for sending texts alone. Now I pay about $60 a month for everything I have and I almost never go over anything.

They ALL rip you off, its about who rips you off the least I think lol.

[LockOut]

I'm the exact same way, Foxy. I went over a few times, and then I got the same plan as you. It's great, I don't ever worry about it or anything. I can text all day, and I've never gone over, either...
And Touring, how did you get that??? $25 for unlimited everything?

[whiteomega]

What's to stop the cell phone company from sending their customers promotional text offers and then turning around and charging the customer for it?

It's a bad idea, all around. Get spammed, pay money; buy a text plan, pay money. i think not.

[RX9]

they are lossing who has two or more phones. i have fido (cityfido) and telus (just in case i need it). i use the fido most of the time, and with that plan you dont need to type and send. but ppl/suppliers message me and even junk mails. why the hell we need to pay for the text which it comes in by itself?

[visco9]

I want to jump ship and get away from Bell ASAP. But I have a year and a half left on my contract....

well you should check you agreement, most of them say if the services change in any way you have the right to get out of the contract with no penalty. And I'd say the 15 cent txt thing is a substantial change

[ds2chan]

I just got a text message yesterday from Telus informing me of this change.. sigh.. looks like there's no stopping them now..

[shootemup]

I just got a text message yesterday from Telus informing me of this change.. sigh.. looks like there's no stopping them now..

That was nice of them... they actually let you know that the message they just sent you, cost you 15 cents.

[b3GS]

I just got a text message yesterday from Telus informing me of this change.. sigh.. looks like there's no stopping them now..

me too.. asswipes

I wonder if you reply to that text, who gets it.. cause I wanted to, just to tell them they were *******s :complain

[DumpInfo]

So the ones that currently have a texting package are okay as long as they don't go over there limit and the ones that don't get screwed over making them pay more for something they didn't request. :bang

[MikeyGT]

I just got a text message yesterday from Telus informing me of this change.. sigh.. looks like there's no stopping them now..

hm.. i haven't gotten one from telus yet. so does that mean the 15 cent thing doesnt affect me?

btw, i dont have a text messaging plan :chuckle

[zedtech]

DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR
Bell Canada and Telus face a class action suit in Quebec over plans to charge customers for incoming text messages.
July 28, 2008
THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL – Two of Canada's cellphone giants are being served with another a class action lawsuit in Quebec over plans to charge customers for incoming text messages.

A Montreal law firm has filed its second class action suit in two weeks, this time against both Bell Mobility Inc. (TSX: BCE) and Telus Communications Inc. (TSX: T), on behalf of a Quebec man.

Eric Cormier, a Bell Mobility subscriber for the past decade, initiated the suit saying both companies are acting illegally by unilaterally changing the terms of cellular contracts with their clients.

Both cellphone companies have announced plans to charge customers 15 cents per incoming text message, with Bell introducing the charge on Aug. 8 and Telus on Aug. 24.

The law firm of Saint-Pierre Grenier filed a separate class action lawsuit against Telus on July 14.

Until now, incoming text messages have not been subject to charges.
Let's hope Ontario starts one too.

[x_o_k_x]

I got charged $25 for the incoming! dfisdji0[ast94ujrtaisjdgfsfd:flaming:complain

[ds2chan]

I got charged $25 for the incoming! dfisdji0[ast94ujrtaisjdgfsfd:flaming:complain

holy crap man.. how many messages do you receive in a day??

[bigwood29]

Interesting article in the Star about the text-messaging issue and the greater issues with telecommunications in Canada. We need more competition and until consumers demand change, nothing will change. Give it a read...

http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/475874

I know a few people who tried to get out of their contracts and were charged big time fees. However, if the company changes the contract before it's up, there is no restitution for the consumer. Hypocritical to be sure.

"The 15-cent text message charge may have captured headlines, but it is what lies beneath that really matters. The Canadian cellphone market is discouragingly uncompetitive and expensive by world standards. Fixing those issues will require more work than a couple of press releases and hollow assurances that Canadian consumers enjoy plenty of choice."