Comments for open thinking

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Saskboy

Saskboy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:36:18 +0000

Well said. When I was traveling by Via last Summer, unknown to me, our unlimited cell data plan was probably being gouged by SaskTel, while I was feeling misplaced pride in my province’s telco’s data rate.

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Shelsea

Shelsea — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:08:25 +0000

I personally have had nothing but terrible customer service, unexpected ‘fees’ and insane contract changes that pop up AFTER a problem is reported. I will NEVER used sasktel again! Issues were not just for mobile but for land line, internet, and even their tv services. Never again!

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Jon

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:47:25 +0000

I agree that you should be grandfathered in but I believe all providers have the same type of clause regarding roaming outside of the home region.

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by jannymarie

jannymarie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:43:53 +0000

Sasktel should have created 2 plans – unlimited within Saskatchewan and unlimited throughout Canada. I was actually going to sign up today for the Sasktel’s unlimited plan but now I’m not sure anymore.

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Don D

Don D — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:38:52 +0000

Sasktel, and just about every other carrier, definitely underestimated the network traffic that resulted from the smartphone buying frenzy combined with “unlimited” data plans. I would have thought that the uptake curve was more predictable given their experience with the introduction of long distance plans.

Still, no matter what the reason, you may have a good case to go forward to the CRTC with this one, Alec. Depends, of course, on the fine print of your original contract.

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by milesmac

milesmac — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:27:32 +0000

Had the same issue with Manitoba Telecom. My “Unlimited” plan was changed with a footnote sentence on one of my indecipherable 8 page phone bills. The plan name did not change, nor did the cost of the plan, but he terms and conditions did change significantly.
Because of my geography, I used dialup internet and left MTS for a significantly cheaper provider that required a long distance call – no problem with the unlimited, except that my unlimited wasn’t unlimited any more… received a $500 phone bill which they graciously cut in half while telling me, “I guess you didn’t save anything by switching.”
What a slap in the face.
Oh, while I’m not on a data plan, we had an accidental web connection and and $0.10/MB is significantly better than the $0.06/KB MTS billed me.
I would LOVE to see reforms in billing practices and rate calculations – doesn’t seem to matter what I do, what plan I’m on, or how sparingly I use telecom services, my bills are always the same, or I get a punishing financial gouge when trying to save money.

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Heather

Heather — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:36:29 +0000

As a Sasktel subscriber, I do remember receiving a text about this. I don’t think that it will be a big deal to me. However, I agree with you! You (and I) signed up for a service and pay for the service and the service contract should be honoured. If there are to change the terms of your contract, they should be asking you to sign a new contract, which you would then negotiate to your liking. Good luck!

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by SWrightBoucher

SWrightBoucher — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:26:24 +0000

The problem is the contract itself. They usually contain a clause that amounts to one-way termination. The carrier is allowed to change anything they like, while the customer has to pay huge buy out penalties if the contract becomes unusable. We have to stop agreeing to these contracts. Koodo has great terms in Canada with no contract and great coverage. I love it. (BTW, I’m not affiliated – just a satisfied customer).

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Damian

Damian — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:47:44 +0000

Hmm, I left this followup but it seems to have disappeared. Re-posting:

@Pat – If it’s anything like in the States, the carrier doesn’t have to do anything except let Alec break his contract early without incurring the ETF. Carriers can and do make changes to services, terms of contracts, etc. These changes constitute material changes to existing contracts, and as such, allow the customer to leave without penalty and take their business elsewhere.

The problem becomes, where are you going to go? When Sprint added their $10 monthly surcharge, they were still the cheapest of the big 4 carriers, so I stayed with them. Adding $240 to the total cost of the contract is most definitely a material change that would have allowed me to leave, but going to a more expensive carrier would have been me cutting off my nose to spite my face.

Comment on Sasktel’s Great Bait & Switch by Philip Cummings

Philip Cummings — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:44:57 +0000

That’s just wrong! They definitely should honor their commitment to you or let you out of the contract. If this is the way they treat their paying customers, they don’t deserve your business or anyone else’s.