Bell Canada wowed me with Awesome customer service

[walkonby]

I only have a land line, have never owned a cell phone ( ever) so I have not experienced all the nonsense with " plans" and contracts nor do I worry about being overcharged for texting, because I don't know how! ( ha ha ). This one time amount that the CS rep deducted as I spoke with him, should reduce this months bill substantially. I am still giddy.

[tjthemanto]

I only have a land line, have never owned a cell phone ( ever) so I have not experienced all the nonsense with " plans" and contracts nor do I worry about being overcharged for texting, because I don't know how! ( ha ha ). This one time amount that the CS rep deducted as I spoke with him, should reduce this months bill substantially. I am still giddy.

You won't believe me if I tell you , these guys are so bad that they even have contracts for their landlines just like they have for their internet and cable TV.

Wireless is not the only area where they will scam you with their contracts.

[walkonby]

You won't believe me if I tell you , these guys are so bad that they even have contracts for their landlines just like they have for their internet and cable TV.

Wireless is not the only area where they will scam you with their contracts.

Wow, then I am so very lucky that I got a good CS rep because I just checked my bill on line and I have already been credited for both the phone and the cable, just like he said. The new rate increase was going to cost me a total of $5.00 plus tax extra each month, but since Bell credited me over $72.00, that more than covers the increase for the whole year right? I will worry about the " next " increase in rates a year from now.

Thanks again for all the great warnings though, I will be sure to always document the info when I speak to a rep again, I guess I got lucky
( whew!)

[dagney]

I believe the above poster "if Bell's lips are moving they are lying". I hate Bell. Will never deal with them again. I would pay double the amount with someone else or go without before I would ever, ever, ever use Bell.

[sweet sparrow]

The new rate increase was going to cost me a total of $5.00 plus tax extra each month, but since Bell credited me over $72.00, that more than covers the increase for the whole year right? I will worry about the " next " increase in rates a year from now.

Did that cover the tax as promised?

Unfortunately, the next increase for me was a few months after the last increase. It's not effective upon renewal, it's when they decide to raise the rates for your area. They can raise your rates a few months into your 12-month contract, or less if you didn't get the memo on a previous bill.

[walkonby]

Did that cover the tax as promised?

yes, 12 months x $5.00 + 13% tax = $67.80, the credit was over $72.00 ( I will take the extra, lol! )


Unfortunately, the next increase for me was a few months after the last increase. It's not effective upon renewal, it's when they decide to raise the rates for your area. They can raise your rates a few months into your 12-month contract, or less if you didn't get the memo on a previous bill.

So, do you mean if there was no little " blurb " ( memo) on my written bill that comes in the mail mentioning these 2 new rate increases then Bell can in a month or 2 from now, just " add " another new increase onto my bill only? Or is everyone in the neighbourhood going to see going to see their cable bill or their land line bill jump up in price again so soon?
Wonder if I should phone and ask them about that possibility?

Yikes!

[VeeVee]

I am not a Bell fan, my company called bc we are moving and 5 CSR couldn't find us in there system. One kept telling me, your not our customer Mam I can't help you...I kept saying I am holding an invoice, we pay you monthly YES I AM A CUSTOMER lol she transfers me again no sorry you don't have an account with us. I had to call 2 days in a row finally someone said oh yeah your here..How do you loose a companies information?!

[sweet sparrow]

No, no, not just your bill. It'll be your area. If they decide they need to finance service improvements for your area, you will see a note on your bill, either above the phone, internet, or cable portion that they will increase the rate by $2 on April 1, 2012, for example. They usually put it on your bill a few months ahead of the increase date. Different areas will see increases at different times, I've heard.

In my experience, the reps say they have no idea when you will experience your next increase, but you'll get advance notice on your bill. They will give you a credit if you call in since they make enough over the people who either don't notice or accept it as a cost of living.

On my contract, I didn't get the warning as we just signed up with the service. When I agreed to the contract based on one price and saw they raised it the month after, I practically had them on speed dial.

[walkonby]

No, no, not just your bill. It'll be your area. If they decide they need to finance service improvements for your area, you will see a note on your bill, either above the phone, internet, or cable portion that they will increase the rate by $2 on April 1, 2012, for example. They usually put it on your bill a few months ahead of the increase date. Different areas will see increases at different times, I've heard.

In my experience, the reps say they have no idea when you will experience your next increase, but you'll get advance notice on your bill. They will give you a credit if you call in since they make enough over the people who either don't notice or accept it as a cost of living.

On my contract, I didn't get the warning as we just signed up with the service. When I agreed to the contract based on one price and saw they raised it the month after, I practically had them on speed dial.

ok thanks, found it! yes was typed in under Other Charges and Credits, but only on the phone, the tv just shows the basic amt higher by 3 dollars over last bill. They ARE weird! I am gonna watch them like a hawk now. Thanks.

[Brynhilde]

Yes.. watch your bill like a hawk. I am still seeing errors from months ago on my bill.

[aimee1]

Well I just got my phone bill today and again they have increased something on it. Long story short I call in Aug for the "lower my bill or I am cancelling it talk", well since Aug I have phoned Bell every month for an increase somewhere. Last month my long distance minutes went up from 5.95 to 19.95 wow so I call and they are not standing by the contract I did in Aug the increase was 9.95 and they will not lower it. So that is an increase of 4.95 a month, adding up to 59.40 a year geeze.
So than they have increased my internet by 2.45 a month and my television is gone up 3.00 a month. I have not called yet because I am so friggin mad!!!
What happens to giving me the prices they said would be locked in for a year. I have been a bell customer for 25+ years. Just think of all the money they got on me over the years for not checking my bill. hahhaah
So my advice to all drop bell and always check your bills!!!
Thanks for listening

[walkonby]

Aw, aimee1 that is aggravating for sure. I see that 1 of the 2 increases you saw was the same as on mine. (television ) , did they increase your regular telephone plan too or just the part of it that is long distance, as my regular plan, my land line went up by $2.00
Since I never have to call long distance I have no long distance plan with them at all.

I would just wait till you have calmed down a bit, then very calmly phone them again. Some other people in here said always make sure you document or record every offer they have made you. Did you have the CS rep name that promised you the lower price in August for your long distance?

They did credit me immediately for the new amounts they had put on my bill ( for a total refund of one year's worth of these increases) so I will still see that new increase every month, but they have paid me up front for it.
Good Luck, you may still get satisfaction from them.

[tjthemanto]

Well I just got my phone bill today and again they have increased something on it. Long story short I call in Aug for the "lower my bill or I am cancelling it talk", well since Aug I have phoned Bell every month for an increase somewhere. Last month my long distance minutes went up from 5.95 to 19.95 wow so I call and they are not standing by the contract I did in Aug the increase was 9.95 and they will not lower it. So that is an increase of 4.95 a month, adding up to 59.40 a year geeze.
So than they have increased my internet by 2.45 a month and my television is gone up 3.00 a month. I have not called yet because I am so friggin mad!!!
What happens to giving me the prices they said would be locked in for a year. I have been a bell customer for 25+ years. Just think of all the money they got on me over the years for not checking my bill. hahhaah
So my advice to all drop bell and always check your bills!!!
Thanks for listening

Do not use Bell for Long Distance or Internet , they are a scam .

Luckily only my home phone ( basic line ) is with these scam artists .

My Long Distance and internet are with a different company , I pay a fraction of what Bell would have otherwise charged me for Long Distance & Internet .

[theweaves_dad]

Thanks again for all your insight. I do know what you mean by their seemingly shady practices because I cancelled my high speed internet with them last year because of the high cost.
I mailed back the modem as was instructed with the tracking number sticker they sent me.
2 months later I get a $75.00 charge added to my bill saying modem was not returned. I called, said I did in fact return it. Then they asked me for the tracking number!! Now normally I would not have kept that paper that the sticker came on, but lucky me I did and recited it off to her. They removed the $75.00 charge the same way by taking it right off the total of the present bill that I was calling about.

I just read this and thought "Oh no!" We cancelled our Bell internet late last year (again high price) and had to return the modem as well. It took almost three months just to get the mailing label sent to us! But we finally got it and sent it off.... Now the tracking receipt is long gone...but we did get a paper bill in the mail soon after that said it was a final bill and the balance was $0.00 so here is hoping!

Now about the customer service you received. It doesn't surprise me, most times when you call to complain, you get something in return for it. I have had my cell bill lowered significantly, while adding more features at no extra cost, just for Chris calling Rogers and threatening to cancel the cell phone. Now my contract is up and I really don't want to do anything but keep what I have for now!!!

Rogers is a whole different story when it comes to Chris, but we'll leave that one alone!

[aimee1]

I phoned bell again and they are crediting the increases again. So I guesse I have figured out to keep my bell bill at what they offered in Aug to me I must phone monthly. I have also done a excel spreadsheet so I can have an easy view instead of going through 7 pages of phone bill now.
So I guesse we wait till next month. When I will have these credits and they look good again for a month. The increase was to my reg phone line this month and the increase to my long distance was last month. My satellite went up to but they did the credit thing again. Is this really worth all this.