BillShrink has been showing US customers how to save on their cellphone and other bills for awhile now but in Canada things seem quite a bit more confusing. Canada, the home of RIM, is long known for its terrible wireless plans including 3 year contracts, high cost of data, and numerous other annoying “features.” I was surprised this past month when I read that Canadian carriers will finally allow customers to switch without an ETF if carriers materially change your contract. Which is something customers in the US do all the time.
It looks like Canadian carriers have gone back to their draconian roots yet again by successfully petitioning the government to cancel their cellphone cost calculator. This online calculator was created to assist customers in comparing wireless plans between carriers. After spending tens of thousands of dollars on the project the government has cancelled it weeks before it was set to launch.
So far all fingers are pointing towards cellphone carrier lobbyists. Anybody surprised?
via Slashdot
Duckman Not Registered
Posted: September 9, 2009 at 1:24 PM EST
I am definitely not on the side of the wireless providers, but the Canadian government should never have started that project in the first place. Why do I need to pay taxes to have the government hold our hands in choosing an appropriate cellphone plan?
Canuckinnh Not Registered
Posted: September 9, 2009 at 4:29 PM EST
Unfortunately the Canadian government has its hand in everything. For some reason banks and telecommunication companies are protected species. Competition is a BAD thing north of the border