For them, it's all about money

My name is Martin Lomas, and here is my home page: storm-animal.blogspot.ca

I live in Toronto, Canada, and work as a designer - my company is "Beady Eye, Inc". I have been a loyal (foolish?) customer of Rogers Communications for some years now.

The story below tells how I 'beat' Rogers Communications into giving me a fair price for my Internet, TV and land-line phone services. And you can do it too!

Attn: Any Rogers personnel - please contact me if you wish me to stop promoting this web site. At the time of writing, I believe I am within my rights to continue.


Like most corporations, Rogers Communications (one of Canada's largest providers) does not willingly waste a cent. Therefore, they will never "do their best" for you, billing-wise, unless you get up, stand up, and SPEAK UP!.



>>> Here's the Rogers services I had before April, 2012 :

(1)  Internet
- 12 Mbit, 60GB monthly bandwidth cap.
- Modem rental.

(2)  TV
- "Basic Plus"; 61 channels & digital time-shifted copies & some other crap.

(3)  Phone
- Basic land line, answering service, no special deal on Int'l minutes.

$$$ TOTAL average monthly bill, taxes in = $ 165.00



>>> And here's the Rogers services I have now :

IMPORTANT: All of the following are available to me for the next 12 months. After that, my bill will go up to God-knows-what. At which point, I will demand for the same rate to continue, or I will quit Rogers altogether*. There is ZERO penalty fee for cancelling everything after 12 months.

(1)  Internet
- 18 Mbit, 70GB monthly bandwidth cap.
- Modem rental.

(2)  TV
- Basic cable = the first 29 channels.
- Goal TV premium soccer channel.
- Setanta premium soccer channel.

(3)  Phone
- Land Line, answering service, call waiting, 2 cents/min to UK (any time).

$$$ TOTAL NEW monthly bill, taxes in = approx. $ 108.00



Oh, and while you're at it, see if your Internet modem can be upgraded - if so, it's worth the slight extra you'll pay.

>>>>>> UPDATE 4/25/2012 - Kind of hilarious ... Yesterday, a nice lady from Rogers called me. She was quite apologetic about all the "trouble" I'd had, and - wait for it - she is sending me a $50.00 gift certificate for Indigo book store! Perhaps you could get one too?

>>>>>> UPDATE 4/30/2012 - Not so hilarious ... I called Rogers to see where my Indigo gift certificate was (does the mail take 9 days??). Ah, yes Sir, they said, those cards take 4 to 6 weeks to get there. Wow, says I, are you sending them by homing pigeon? They didn't laugh. No Sir, they said, it's the Rogers internal part that takes that time. Ah, says I, that explains everything.


HOW TO DO IT ?

Just ask for it. And don't back down. Tell them you want to be treated as well as a new customer. Show them this web site. BE PERSISTENT. They will try to wriggle out of it - DON'T LET THEM!

It took me about 3 weeks of many phone calls to Rogers before this magic happened :)




* ROGERS ALTERNATIVES ?

For Internet, try Tek Savvy. For TV, try Bell. For a cell phone, try Mobilicity.
[I have no affiliation with these companies, and there are plenty of alternatives]

Who does the CRTC work for?

The CRTC is the "Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission". (In their own words:) They are an independent public organization that regulates and supervises the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems.

The CRTC does not regulate newspapers, magazines, cell phone rates, the quality of service and business practices of cell phone companies, or the quality and content of TV and radio programs.

As an independent organization, the CRTC works to serve the needs and interests of citizens, industries, interest groups and the government.

The CRTC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.


Now, I was told that these are the folks to complain to about unacceptable practices by Canadian telecommunications providers. But judging by their web site, I'm not sure that's true.

At the time of writing, this was the list of current "proceedings" - I don't see any mention of us poor individuals. It seems to be all corporations getting their way. Then again, I didn't look that closely, so perhaps I'm mistaken ...



Notice
Number Subject Posted Date Deadlines Related
Documents
Part 1 8690-G44-201204627
Application seeking an order for access to the underground tunnels and subway stations of the Canada Line within the City of Vancouver

Globalive Wireless Management Corp.
2012-0462-7
19 April 2012 21 May 2012



View entire record
Part 1 RNC MEDIA Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Rouyn-Noranda, Québec; Val d'Or, Québec

CFVS-DT-1; CFVS-DT;

2012-0454-4

Open application for applicant contact information. 18 April 2012 18 May 2012



Part 1 RNC MEDIA Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Rouyn-Noranda, Québec; Val d'Or, Québec

CFGS-DT

2012-0453-6

Open application for applicant contact information. 18 April 2012 18 May 2012



Part 1 Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation

Addition of a transmitter

Bonne Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

CHBB-FM

2012-0379-4

Open application for applicant contact information. 18 April 2012

New Deadline

15 May 2012



Interventions
Procedural Letter
2012-224 Notice of hearing 18 June 2012 Gatineau, Quebec

2012-0188-9
1158556 Ontario Ltd.

2012-0017-0
Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc.

2012-0019-6
Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc.

2012-0020-4
Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc.

2012-0021-1
Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc.

2012-0022-9
Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc.

2012-0342-1
Association des francophones de Nunavut

2012-0018-8
CJEC inc.

2011-1686-4
CJNE FM Radio Inc.

2012-0024-5
Cogeco Diffusion Acquisitions inc.

2012-0025-3
Corus Radio Company

2012-0344-7
Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society

2012-0009-7
Newcap Inc.

2011-1684-8
North Superior Broadcasting Ltd.

2012-0032-8
Radio 1540 Limited

2011-0862-1
Radio 710 AM Inc.

2011-1557-7
Radio Charlesbourg/Haute St-Charles

2011-1427-2
Radio Sept-Iles inc.

2011-1429-8
Radio Sept-Iles inc.

2011-1578-3
Radio Sept-Iles inc.

2012-0029-5
Rogers Broadcasting Limited

2012-0064-1
Sirius XM Canada Inc.

2012-0195-4
Wesley United Church Radio Board

18 April 2012 18 May 2012



2012-223 Call for applications – Radio stations to serve Winnipeg

18 April 2012 9 July 2012



2012-126-2 Notice of hearing 7 May 2012 Toronto, Ontario Amendments to items 3, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20 Deadline for comments on new information only: 23 April 2012 Deadline for replies: 25 April 2012 Corrections to item 1

2011-1617-9
7954689 Canada Inc.

2011-1634-3
Family FM Inc.

2011-1631-9
Intercity Broadcasting Network Inc.

2011-1630-2
Michael Wekerle (OBCI)

2011-1614-5
MZ Media Inc.

2011-1638-5
Radio 1540 Limited

2011-1635-1
Radio Ryerson Inc.

2011-1637-7
Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd.

2011-1654-1
Stanislaus Antony (OBCI)

Update
20 April 2012
18 April 2012 23 April 2012



Interventions
Procedural Letter dated 11 April 2012
Procedural requests
Replies
Part 1 Stingray Digital Group Inc.

Allegation of undue preference/disadvantage - Stingray Digital Group Inc vs Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Across Canada

Stingray Digital Group

2012-0447-9
Update
19 April 2012

Open application for applicant contact information. 17 April 2012 17 May 2012



Procedural Letter
Part 1 Shaw Television Limited Partnership

Addition of a transmitter

Vernon, British Columbia

CHBC-TV-2

2012-0397-6

Open application for applicant contact information. 17 April 2012 17 May 2012



Part 1 Shaw Television Limited Partnership

Addition of a transmitter

Kelowna, British Columbia

CHBC-TV

2012-0402-3

Open application for applicant contact information. 16 April 2012 16 May 2012



Part 1 Shaw Television Limited Partnership

Addition of a transmitter

Vernon, British Columbia

CHKL-TV-2

2012-0398-4

Open application for applicant contact information. 16 April 2012 16 May 2012



Part 1 Shaw Television Limited Partnership

Addition of a transmitter

Penticton, British Columbia

CHKL-TV-1

2012-0396-8

Open application for applicant contact information. 16 April 2012 16 May 2012



Part 1 Shaw Television Limited Partnership

Addition of a transmitter

Penticton, British Columbia

CHBC-TV-1

2012-0395-0

Open application for applicant contact information. 16 April 2012 16 May 2012



Part 1 Instant Information Services Incorporated

Technical amendment, (Change the station’s low power non protected status to a protected class A status)

Moncton, New Brunswick

CIRM-FM

2011-1486-8

Open application for applicant contact information. 16 April 2012 16 May 2012



Part 1 WhiStle Community Radio

Technical amendment (Change the station’s low power non protected status to a protected class A status)

Stouffville, Ontario

CIWS-FM

2011-1475-1

Open application for applicant contact information. 13 April 2012 14 May 2012



Part 1 Cogeco Diffusion Acquisitions inc.

Technical amendment (C1 licence class max. ERP request)

Montréal, Québec

CKBE-FM

2012-0441-1

Open application for applicant contact information. 12 April 2012 14 May 2012



Part 1 Cogeco Diffusion Acquisitions inc.

Technical amendment (C1 licence class max. ERP request)

Longueuil, Québec

CHMP-FM

2012-0439-6

Open application for applicant contact information. 12 April 2012 14 May 2012



2012-214 Across Canada Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 16 May 2012

2011-0950-5
Bell ExpressVu Limited Partnership

2011-0953-8
Shaw Satellite Services Inc.

11 April 2012 16 May 2012



Part 1 8660-N1-201204388
Application to Modify the Tracking Process for the Remote Indicator and to Recognize Force Majeure Conditions

Northwestel Inc.
2012-0438-8
10 April 2012 10 May 2012



View entire record
Part 1 Bell Media Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Across Canada

Space

2012-0414-8

Open application for applicant contact information. 10 April 2012 10 May 2012



Part 1 Bell Media Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Across Canada

MuchMoreMusic

2012-0413-0

Open application for applicant contact information. 10 April 2012 10 May 2012



Part 1 Bell Media Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Across Canada

Fashion Television Channel

2012-0412-2

Open application for applicant contact information. 10 April 2012 10 May 2012



Part 1 Bell Media Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Across Canada

E!

2012-0411-4

Open application for applicant contact information. 10 April 2012 10 May 2012



Part 1 Bell Media Inc.

Amendment of a condition of licence

Across Canada

Bravo!

2012-0376-0

Open application for applicant contact information. 10 April 2012 10 May 2012



2012-212 7 June 2012 Gatineau, Quebec

2012-0197-0
3924181 Canada Inc.

2011-1071-7
CHMZ-FM Radio Ltd.

2011-1679-9
Dufferin Communications Inc.

2011-0969-5
Larry C. Osmond

2012-0170-7
MOTV Média inc.

2012-0171-4
MOTV Média inc.

2012-0173-0
Rogers Broadcasting Limited

2012-0174-8
Télécom Colba.Net inc.

2012-0177-2
Télécom Colba.Net inc.

2012-0185-5
Télécom Colba.Net inc.

2012-0129-3
Zazeen Inc.

2012-0130-1
Zazeen Inc.

10 April 2012 10 May 2012



Part 1 8643-Q21-201204255
PIC/CARE Manual

9144-3036 Quebec Inc.
2012-0425-5
4 April 2012 4 May 2012



View entire record
Part 1 Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta

Addition of a transmitter

Edmonton, Alberta

CFWE-FM

2012-0392-6

Open application for applicant contact information. 4 April 2012 4 May 2012



2012-206 Proceeding to consider whether the conditions in the Canadian wireless market have changed sufficiently to warrant Commission intervention in the development of national retail wireless terms of service File numbers: 8661-C12-201204057; 8620-R28-201202598; 8661-P8-201116807

4 April 2012 3 May 2012



Interventions
Part 1 8620-S4-201204164
Implementation plan for Wireless Number Portability – Sogetel inc./Rogers Communications Partnership

Sogetel inc.
2012-0416-4
3 April 2012 3 May 2012



View entire record
Part 1 8640-T66-201203992
Application for Forbearance from the Regulation of Business Local Exchange Services in various exchanges in Alberta, British Columbia and Québec

TELUS Communications Company
2012-0399-2
2 April 2012 2 May 2012



Interventions
View entire record
2012-185 Call for comments on amendments to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990 in regard to the definition of “commercial message,” and on amendments to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations in regard to the definition of “demarcation point”

29 March 2012 30 April 2012



2012-182 Fredericton and surrounding areas, Moncton and Saint John, New Brunswick; St John’s, Paradise and Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador; and Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville, Nova Scotia Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 1 May 2012

2012-0114-4
Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership

27 March 2012 1 May 2012



Part 1 8640-T66-201203687
Application for forbearance from the regulation of residential local exchange services in various exchanges in Alberta and British Columbia

TELUS Communications Company
2012-0368-7
26 March 2012 25 April 2012



Interventions
View entire record
Part 1 8640-T69-201203679
Application for forbearance from the regulation of residential local exchange services in seven exchanges in Quebec

TELUS Communications Company
2012-0367-9
26 March 2012 25 April 2012



Answers
Interventions
View entire record
Part 1 OUTtv Network Inc.

Allegation of undue preference/disadvantage - OUTtv Network Inc. vs Telus Communications Company

Across Canada

OUTtv

2012-0355-4

Open application for applicant contact information. 22 March 2012 23 April 2012



Interventions
2012-168 Call for comments – Confidentiality of information used to establish wholesale service rates File number: 8661-C12-201203546

22 March 2012 22 May 2012



Part 1 Student Media, University of Windsor

Technical amendment

Windsor, Ontario

CJAM-FM

2012-0312-4
Update
19 April 2012

Open application for applicant contact information. 15 March 2012

New deadline

29 April 2012



Interventions
Procedural Letter
Procedural request
Part 1 8622-B2-201202291
Application concerning a dispute with the borough of Outremont concerning construction of a next generation network and maintains the existing network in the borough

Bell Canada
2012-0229-1
13 March 2012

Extension of deadline

27 April 2012



View entire record
2012-81
2012-81-1 Call for comments on a revised licensing framework for pay-per-view services


Extension of deadline

9 February 2012 14 May 2012



Interventions
Part 1 8650-B54-201200469
Application for Pay Telephone Rate Increase

Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership
2012-0046-9
18 January 2012

Extension of deadline

31 July 2012



Interventions
View entire record
2011-788
2011-788-1
2011-788-2
2011-788-3 16 April 2012 Gatineau, Quebec Review of the Local Programming Improvement Fund Deadline for submission of interventions/comments: 15 February 2012


Additional information added to the public file


16 April 2012 Gatineau, Quebec Review of the Local Programming Improvement Fund Additional information added to the public file


Deadline for the submission of undertakings is 25 April 2012 Deadline for the submission of final written submissions is 2 May 2012

19 December 2011 2 May 2012



2010 Station qualitative Reports
2011 Station qualitative Reports
Additional information
Agenda (Revised on 5 April 2012)
Commission Letter dated 13-Feb-2012
Commission Letter dated 14-Feb-2012
Commission Letter dated 31-Jan-2012
Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Financial Statements - LPIF
Interventions
Interventions received for 2011-788-1
List of Eligible Television Stations
Local newscasts details
Procedural request
Related documents
Transcript
Weekly Local Programming Averages
2011-348
2011-348-1
2011-348-2
2011-348-3 Call for comments - Review of regulatory framework for the small incumbent local exchange carriers and related matters File number: 8663-C12-201108754


Changes to procedure - Suspended


Resumption of proceeding


Changes to procedure

26 May 2011 22 May 2012



Comments
Interventions
View entire record

My Rogers PIN# ? WHAT PIN# ? More of Rogers' oddness

I called Rogers today to check on a couple of innocent points. I was immediately asked for my PIN#. I don't have a PIN#, I said. Well, they said, you need one if we are going to answer any questions.

Hmm, I said - for the last several years, I have not needed a PIN# - is it new? No, they said. Well, how come I don't have a PIN# then, I asked. And the rep was honest enough to say "WE DON'T KNOW, SIR". Once I verified my account in the usual way with my name and address, a PIN# was apparently not needed any more. IDIOTS! This wasted about 10 minutes (with two different reps demanding my non-existent PIN#) before I got my questions answered. And they wonder why customers get ANGRY!!

ROTFLMAO!