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By Anthony, Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:20

It has been almost a month since I got my Blackberry Storm. Since cell phone numbers are now portable and can move to another provider my current provider, Bell  had to come up with something which really interested me otherwise I would have tried the free agent market.

Just a month before my package was set to expire I received a call from the Loyalty Group trying to convince me to stay with Bell. As the package I had was a great package which I have had for the last 6 years I was dreading the sales pitch and pressure to change packages. The story is always the same “We do not offer your package anymore but this  one is just as good”, Yaa right. My Package 150 anytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends starting at 6pm, 100 minutes Canadian Long Distance, Voice Mail, Call Display  and the extra fees, 911 and access fees all for $30 a month. A very good package and one I was not interested in changing. The package that Bell offered me was the Uber 25 with Call Display, Call Forwarding and Voicemail which they were willing to give me for $40. Hmmm wait a minute $10 more and less features and this is supposed to be just as good as my package. After further discussion during which I had let the agent know I was willing to walk if I did not get my package we discussed what kind of phone I wanted and I said if I get my package I would like a Blackberry Storm. After some back and forth discussion the agent found a way to make a package with the features I had previously as long as I took a $40 data package.  I agreed so my new package would be $30 for the voice plan which included all the components I had before and a $40 data package which included unlimited email, unlimited Data, unlimited NHL package and music downloads. Next step pickup a new phone and get it activated.

I visited a local Bell World Store to pickup my new phone and everything went well until the activation. The customer service rep from Bell said we could not activate the phone as the packages were incompatible and I would have to pay extra for the Canadian Long distance to put the two packages together. The cost another $12, which was a non starter for me. The problem now was I had committed to another 3 years and Bell was not going to honor the package we had agreed upon. After some spirited discussion with the Bell CS Rep she put me on hold and went to her supervisor. When she returned she indicated they could offer me the long distance for half price which of course was unacceptable. I sent her back to her supervisor for a better answer, after a further 10 minute wait she came back on the line and listed the package that they would offer me. After she went through the list I was stunned as she had listed everything I was originally offered.  Finally I had  a new phone and got to play with my new toy.

It is amazing what you have to go through to get some reasonable service and for a company to follow through on their committments. Cell companies in Canada are still in the dark ages and even though you can move your number to another company, the companies do not treat current customers with any respect. They figure once they have you signed up you will never leave. It should not be a massive chore to get a new cell phone. I will post a review of my toy soon.