Why do we allow the cell phone companies to rob us?

[Craig1]

My dad got me the Bell internet card for my laptop we asked the guy specificly if I played warcraft on it would it cost any extra money than the monthly fee and he told us no. WE questioned the fee per mb and he said it was only if you downloaded something and not for playing games.

1 hour later the card would not work so we called Bell, We were told that we had a $3600 bill already and we only had the card for a hour.

We never did pay the bill and told them we would go to court. Keep getting the bill but its never been sent to collections or anything after about a year and half now

[bush_cheney2004]

My dad got me the Bell internet card for my laptop we asked the guy specificly if I played warcraft on it would it cost any extra money than the monthly fee and he told us no. WE questioned the fee per mb and he said it was only if you downloaded something and not for playing games.

1 hour later the card would not work so we called Bell, We were told that we had a $3600 bill already and we only had the card for a hour....

WoW doesn't use that much data.....figure 5-20 Mb per hour.

http://www.wow.com/2008/08/29/on-wows-bandwidth-consumption/

[xul]

You think people should be able to just walk away from their commitments?

On the second thought, I think what some Canadian has pointed out is right---if the service suppliers are limited, you will have less choise and had to accept their term. If anyone has ever installed/reinstalled Microselft Windows in his computer himself, he must have known he has never hesitated to click AGREE when the software demanded some prolonged terms to sign with a DISAGREE option.

Maybe one day when every aspect of people's live is taken over by a single giant corporation like this one-corporation-runned operating system in our computer, it will be the time this Pirate Part taking over the world to rise some competition.

Pirate Party Wins 2 Seats in EU Parliament

Edited June 26, 2009 by xul

[Smallc]

The simple fact is, you don't have to sign a contract. You can pay for the phone and buy service on the go. There is choice, and people are simply whining because it costs more than in other places. The reality is that when you cover over 90% of a population that is spread very thin, it costs a great deal of money. I'd rather pay more than have my cell provider go broke.

[Argus]

The simple fact is, you don't have to sign a contract. You can pay for the phone and buy service on the go. There is choice, and people are simply whining because it costs more than in other places. The reality is that when you cover over 90% of a population that is spread very thin, it costs a great deal of money. I'd rather pay more than have my cell provider go broke.

You people just don't get it. You are NOT paying more because it costs your cell phone provider more. You are paying more so they can enjoy higher profits than cell phone providers in other countries. We are being ripped off and all you can do is shrug and say "well, I'm sure they're doing their best". Phah!

Exactly how profitable are Canada's cellphone carriers? The short answer: very. The longer answer: They are the most profitable in the developed world.

Rogers, Bell< Telus, the most Profitable Cell phone providers around

Edited June 26, 2009 by Argus

[Smallc]

Now we have conservatives hating private profit margins...interesting. Perhaps Argus is a socialist in disguise?

[bush_cheney2004]

On the second thought, I think what some Canadian has pointed out is right---if the service suppliers are limited, you will have less choise and had to accept their term. If anyone has ever installed/reinstalled Microselft Windows in his computer himself, he must have known he has never hesitated to click AGREE when the software demanded some prolonged terms to sign with a DISAGREE option....

Then don't agree...install another operating system...there are many available. The truth is that the user does have a choice. That is something to be celebrated.

Many public utilities are subject to government approved fee / rate structures.....until this applies to a luxury like a cell phone....pay up.

[msj]

How does that saying go? The difference between a conservative and a liberal (when it comes to crime policy) is that a conservative has been mugged whereas the liberal has not been.

Well, here, clearly, the difference is the "conservative" has signed a contract with a telephone company whereas the liberal has not.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Well, here, clearly, the difference is the "conservative" has signed a contract with a telephone company whereas the liberal has not.

There is another psychological dynamic at play here. For the "conservative", it is very empowering to be in a position not only to pay the ECF, but to do so without hesitation, thereby avoiding the humiliation of begging to be released from one's obligation(s).

I also don't beg for leniency from police officers when caught speeding. Have some dignity folks.

[August1991]

How does that saying go? The difference between a conservative and a liberal (when it comes to crime policy) is that a conservative has been mugged whereas the liberal has not been.

Well, here, clearly, the difference is the "conservative" has signed a contract with a telephone company whereas the liberal has not.

The joke is that a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged. A liberal is a conservative accused of a mugging.

----

msj, if my boat is sinking and I sign a contract with a nearby boat to tow me, is it a contract? Then again, if I have no choice, or if I sign under duress, is it a contract?

I appreciate this Conservative government's decision to auction bandwidth. Maxime Bernier may have a penchant for revealing dresses but I truly appreciate his penchant for auctions. Stephen, please bring this guy back - Bernier did alot of good for Canada and his penalty is entirely unmerited.

This government needs some common sense.

Edited June 26, 2009 by August1991

[Smallc]

if I have no choice,

Yes, you do. You have at least 3 choices.

[August1991]

Yes, you do. You have at least 3 choices.

Three choices who collude through a State regulatory system (CRTC) is not choice.

I prefer a Harper/Ignatieff hate each other system. Then I have choice.

In a family, it is better that we get along. In a market, it is better that we compete. IME, leftists have problems with market institutions.

[msj]

msj, if my boat is sinking and I sign a contract with a nearby boat to tow me, is it a contract? Then again, if I have no choice, or if I sign under duress, is it a contract?

So that explains it: you are under false illusions.

You do not need a cell phone.

You are not forced to contract for one.

You are not signing any contract with a carrier under duress.

This government needs some common sense.

In this case I don't think it's the government lacking in that department. [Hint, see above]

[Argus]

I like the fact that conservatives are complaining about the fact that they signed a contract in the free market and now they don't like it.

I like that you're so far away from anything resembling reality that you don't even understand what a free market is.

[Argus]

Now we have conservatives hating private profit margins...interesting. Perhaps Argus is a socialist in disguise?

When that profit margin comes about because of government regulation which lock out real competition then conservatives will indeed protest.

Most Liberals too... at least those smart enough to understand the issue.

[Argus]

So that explains it: you are under false illusions.

You do not need a cell phone.

What a heaping load of what the bull left. You have no knowledge about what people do and do not need or how inconvenient their lives would be without it. Nor is it any of your goddam business. This is a common service available throughout the world at generally low prices.

If we had a free market, we'd have a dozen or more cell phone companies here offering us services and competing with each other. Instead the government stepped in and imposed strict regulations on who was able to operate this service, and only three organizations, all colluding, do so. All of them, btw, contribute substantial funds to the political parties to ensure they look the other way while they scoop up vast profits.

That is why we have huge markups and ridiculously punitive "contracts" for services, along with lousy service and arrogant customer care. It is no coincidence that these companies are the most despised in Canada. They know they've got no competition so they can behave as arrogantly and unfairly as they want.

[Argus]

Yes, you do. You have at least 3 choices.

I bet you figure there's plenty of competition among the gas companies too.

[bush_cheney2004]

What a heaping load of what the bull left. You have no knowledge about what people do and do not need or how inconvenient their lives would be without it. Nor is it any of your goddam business. This is a common service available throughout the world at generally low prices.

Yet you have unilaterally decided that others in Canada have no choice, when clearly they do.

[Argus]

Yet you have unilaterally decided that others in Canada have no choice, when clearly they do.

I"m sure that in your mind, you're seeing this as a need to defend corporate profit and private industry - because you simply don't know anything about how the market, such as it is, operates in Canada, What you're actually defending is government limiting competition and taking bribes to allow companies in a protected industry to jack up prices.

In essence, you are defending socialism, even advocating it. I'm not sure your namesakes would appreciate that - though they always did like a good bribe.

[Oleg Bach]

Born without a phone attatched to my head - and will leave this world with out a damned communication device implanted in my scull ---hey who needs these damned cell phones anyway? It use to be that crazy people walked down the street talking to themselves--now everybody is walking down the street talking to themselves...or at least it looks that way - I remember I saw a guy at four in the morning having a horrific arguement with himself - he was actually ripping of a piece from a distant living human being via remote - with his no hands on abuse...It's creepy - reminds me of insects communicating via some sent though their antennas...and how has the world gotten better now that we are a hive? Someone wants to talk to me - come see me..and vise versa.

[Smallc]

So how many players have to exist before you consider there to be enough competition.

[bush_cheney2004]

I"m sure that in your mind, you're seeing this as a need to defend corporate profit and private industry

While your mind is happy to assume the role of "victim".

In essence, you are defending socialism, even advocating it. I'm not sure your namesakes would appreciate that - though they always did like a good bribe.

So it's OK for health care but not cell phone providers?

[Chuck U. Farlie]

There is a monopoly on frequency.

What I mean is that there is only one operator using GSM (rogers, aka fido, aka petro mobility, aka 7/11 mobility). There is only one operator using TDMA, and only one using CDMA (I don't know which one is Bell and which one is Telus, but you get the idea). Every time you want to switch between them, you need a different phone.

The government, aka crtc or whoever, should blow the spectrum wide open and allow multiple competitors per frequency range. Multiple competitors will bring lower prices.

For anyone on this board who has even use a cell phone abroad, they will know that we get raped here in Canada for something that is taken for granted in the rest of the world.

Other countries far poorer than our own offer far more choices and make money at it, the only reason it isn't happening in Canada is too much regulation.

Edited June 27, 2009 by Chuck U. Farlie

[Oleg Bach]

Free speech should be free.

[Argus]

While your mind is happy to assume the role of "victim".

If the shoe fits...

So it's OK for health care but not cell phone providers?

On the main reasons for the failure of American conservatism is the near total absence of anything resembling common sense or realism. They cling to absurd ideas despite mountains of evidence to show how poor a choice they've made. Thus American conservatives oppose sex education despite massive evidence that "just say no" leads to all the stuff they're opposing. Thus they cling to the idea that "socialized medicine" is bad despite massive evidence to the contrary. The American health care industry is the only one I'm aware of which has a higher administration cost (much higher) than the government alternative. But American conservatives will have nothing to do with common sense.

I, however, acknowledge the longstanding inability of the private sector to provide health care at competitive costs, and so favour government run plans.

Meanwhile, back to topic. Recognizing that government monopolies and regulation have resulted in far higher prices and far lower services than elsewhere in the world, this conservative opposes the current system. You, being an American conservative, won't even acknowledge this, simplistically seeing this as "letting the private sector do as it wants" - which, btw, has resulted in the near bankruptcy of your country.