screenplaying
Banned
A lesson and cautionary tale for everyone here... and witten in the hope that Ted Rogers gets a severe migraine for pissing me off enough to write about it. Hi Ted!!
Readers might need a small backgrounder on how I got to this 'learned' spot... Over the past year I have voluntarily taken a giant cash flow hit. I accepted a job in a start-up law firm which allows me to financially get by 'uncomfortably', until files mature to the 'comfortable' point. In the mean time I carry a bunch of debt balance from credit cards to credit line to overdraft. I pay a ton of interest and depending on when I get paid, it is possible that I fall behind.
About half a year ago I switched from Bell to Rogers Home phone. Two reasons... I already had Rogers high-speed internet and they were advertising cheaper phone service and a combined bill. I figured I could save a few bucks and have one less bill to worry about. So I jumped. There was also the great idea of not being sent a paper bill (a smart 'green' initiative and cost-saving/profit move by Teddy Rogers). I pay online directly from my bank account anyway. Looking back, it was an ominous sign when they screwed up the initial installation, leaving me without phone service or building intercom for a week (a tech and manager had to finally come by to figure out that the previous tech had crossed the wall wiring - I won't dwell on how safe that might have or have not been).
Anyway, I was already carrying a balance with Rogers of probably a couple hundred bucks. As with my credit cards and stuff I've been paying down what I can, when I can. With Rogers though, I always seemed to owe more and more, never paying it down enough (their collection agengy division is another story). I thought I had a sense of what the monthly service was costing me. I eventually called them to change the level of my internet service plan thinking the 5-10 bucks a month drop would help. Nope. After making a $160 payment yesterday I went online this morning to look closely at the 4 consolidated bills available to me and what my oustanding balance would be. I noticed an added charge on each of them...
October
Reactivation $25.00
Late payment charge 4.96
Net account level charges & credits $29.96
G.S.T. (#86239 5381) 1.50
P.S.T. 2.00
Total $33.46
November
Reactivation $25.00
Late payment charge 3.95
Net account level charges & credits $28.95
G.S.T. (#86239 5381) 1.50
P.S.T. 2.00
Total $32.45
December
(apparently waived at some point)
Late payment charge $6.20
Net account level charges & credits $6.20
Total $6.20
January
Reactivation $25.00
Late payment charge 5.15
Net account level charges & credits $30.15
G.S.T. (#86239 5381) 1.25
P.S.T. 2.00
Total $33.40
Here's the head scratcher... My internet and phone service (I don't subscribe to cable) HAS NEVER BEEN CUT OFF. I have never had a service disruption.
So I made a call and spoke and vented to about 5 people. Up the chain of command until I ran into the final gatekeeper before Ted would have to answer the phone. SOZAN 624110. They don't give out last names for security reasons, so the last lady to speak to me is safe. My conversations with the Rogers employees led me to learn that...
My account was 'suspended' on at least 2-3 other occassion before these last 4 bills. I will probably be 'suspended' again next month.
"What the %#^@ does 'suspended' mean???" I incredulously asked each employee. The answer is, drum roll... "if you have an outstanding balance we cut off your long distance service". Flick of a button, I'm sure. It was nice to learn this since the only long distance calls I ever make or care to make are from work. Once again... MY INTERNET ACCESS AND PHONE HAVE NEVER BEEN CUT OFF. But I've apparently been suspended about 6 times in the last year. Now I know what you're thinking because I was thinking it... well isn't it one suspension until you pay it all off? Um, Nope. If you pay more than half your outstanding amount, the suspension is lifted... until the next bill... and then um, you're resuspended. I have to applaud the guy I spoke to before SOZAN said 'goodbye' to me in her special way. He at least understood my logic when I suggested that according to this scam-achoo (sorry, weird sneeze)... not paying my bill at all until they fully disconnect me would actually save me 35 bucks a month. He even offered to waive one of the months (SOZAN wasn't as kind) after that line. I had also pissed off the gentlemen by suggesting this 'interest' rate was criminal. It turns out that the 27% "payment charge" (before the suspension fee) is NOT and should NOT be referred to as interest since Rogers is not a credit card company. Something like that. To bad I quit smoking weed long ago, because I might have understood the argument.
It was also news to me that they can't just cut off your service because that's a harder and longer process. The line used was "we can't just cut you off from the world of information". I almost gagged.
I'm out of options. Until I pay off the remainder to zero, I'm gonna keep getting ridiculous monthly charges. I can't imagine how many people out there have these charges buried into their bill without them knowing. Rogers will ding you if you're not paid off in full.
If Bell needs a way to lure back customers, voila. Although I wouldn't trust that corporation to not just copycat the business idea themselves instead. This is nothing more than big business raping the little guy (anyone aware of the UPS Class Action lawsuit in regards to brokerage charges?). They do it until someone stands up to them and then they settle for a few bucks, profiting huge in the meantime.
In no way am I looking for sympathy. Just be aware. Oh and a hello to you too SOZAN 624110! You should end your phone calls with "Resistance Is Futile"
Readers might need a small backgrounder on how I got to this 'learned' spot... Over the past year I have voluntarily taken a giant cash flow hit. I accepted a job in a start-up law firm which allows me to financially get by 'uncomfortably', until files mature to the 'comfortable' point. In the mean time I carry a bunch of debt balance from credit cards to credit line to overdraft. I pay a ton of interest and depending on when I get paid, it is possible that I fall behind.
About half a year ago I switched from Bell to Rogers Home phone. Two reasons... I already had Rogers high-speed internet and they were advertising cheaper phone service and a combined bill. I figured I could save a few bucks and have one less bill to worry about. So I jumped. There was also the great idea of not being sent a paper bill (a smart 'green' initiative and cost-saving/profit move by Teddy Rogers). I pay online directly from my bank account anyway. Looking back, it was an ominous sign when they screwed up the initial installation, leaving me without phone service or building intercom for a week (a tech and manager had to finally come by to figure out that the previous tech had crossed the wall wiring - I won't dwell on how safe that might have or have not been).
Anyway, I was already carrying a balance with Rogers of probably a couple hundred bucks. As with my credit cards and stuff I've been paying down what I can, when I can. With Rogers though, I always seemed to owe more and more, never paying it down enough (their collection agengy division is another story). I thought I had a sense of what the monthly service was costing me. I eventually called them to change the level of my internet service plan thinking the 5-10 bucks a month drop would help. Nope. After making a $160 payment yesterday I went online this morning to look closely at the 4 consolidated bills available to me and what my oustanding balance would be. I noticed an added charge on each of them...
October
Reactivation $25.00
Late payment charge 4.96
Net account level charges & credits $29.96
G.S.T. (#86239 5381) 1.50
P.S.T. 2.00
Total $33.46
November
Reactivation $25.00
Late payment charge 3.95
Net account level charges & credits $28.95
G.S.T. (#86239 5381) 1.50
P.S.T. 2.00
Total $32.45
December
(apparently waived at some point)
Late payment charge $6.20
Net account level charges & credits $6.20
Total $6.20
January
Reactivation $25.00
Late payment charge 5.15
Net account level charges & credits $30.15
G.S.T. (#86239 5381) 1.25
P.S.T. 2.00
Total $33.40
Here's the head scratcher... My internet and phone service (I don't subscribe to cable) HAS NEVER BEEN CUT OFF. I have never had a service disruption.
So I made a call and spoke and vented to about 5 people. Up the chain of command until I ran into the final gatekeeper before Ted would have to answer the phone. SOZAN 624110. They don't give out last names for security reasons, so the last lady to speak to me is safe. My conversations with the Rogers employees led me to learn that...
My account was 'suspended' on at least 2-3 other occassion before these last 4 bills. I will probably be 'suspended' again next month.
"What the %#^@ does 'suspended' mean???" I incredulously asked each employee. The answer is, drum roll... "if you have an outstanding balance we cut off your long distance service". Flick of a button, I'm sure. It was nice to learn this since the only long distance calls I ever make or care to make are from work. Once again... MY INTERNET ACCESS AND PHONE HAVE NEVER BEEN CUT OFF. But I've apparently been suspended about 6 times in the last year. Now I know what you're thinking because I was thinking it... well isn't it one suspension until you pay it all off? Um, Nope. If you pay more than half your outstanding amount, the suspension is lifted... until the next bill... and then um, you're resuspended. I have to applaud the guy I spoke to before SOZAN said 'goodbye' to me in her special way. He at least understood my logic when I suggested that according to this scam-achoo (sorry, weird sneeze)... not paying my bill at all until they fully disconnect me would actually save me 35 bucks a month. He even offered to waive one of the months (SOZAN wasn't as kind) after that line. I had also pissed off the gentlemen by suggesting this 'interest' rate was criminal. It turns out that the 27% "payment charge" (before the suspension fee) is NOT and should NOT be referred to as interest since Rogers is not a credit card company. Something like that. To bad I quit smoking weed long ago, because I might have understood the argument.
It was also news to me that they can't just cut off your service because that's a harder and longer process. The line used was "we can't just cut you off from the world of information". I almost gagged.
I'm out of options. Until I pay off the remainder to zero, I'm gonna keep getting ridiculous monthly charges. I can't imagine how many people out there have these charges buried into their bill without them knowing. Rogers will ding you if you're not paid off in full.
If Bell needs a way to lure back customers, voila. Although I wouldn't trust that corporation to not just copycat the business idea themselves instead. This is nothing more than big business raping the little guy (anyone aware of the UPS Class Action lawsuit in regards to brokerage charges?). They do it until someone stands up to them and then they settle for a few bucks, profiting huge in the meantime.
In no way am I looking for sympathy. Just be aware. Oh and a hello to you too SOZAN 624110! You should end your phone calls with "Resistance Is Futile"
