Bell canada fails

Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
11,282
479
83
59
Alberta
The other day I heard the CEO of Bell Canada complaining about an American company coming in and buying up smaller companies that they, Bell Canada, were restricted from buying themselves. To be brushing my teeth that morning when I listened to this advertisement that played on the sensibilities of Canadians and free trade. I'm all for a made in Canada solution, I try to buy here at home when I can and support my country. In fact I bought a Bell mobility's Internet stick and signed up for a contract with them after the economy in Ontario went in the toilet and I was forced to go outside the province to work. I need the Internet to operate, I have a website I have a published book and it's also how I stay in touch with my loved ones when I'm away from home. So after looking at all of the different Internet packages, from Bell to Virgin Mobile to Telus, I settled on a contract with Bell.

All was good in the world of technology until my laptop gave up the ghost about seven months ago. Nothing lasts forever and I was forced to go down and purchase a new laptop, which came preinstalled with Windows 8. At first everything seemed okay I wasn't using my Bell mobility stick all that often and I didn't notice any issues until I went up to run the ice roads. Suddenly the laptop wasn't recognizing my Bell mobility stick. Now I'd purchased the contract and stick through "The Source" and as an added feature I paid an extra 10 bucks for a replacement warranty. So I took the stick back to the source and no questions asked, they gave me a new one. Problem solved right? Wrong

I started having the exact same problem, when does he would not recognize my mobility stick and the only way to get it to work was to completely uninstall the Bell mobility software and reinstall it and then of course reboot my computer. It was more than obvious that there was some kind of a conflict between Microsoft's new operating system and the software that came with the Bell mobility stick. So being somewhat computer savvy I went on the net and started checking. First I went to the Bell mobility site to see if I could download a patch. After checking I found there were no new updates, so I did the next logical thing. I went to the Microsoft site and check to see if there were any new drivers to alleviate this conflict.

Nothing

One day walking though the West Edmonton mall I saw a Bell kiosk and decided to approach the customer service rep. I explained the situation as I saw it and when I finished the individual told me, "I can't help you, I'm a Mac guy." I was tempted to ask him why he was working for Bell if he was a Mac guy, but decided that it would be more appropriate just to ask if there was somebody there that knew a bit about the Microsoft issue. He told me the guy that dealt with the Microsoft stuff would be back in about 20 minutes, so I thanked him and took off for a bite of lunch. 20 minutes later I returned, only to find that I would have to wait an additional 15 minutes while the Microsoft guy took care of a new client.

Finally, after all that wrapped up this scruffy looking young guy comes over and it I explained my problem to him. He nods politely, giving a clear indication that he understands what my problem was and has heard about it before. When I'm finished I ask, "Is there a solution?"

The young Bell Representative looks me right in the eye and says, "T.here is no fix, you could roll back to Windows 7, but Windows 8 is not fixing it and Novatel the maker of the internet stick is making no move to upgrade or patch this issue." .I explained that I don't want to roll back to Windows 7 that would involve formatting my hard drive and I have to many other programs that are invested in working with Windows 8. He shrugs. ".Well then all I can suggest is that you upgrade the hardware."

"I haven't even had this sticky year what's it going to cost me to upgrade?"

"We'd have to check your plan."

Not having the information there I went home and went online to check the status of my account and to see if I was eligible for an upgrade. Apparently I was, unfortunately it would come at a cost of $240. So I went back to The Source and I spoke to them about the issue and they suggested that I contact Bell client care and explain the situation to see if I can get my eligibility changed. You see there is a new Internet piece that Bell is selling called MIFI which is essentially a wireless router that you can run up to three separate pieces of computer hardware on. It retails for $199 at the source, the same price as the Bell mobility stick. This seems like the most logical solution, certainly Bell must understand that they're selling it obsolete piece of hardware and in order to hang on to loyal customersthey would offer some sort of an upgrade program. Wouldn't they? Guess again.

So I get on the line with client care, explain my issue and they sound very sympathetic. The client care individual can't make that kind of call so he transfers my call over to somebody else. I explain that I like Bell, but the piece of hardware they sold me less than a year ago is completely incompatible with my computer. He suggests I rolled back to Windows 7. I explain that piece of hardware cost hundred and $199, but I have too much software and hardware integrated into my new system to simply roll it back. Nevermind that I've got a 500 page manuscript and a whole hockey soccer and other items on my computer that I do not want to start screwing around with just so I can get my Internet to work with their incompatible piece of hardware. "Surely you must have some kind of a program to upgrade me and keep me on as a loyal customer I don't want to cancel my service."

He doesn't budge. If I want upgrades could be $240. If I want to cancel my service is good to be $400 to get out of the contract. Just by the tone of this individual I know I am not going to make any headway. Our call ends. What I find extremely frustrating about this is that Bell has continued to sell this obsolete piece of hardware to unsuspecting customers such as myself. The Bell mobility stick made by Novatel Wireless is still available in most of, if not all Bell kiosks and retailers around the country. I've still not found a solution to this problem better than he eating the cost of an upgrade or cancellation of the contract. What a freaking sham.

I think back to the CEO of Bell Canada complaining about big American cell phone companies coming in and purchasing Canadian companies. From my viewpoint they can do this fast enough, I think back to the days when Bell had a stranglehold on the country when it just came to telephone service and how their rates were just below the realm of criminal. The same thing applies to cell phone service in this country, we are being fleeced by these monopolies and they are terrified at the prospect of competition. I have no doubt in my mind that they are pissed off that they can purchase the cell phone companies, thus tightening the stranglehold they have on the Canadian consumer.

Bell Canada, Rogers, and Telus need to take a step back and think a little bit about customer service. At this point I'm still deciding what to do, if you are facing a similar situation I would love to hear from you. At the bottom of this thread I will post a picture of the obsolete mobility stick so you don't get screwed over like I did.

THE HARDWARE BEING SOLD BY BELL CANADA DOES NOT WORK WITH WINDOWS 8



 
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Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
11,282
479
83
59
Alberta
Shaw owns Canwest Global, Canwest global owns the National Post. I can understand why they don't want more competition.
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
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Shaw owns Canwest Global, Canwest global owns the National Post. I can understand why they don't want more competition.

I agree that if Verizon comes in make the bidding open on those blocks. Verizon does not need protection.
Wind and the others did. Those blocks should be on the market for whatever the market will bear.
Setting the limit at 5 years was stupid.
 

Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
11,282
479
83
59
Alberta
I agree- But those blocks held by Wind and others were sold at a discount.
Verizon buys Wind and gets a discounted block of spectrum.

More competition will mean better rates for for Canadians. I don`t care how they want to spin it. It`s a fact.
 

Nuggler

kind and gentle
Feb 27, 2006
11,596
140
63
Backwater, Ontario.
give me choices and bell will be left in the dust.

My modem broke. bell sent another. wouldn't work. sent a techie. told me I needed a new phone. got one. still no dice with all the interrelated crap. sent another techie. he fixed the phone. problem was in one of the little wall boxes. he checked the modem THAT THE BASTARDS HAD JUST SENT ME. it was broken. he went out to the truck and got a new modem, with wireless router and all the bells and whistles. techie 2 said my old modem was probably ok,. was the connection at the box. he just connected the modem up and said it's between you and me.

So, if you get lucky and get a good person, you're ok. But the run of the mill staff they have SUCK WITH HOARY LIPS.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN RCS.

their rates have gone even higher, and they are pissing and moaning, worried about "the consumer" if the CRTC or whomever allows "foreign competition".

GOD DAMN THEM TO HELL.

just sayin;-)
i
 

Sal

Hall of Fame Member
Sep 29, 2007
17,135
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I just found out that Rogers contracts their service out at times. That means I am paying them as the middle man. Bastards. They have so much business they can't keep up it would seem... On the other hand, if we give everything to one big conglomerate they will give us cheaper prices .... for a while.
 

B00Mer

Keep Calm and Carry On
Sep 6, 2008
44,800
7,297
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Rent Free in Your Head
www.getafteritmedia.com
Thank GOD!! Canada version of Reagan's deregulation in the phone industry, now if we could just get rid of the CRTC.

Competition is good, it lowers prices.. and you get better features..

What pisses me off is the advertisement that Bell Canada says, we built the infrastructure.. yes, with your customers money and extremely high prices.. it's called doing business and appeasing the markets..
 

Sal

Hall of Fame Member
Sep 29, 2007
17,135
33
48
Thank GOD!! Canada version of Reagan's deregulation in the phone industry, now if we could just get rid of the CRTC.

Competition is good, it lowers prices.. and you get better features..

What pisses me off is the advertisement that Bell Canada says, we built the infrastructure.. yes, with your customers money and extremely high prices.. it's called doing business and appeasing the markets..
lol, yes in the commercial they speak of the infa-structure and how these companies piggyback it, and you are right, we paid for that 20 times over
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
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Not the point I made was it.

Yes it is. You are saying that Verizon should not get any deals when entering the market. I'm asking if Bell, the major complainer here, got any sweet deals when THEY entered the Canadian Market from the states.
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
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Yes it is. You are saying that Verizon should not get any deals when entering the market. I'm asking if Bell, the major complainer here, got any sweet deals when THEY entered the Canadian Market from the states.

I do not know, nor do I care. Caps problem?