Rogers, Bell, and Telus Rip Offs

Lately, the major cellular phone companies here in Canada - Rogers, Bell, and Telus have all introduced discounted pricing plans to their discounted services - Fido, Solo, and Koodo respectively.

The main "hook" for these new reduced plans centre around what's called the System Access Fee. It turns out that these companies want to save us so much money they have all dropped these fees for their newly resructured plans plus threw in a few extras.

Emboldened by limited competition, providers have not hesitated to pad their prices by adding the deceptive "system access fee." Contrary to popular belief, the fee, which adds nearly $100 per year to every wireless phone bill , is not a government-mandated charge but rather a slick method of camouflaging higher prices.

Another impetus to can the System Access Fee is a $20 billion class-action lawsuit for "unjust enrichment," as well as a newer one launched in protest of artificially inflated 911 fees. The lawsuit charges that the System Access Fee is misrepresented as a mandatory government charge for licensing the radio band—which it was, until the government discontinued it in 1986.

How will these providers ever get by without the System Access Fee? Take a look at the fine print. Fido will start charging from the second you press SEND until the second you press END, which now includes the ring time. Even worse, incoming calls are also now billed from the moment the initiating party dials, so better answer quick or shorten that voicemail message.