According to an internal memo seen by iPhone in Canada, Fido will increase the price of its “transaction fee” by $5 to $30, up 20% from its previous price of $25. This change will take place effective Tuesday, April 24th, nationwide.
The Rogers flanker brand says the price increase will allow Fido to “[align] us with a number of competitors in the market today.” The change will affect customers who activate or perform a hardware upgrade. This fee cannot be waived in-store or over the phone, reads the memo.
Fido explains this transaction fee covers the cost of processing customer service requests (such as activating a SIM card), while also “supports the enhancement of Fido’s network and services,” while also “increasing the quality of the customer experience.”
If customers ask why these rates are increasing, the company is supposed to say the company regularly reviews their fees and wireless plans, while also balancing costs with ongoing enhancements, which allows the company to “deliver the best customer experience.”
Fido originally debuted their ‘transaction fee’ in September 2016, which at the time was only $15. But it has continued to increase in price and less than two years later, it has doubled.
Last week, Bell and Virgin increased the price of their connection charge from $25 to $30, and now it appears Fido is doing the same.
With the elimination of unlocking fees thanks to the CRTC Wireless Code (unlocking is now free) many have argued the ‘Big 3’ would find other ways to make up for lost revenue, such as increasing fees and also rate plans.
Thanks tipster!
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Wait and see. Eventually they’ll start charging to talk to a live csr like Koodo already does.
How much does Koodo charge to talk to a live person???
$15 if they do something to your account that could’ve been done via Self-Serve.
by Fall of 2019, transaction fee will be a kidney.
Why telecommunication service getting more and more expensive here in Canada? So many surcharge, no competition, and feels like 10 years behind ?
How is this not price fixing if they admit they’re aligning with everyone else?
I agree it sucks on paper, but savvy customers (presumably most readers of this site) should be able to negotiate to have the fee waived if switching companies. Resellers like Bestbuy often waive this fee and even throw in gift cards to attract customers. If anything, I think one reason they’re adding the fee is that waiving it creates the illusion of saving a new customer money. On the other end, the uninformed will just pay it without question.
How do they even justify being the cheap brand anymore. They are basically the same price as Rogers or any other carrier. Rogers>Fido>Chatr. 40/40/20 split. Canada’s cell phone and in my opinion banks are all broken. They all honestly work together and I don’t understand why they give us the fake feeling of getting a deal when all the prices are the same. Where is all this money going into if it’s not expanding/upgrading the networks and making it cheaper for everyone to have data? Obviously 90% pockets right?
I have been a Fido customer for 15 years. I can no longer see any real difference between Fido and Rogers. Not sure why they bother. I understand the theory that they are a different brand( supposedly cheaper) but I don’t see any difference anymore.
I’ve been with Fido for 2-3 years. Previously Rogers, Telus. I recently called Fido to ask about a $2 increase on my bill, and the net was that the rep suggested I cancel an optional service because I was getting most of it on my basic plan. I realized I could live without the small extras, and voila, I’m saving a little money every month. The rep was friendly and helpful. I don’t have any specific memories, but I don’t really good service from Rogers, but maybe they have improved over time.
Blame the CRTC!!? They do “Nothing” for the consumer. Why do we, Canada, pay some of the highest rates in the world? Just like Internet, Cable TV. The CRTC only work for the Big 3
I have both fido and Rogers and dog is still wayyyy cheaper. Rogers is charging me 105/month for 1 hurry back plan with old iPhone 7. Fido I have 3 lines and bill is only 50 more than Rogers. I’m looking to leave Rogers soon as pricing has made it unaffordable to me.