It appears Bell is set to change its cancellation policy to move in line with carriers such as Rogers and TELUS, as described within internal documents, reports MobileSyrup.
Bell customers looking to cancel will have to pay remaining handset subsidies, known as the Service Agreement Price Adjustment (SAPA), on their contract. The formula is similar to what we have seen implemented via legislation in Manitoba and Quebec. Below is the example Bell provided to illustrate how final cancellation fees would be calculated:
“customer received $250 in total device credits upon activation, and is cancelling their service 15 months into their 36 month term. Their SAPA would be $250 divided by 36 months (term duration), multiplied by 21 months (number of months remaining) = $145.82.”
As for customers on contracts but have zero subsidies, early cancellations will have their final SAPA calculated via the following:
“SAPA is 10% of their monthly recurring charges (MRC), multiplied by the number of months remaining (to a maximum of $50).”
These new cancellation policies will be effective for new contracts signed starting February 10th, 2013.
With the CRTC seeking public opinion on its draft wireless code, our incumbent carriers appear to be making changes towards wireless policies prior to the finalization of the code. Earlier, the Competition Bureau provided feedback to the CRTC and commented on cancellation policies, contract lengths and more. Just yesterday, Rogers revised their cellphone unlocking policy to 90 days after activation, set to start in March.
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Can someone dumben this down for me? I don’t get it.
“customer received $250 in total device credits upon activation, and is cancelling their service 15 months into their 36 month term. Their SAPA would be $250 divided by 36 months (term duration), multiplied by 21 months (number of months remaining) = $145.82.”
Say you got an iPhone 4 for $0, but it’s really worth $250.
Bell subsidizes you $250 up front, you pay nothing to start your 3 year contract.
The initial $250 subsidy divided by 36 months works out to $6.94/month, which Bell is ‘paying’ on your behalf.
After 15 months into your contract you want to cancel. If you cancel now, you need to pay back Bell’s subsidies on the remaining 21 months left in your contract.
$250/36 x 21 = $145.82. You need to pay back $145.82 to Bell.
3 years are about to be abolished
This is no diff from Rogers unlocking
Cash grab before party is over
No the old cancellation policy was a cash grab. The new cancellation policy is fair.
to be honest im not even sure why i wrote that
Now if I can only get the Thunder Bay plan. I would join Virgin.
Explain to me why someone why go on contract with zero subsidy? Why would anyone want to do that?
Some people may get a sweet deal on a plan from retention and be required to have the plan on a commitment.
Is there still the 30 day dead air cancellation charge (either contract or m2m)? Funny how all these changes from the big 3 come after a draft policy from the crtc…
No 30 days in Manitoba and Quebec. Everywhere else there is.
What about for contracts signed before then, like back in 2011?
You will still be on the old cancellation policy. That’s the agreement that you signed.
Can’t you sign up for a new contract without phone subsidy (assuming you have your own phone) and cancel for max $50 if you are already on old terms? I have 20 months remaining on a contract I Want to get out of. Should I renew the contract and be eligible for $50 cancellation?
Virgin Mobile doesn’t renew contracts unless you do a hardware upgrade. I’m sure Bell is the same. Why would you be on a three year contract anyways if you brought your own phone?
some plans require contracts even if you bring your phone, at least thats what i did with the rogers 6gig/my 10
had a factory unlock but still had to sign on for 3 years
How does that work with Rogers if you want to cancel? Is it the old $20 dollars a month, min $100-max $400?
I had to cancel both my lines last year with Rogers and they were good. I had just done upgrades to the iPhone 4S and then moved to PEI a month later and had no coverage at my house. Rogers waived the $800 fee and they didn’t make me give the phones back. I was surprised.
fifty ish on the year(s) left from what i recall
I don’t understand why would a plan require a contract if I had my own phone? Rogers once try to hook me up with 6 GB plan and the $8 off on CID but on a 3 year term, I told them no because this is a plan and I don’t get any discount on the phone. They refused to give me the sweeten plan. I ended up fire them and move my line to Koodo. The beauty of unlokced phone is the ability to fire your provider at anytime. Don’t be fooled by any non subsidy contract
needed the 6 gigs, also, telus/koodo has no signal in my condo, which isnt an option since i ditched my lan line
trust me my relationship with rogers isnt amicable, its out of annoying necessity
telus btw does the same but on a 2 year
Had to sign up 3 yrs to keep the EPP plan I had. If bell allowed contracts without hardware upgrade, then wouldn’t my original post make sense? I will have to call them
Yeah I would call them. I doubt they will just renew your contract though. That would be a conversation that I’m sure the reps don’t get often…
Rep: Thanks for calling Bell, I can I help?
Caller: I have 20 months left on my contract, I’m just calling because I want to renew my contract.
How about the contract that already expired & you go to another company without 30 day notice?
Is cancellation fee at Virgin still applies? Enlighten me with this because that’s what I did