‘We Agreed on a Price’: B.C. Senior Says Telus Broke Its Word

A Telus customer in British Columbia says he was left super angry and confused after the company failed to apply a lower rate it had promised earlier this year.

Brian Carson, a senior living in B.C., told Global News’ Consumer Matters that he contacted Telus this January to complain about rising costs on his monthly bundle for phone, internet, and TV. He said a Telus agent agreed to reduce his bill to $123 plus tax.

But when his next bill arrived, the lower rate wasn’t there. “I was flabbergasted. What are they doing? We agreed on a price,” Carson said. “Stick to the agreed price. It’s a verbal contract.”

Frustrated, Carson only paid the amount he says was agreed upon and eventually contacted Consumer Matters after attempts to fix the issue with Telus failed.

In a statement, Telus blamed the billing problem on a mix of issues including long-distance charges, expired promotions, and what it described as “an agent error” when applying new discounts. The company said it has since corrected the issue and is now honouring the promised rate.

Telus tried to make things better as it offered Carson a new lower rate of $113 plus tax for his monthly services. Carson says he’s thankful to Global News for the help but exhausted by the process.

“It’s just a shame, particularly older people like myself, that we have to reach out to a third-party to help us get what we are entitled to,” he said. Carson says he’s relieved to be paying less now—but wishes it hadn’t been such a fight.

According to Canada’s telecom watchdog, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS), billing issues are the number one complaint in the industry. Complaints rose 38% last year alone. Anyone can file a complaint online about an issue. The next CCTS 2024-25 Mid-Year report is set to be published next week.

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Rob Goldberg
Rob Goldberg
1 year ago

Any caucasian senior in Canada who complains about goods or services going downhill in this country should be forced to show their voting records as part of the complaint. If it is shown that they voted for mass third world immigration any time in the past 30-40 years (99.7% did) then just laugh in their face and tell them they have got what they deserve. We live in the world the boomers asked for and now they think they can complain?

Juan-Marco Lemirez
Juan-Marco Lemirez
Reply to  Rob Goldberg
1 year ago

This elderly man fell victim to the age-old telecom pricing bait and switch, as have millions of other Canadians, and you're blaming him because others in his cohort may have been pro immigration in the last 30-40 years? You should probably loosen up that MAGA hat, Rob. I think it's restricting blood flow to your head.

Ipse
Ipse
Reply to  Juan-Marco Lemirez
1 year ago

He expressed an opinion. You response was an ad-hominem attack – therefore you must be a lieberal.
Elbows up buddy, the internet is a free place, whether your ilk likes it or not.

Rob Goldberg
Rob Goldberg
Reply to  Juan-Marco Lemirez
1 year ago

Nothing to do with maga I don’t agree with that trash at all. Should I remind you that opposing mass immigration has been a staple policy of liberal/left leaning politicians for decades back in the day until recently, it’s a staple of pro union pro workers rights movements. This has everything to do with 80-90% of “English speaking” Telus phone operators being from the third world and lying to customers in a way never seen back in the 80-90’s not to this extent. There a numerous examples on this blog alone to attest to that.

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