Bell's Unethical Billing Practices

[Nukey]

I'm sure this is not news to anyone, but I feel the need to express my distaste with Bell's billing practices.

Long story short, I have two Bell accounts, one of which has now been cancelled. On the last invoice of the now cancelled account Bill erroneously over-charged my credit card nearly $60. After calling Bell, they credited my account for the amount I was over-charged - great! They refuse, however, to refund my credit card for the amount they over-charged me. They also refuse to transfer the credit to my other account. My only option - they say - is to put in a request for a cheque to be mailed to me for the amount, but this will take at least 6 weeks.

Is this Bell's alternative to petty cash or working capital - overcharge customers and hold their money for several months?

I can file a charge-back with the credit card company, but I feel like that will be more of a headache... >:(

[Phat_cow]

Just do a charge back. I know rogers can transfer the credit to a different account t as long as the account is under the same name.

[Agafaba]

Assuming you dont need the money I would wait for the cheque. It might be a bit crappy that they cant give you the money faster, but its not as bad as the computer rejecting your credit card due to previous charge backs.

[Nukey]

Assuming you dont need the money I would wait for the cheque. It might be a bit crappy that they cant give you the money faster, but its not as bad as the computer rejecting your credit card due to previous charge backs.

Yeah - that's what I figure. With my luck it would probably end up with collections and I'd have a new headache to deal with, so I'll just let Bell play their game and wait for my cheque in the mail.

[wilsonlam97]

Reading OPs post infuriates me. I don't understand how Bhell is operating legally.

[Royalsoldier]

Double post, see below...

[Royalsoldier]

I cut all ties with Bell several years ago. When I signed up for a contract many years ago with the Palm Pre handset, it malfunctioned 2-3 months later. I never damaged it at all (I'm very meticulous with my tech). They refused to give me support and said I would either have to buy a brand new handset or pay 250$ to get it repaired. The manufacturer (Level 3 Support - Highest Tier) said it was Bell's responsibility to handle claims during the 1-year period. So now I had a broken smartphone with a 60$/mo + tax plan for service I wasn't receiving and no phone. I got so angry I cut off my internet, mobile (refused to pay my future bills throughout the contract which eventually went to collections - I didn't care and stood my ground) and television with them and my family did the same after I told them about it.

When I had the same issue with Fido, the clerk gave me a brand new handset right at the kiosk within 10 minutes.

Same thing with Koodo and they mailed me a new replacement that I received in 3 business days.

Never again, Bell. This is why I will never sign up for a mobile contract again. I felt taken advantage of and used. Now, I always purchase my smartphones outright.

[Jucius Maximus]

I find that when you are doing anything like account initation, termination, or modification of a Bell account, you had better be wearing your lucky socks and praying to the heavens. This is why I do NOT contract with Bell for anything. (I would use smoke signals before I use Bell telecommunications products.)

Bell is like government because you are forced to use their services or backend in one way or other either directly or through other companies, so Bell really does not have to care. I see this as the root of their arrogance and indifference.

BELL CANADA IS THE WORST COMPANY IN CANADA.
DEATH TO BELL CANADA!!!

[Shaner]

File a complaint with the BBB.

Also file a complaint with the CCTS. They usually get results.

[Ottomaddox]

I find that when you are doing anything like account initation, termination, or modification of a Bell account, you had better be wearing your lucky socks and praying to the heavens. This is why I do NOT contract with Bell for anything.

+1

I'm absolutely paranoid that every time I talk to a CSR at Bell something will get changed and I'll end in up billing hell.

[wilsonlam97]

I cut all ties with Bell several years ago. When I signed up for a contract many years ago with the Palm Pre handset, it malfunctioned 2-3 months later. I never damaged it at all (I'm very meticulous with my tech). They refused to give me support and said I would either have to buy a brand new handset or pay 250$ to get it repaired. The manufacturer (Level 3 Support - Highest Tier) said it was Bell's responsibility to handle claims during the 1-year period. So now I had a broken smartphone with a 60$/mo + tax plan for service I wasn't receiving and no phone. I got so angry I cut off my internet, mobile (refused to pay my future bills throughout the contract which eventually went to collections - I didn't care and stood my ground) and television with them and my family did the same after I told them about it.

When I had the same issue with Fido, the clerk gave me a brand new handset right at the kiosk within 10 minutes.

Same thing with Koodo and they mailed me a new replacement that I received in 3 business days.

Never again, Bell. This is why I will never sign up for a mobile contract again. I felt taken advantage of and used. Now, I always purchase my smartphones outright.

+1, I prefer doing business with rogers even though they're pretty bad as well.


I find that when you are doing anything like account initation, termination, or modification of a Bell account, you had better be wearing your lucky socks and praying to the heavens. This is why I do NOT contract with Bell for anything. (I would use smoke signals before I use Bell telecommunications products.)

Bell is like government because you are forced to use their services or backend in one way or other either directly or through other companies, so Bell really does not have to care. I see this as the root of their arrogance and indifference.

BELL CANADA IS THE WORST COMPANY IN CANADA.
DEATH TO BELL CANADA!!!

+1, bell is a horrible company. The days when they made threats to me because I ported my line away. You could only use scummy tactics to terminate your line from Bhell. They suck horribly.

[Syne]

Rogers isn't much better. I cancelled my cable TV earlier this year, and it took me three tries. Every time I'd call up and they'd be like, "Whoops, so sorry.. it must not have cancelled properly" At first I was just like, "OK, well mistakes happen.." by the 3rd time I'm yelling at the dude on the phone because no company could possibly fail to cancel a service after 3 damn tries.

[Xiaohaibao]

Haven't used Bell since I switch to Wind.

[wilsonlam97]

Rogers isn't much better. I cancelled my cable TV earlier this year, and it took me three tries. Every time I'd call up and they'd be like, "Whoops, so sorry.. it must not have cancelled properly" At first I was just like, "OK, well mistakes happen.." by the 3rd time I'm yelling at the dude on the phone because no company could possibly fail to cancel a service after 3 damn tries.

Still better then Bhell. It may take persistence at rogers but it costs your soul at Bhell.

[Jucius Maximus]

+1, bell is a horrible company. The days when they made threats to me because I ported my line away. You could only use scummy tactics to terminate your line from Bhell. They suck horribly.
Ahaha... :lol: When I finally ported my line from Bell to Teksavvy*, Bell sent me this greeting card in the mail, asking me to come back. It actually came in a real greeting card envelope with my name/address hand-written in ink and an actual stamp glued to the front. No indication of Bell was on the outside of the envelope. Astonishing. They go to such great and creative lengths to mislead you into opening their advertising.

Imagine how great Bell would be if they actually put all of this creative energy into actually serving their customers.

* yes, I know that TekSavvy is technically a Bell reseller

[Simaahoy]

I love how they put their disconnection policy on the back of the bill and try to hide things from customers. Nothing but scammers

[Abel4Life]

TekSavvy + Mobilicity For the Win. Don't need to deal with Rogers/Bell/Telus at all!

[laihama]

Ahaha... :lol: When I finally ported my line from Bell to Teksavvy*, [/B]

+1 for Teksavvy

another +1 for porting from Bell. LOL.

[nauru]

Bell is just a company that I will not do business with under any circumstances. It's like shipping with UPS: a complete non-starter, not up for discussion, consideration or debate.

[airodus]

My family and I were Bell customers for almost 10 years and put up with constant over-billing on mobile and satellite tv accounts. I spent several hours each and every month simply trying to claim back money that was rightfully ours, and after cancellation several months of billing occurred until we had the bank intervene on our behalf. We've probably lost thousands unjustly to Bell over the years. It is Bell's operating procedure to STEAL their customer's money and then put the onus on the customer to claim it back (through several hours of calls). There is simply no other explanation for the sheer number of "billing mistakes" that were made. This has occurred with many of my friends as well (we all signed up with Bell when we were younger cause we had a friend who worked for Bell). I will never do business with Bell again.

[awais]

I had the same thing happened to me and I asked them to transfer the credit to another Bell account I had and they refused and told me the same thing that they could mail me a cheque so I had to go for that option since there really is no other choice. I don't understand why they would leave a "credit" for a cancelled account, how can anyone make use of that credit!

[imoo2u]

Ahaha... :lol: When I finally ported my line from Bell to Teksavvy*, Bell sent me this greeting card in the mail, asking me to come back. It actually came in a real greeting card envelope with my name/address hand-written in ink and an actual stamp glued to the front. No indication of Bell was on the outside of the envelope. Astonishing. They go to such great and creative lengths to mislead you into opening their advertising.

Imagine how great Bell would be if they actually put all of this creative energy into actually serving their customers.

* yes, I know that TekSavvy is technically a Bell reseller

Lucky for you. I wasn't able to port to Teksavvy as there is a "stop sell" note for my area. I hope this "stop sell" is resolved soonest as I gathered that Teksavvy is seeking legal options to sell without limitations.

BTW, when did you port your phone?

[wilsonlam97]

Lucky for you. I wasn't able to port to Teksavvy as there is a "stop sell" note for my area. I hope this "stop sell" is resolved soonest as I gathered that Teksavvy is seeking legal options to sell without limitations.

BTW, when did you port your phone?

Try distributel. No installation fees and no activation fee. They're great.

[wilsonlam97]

Ahaha... :lol: When I finally ported my line from Bell to Teksavvy*, Bell sent me this greeting card in the mail, asking me to come back. It actually came in a real greeting card envelope with my name/address hand-written in ink and an actual stamp glued to the front. No indication of Bell was on the outside of the envelope. Astonishing. They go to such great and creative lengths to mislead you into opening their advertising.

Imagine how great Bell would be if they actually put all of this creative energy into actually serving their customers.

* yes, I know that TekSavvy is technically a Bell reseller

They send me an advertisement of their horrible, gouging, scamming offerings monthly and the envelope is blank but its addressed to me in the Bell font. I throw it away without opening it. They somehow got my real name even though I had never used my real name to subscribe to their services. I think they bought my contact info off of somewhere. It's been really frequent lately. QUIT SPAMMING ME!

[weedb0y]

If you have issues with them, try the social media route. They are on twitter and business blog is up at http://bell.ca/businessblog. I am sure you would get their attention.

[feidailo]

i wish james holmes would pay a visit to bell...

[Jucius Maximus]

Lucky for you. I wasn't able to port to Teksavvy as there is a "stop sell" note for my area. I hope this "stop sell" is resolved soonest as I gathered that Teksavvy is seeking legal options to sell without limitations.

BTW, when did you port your phone?

I ported my landline phone in 2009, and Bell's migration antics resulted in this situation (http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22851791-How-I-Eliminated-Bells-HOME-PHONE-DEACTIVATION-CHARGE).

Btw, I never had Bell internet. I terminated Rogers and switched to Teksavvy. No disconnection antics.

BELL CANADA IS THE WORST COMPANY IN CANADA.

[night blade]

I've been 1 year with TSI now, so happy to get rid of those schmucks at Bell, and yes they tried to pull a quick one when I ported over like others here. When I moved last year I was with Bell for over 20 years, the billing peroid was until the 3rd week of the month so the extra 7 days service I required (to the end of the month) was billed as a full months service on my final bill, CS told me to pay it and it will get refunded later! Spent a good 5 mins telling off the CS and they eventually dropped it, you really need to speak up for them to listen.

[Said212]

Bell payphones are 50cents a call. Like SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!?

I always liked Rogers better & I like red more than blue, lol.

[jessie51]

You are correct,they need to close down . I hope the smaller company's close the door on them one day. RIP RIP RIP OFF They have the worst billing practices on earth. You need to be on them all the time to make sure they don't rip you off. If some of you have a good relationship with them well you lucked out. Once you cancel a service watch out ! You will have a massive bill which you may not owe them. I know because I have been there and I know of several people with the same issue. They are hell.Rogers is bad and not far behibnd Bell. Go to Market place and watch the programs about their unethical billing practices and what they will try to do to get you off guard. A lot of people don't even check their bills and are being charges for services they don't have. I second the previous post DEATH TO BELL CANADA !!!

[clrking]

My mom called in to have our home phone negotiated down, they dropped its 5$ but failed to inform my mom that they were locking us in for a 1 year term. 2 months later they raise my bill $10 claiming its the new cost. We proceed to tell them we want to cancel and decide to switch to rogers (1/2 the price). They come back telling us its a 50$ cancelation fee as we were in a contract. At this point I am furious, as we didnt agree, and even on the off chance there was a contract, we have a set price agreed, I dont have the option to pay 10$ less.

We proceeded to escalate with no success until my mom wrote a letter to the VP of customer service (something along that) after a week I got the "we are so sorry" greeting card and a cheque for the 50$ cancelation fee.

Needless to say I would rather use two dixie cups and a string than deal with bell. Rogers is pricey yes and make the odd hiccup on our bill but they always credit me back more as an inconvienance and are generally quick and helpful from my experience.