Bell's pay phone price increases to 50 cents Saturday

[Narci]

When was the last time you used a pay phone?

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/06/01/payphone-increase.html

As of Saturday, consumers will have to fish two quarters from their pockets to make a local call from a Bell pay phone.

'It would've been more of a measured response to the phone companies' calls for this to let them go up to 35 cents instead of straight up to doubling it.'
—John Lawford, Public Interest Advocacy CentreFor people using a credit card or a calling card, the cost will be $1. In Bell's request to the CRTC to increase the rate, the company noted that local pay phone rates have not gone up in 25 years. Bell said that with fewer consumers using pay phones, many of the units are not generating enough revenue to cover their replacement cost.

But John Lawford, legal counsel for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, said the 100 per cent increase would be difficult on low-income Canadians.

"With the appearance of cellphones everybody says, just get a cellphone. But a lot of people can't afford them," Lawford told CBC.ca.

He said a more reasonable measure would have been a smaller increase, of 10 cents.

"It would've been more of a measured response to the phone companies' calls for this to let them go up to 35 cents instead of straight up to doubling it," he said.

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PIAC is considering conducting surveys on pay phone usage to put together a case asking the CRTC or the minister of telecommunications to reconsider the rate increase.

The CRTC in late April said it was creating new pricing rules for Bell Canada, Telus, SaskTel, MTS Allstream and Bell Aliant. Under the new plan, companies are allowed to raise pay phone service fees to 50 cents and increase prices for local phone services in rural areas.


Bell is raising its pay phone price to 50 cents, its first price increase in 25 years.
(CBC)
Bell submitted its request to raise pay phone prices on May 14 and the regulator approved the request on May 24.

Allison Vale, a Telus spokeswoman, said the company has no plans to increase its pay phone rates in the immediate future.

Meanwhile, Rogers Communications Inc. on Friday ended service for analog phones. The company announced in January that it would be closing down its TDMA and analog networks, moving all customers over to a digital network.

Digital service offers improved security transmission, longer battery life and text messaging and other enhanced features.

Analog and digital service are both offered by Rogers' competitors Bell Canada and Telus.

[MrDisco]

i think this is a reasonable rate increase. we know payphone use has decreased due to cellphones, so the cost to maintain and service them must have gone up. As well when was the last time payphones had a rate increase (vs other utilities like television, land lines, etc).

[Narci]

Hmm..I got an idea...why doesn't bell build a Large Area WiFi much like Hydro One's so that they can use VoIP onto the payphones AND sell wide area internet access?

It would be an awesome Idea. I wonder how many people would switch to Sympatico if they knew if for $5 more they can have wide area network alongside thier home internet access or something like that. I would switch if a company offered that service.

They could also offer it on thier cell phones rather then use GPRS or whatever the cell phone standard is for CDMA.

[josipm]

This just paves the way for them to increase the per minute rate on your cell phone!

[gei]

what's a "payphone"?

[GangStarr]

what's a "payphone"?

Damn you beat me to that comment.

I noticed in New York City its a per minute rate, particularly in areas like harlem.

[Paolo]

theres this one payphone in this warehouse building that my dad works for.. but its in a room that the lights dont work and sometimes they lock the door. It's also one of those really old skool pay phones that doesnt even eccept bell quickchange smart cards, I have a feeling that bell doesnt even know this payphone exists, so chances are, they wont replace it. Heck, my dad uses nickels to make calls on it because its so dumb it cant even tell the difference.

[winner2000]

I don't get one thing...is Bell going to send people to EVERY payphone to "modify" it for 50 cents instead of 25, or is there some easier way they can do it? Because if they do it one by one...well, that's a LOT of work.

[GangStarr]

I don't get one thing...is Bell going to send people to EVERY payphone to "modify" it for 50 cents instead of 25, or is there some easier way they can do it? Because if they do it one by one...well, that's a LOT of work.

Considering every modern pay phone has a screen that displays advertisment info and tells you how much a long distance call costs they can probably jack up the rate without actually visiting the booth.

Perhaps the old ones but thats about it.

[Badman]

but dont they still have to go and change the signs?

I don't exactly like this because for tourist it will make their life harder to find 2 quarters.

[infinite.chaoz]

what's a "payphone"?

LOL, ya, i thought those were clocks for people to lift the handle and see what time it is.

[MkmBandit]

Damn you beat me to that comment.

I noticed in New York City its a per minute rate, particularly in areas like harlem.

In most parts of the world its per minute. In UK its rediculous, something like 20pence for half a minute. >:(

[gman]

theres this one payphone in this warehouse building that my dad works for.. but its in a room that the lights dont work and sometimes they lock the door. It's also one of those really old skool pay phones that doesnt even eccept bell quickchange smart cards, I have a feeling that bell doesnt even know this payphone exists, so chances are, they wont replace it. Heck, my dad uses nickels to make calls on it because its so dumb it cant even tell the difference.

So, nobody comes over to collect the coins??

[bubble.tea]

My cell is available for payphone useage:lol:.

[jyeung]

The payphones mostly in service these days are Quortech Millenniums, which can be remotely administered. The phones dial back to the Millennium Manager once a day or so and get their new settings - so rate changes are a breeze.

I actually have one of these things sitting in my basement right now - they're probably one of the most advanced payphones available.

- Jason

[NiMSo]

I don't have a cell phone, and often use payphones. However, this ridiculous move may force me to reconsider my pay phone usage!!! :mad: They're going to alienate non-cell phone users even more...

[atforum]

Why is bell the only having the freedom to rob us?? I demand equality. Rogers and telus have equal right to rob us. Get their payphones :D

[MkmBandit]

I don't have a cell phone, and often use payphones. However, this ridiculous move may force me to reconsider my pay phone usage!!! :mad: They're going to alienate non-cell phone users even more...

Thats kind of a harsh way of putting it dont you think? Raising their rate is probably the best thing that could have happened from all this. It could have been much worse, like charging per minute. The ones that are really going to get hit are those who use payphones with calling/credit cards. Anyways $0.50 may not be convenient, but its nothing to complain about.

[Paolo]

Why is bell the only having the freedom to rob us?? I demand equality. Rogers and telus have equal right to rob us. Get their payphones :D

That would make sense if telus and rogers had payphones but they are only cellular carriers, and not landline. Everyone knows bell is the only landline carrier in canada. and when i say landline, i mean, they also own the cables underground too

[twotterdhc6]

I actually use payphones whenever I can find one, especially when walking around downtown Toronto, since the rates are cheaper than my prepaid cell phone service. Now that they are raising it, I'll have to rethink my strategy...

[blizzah]

They should switch to a 25 cent per minute charge. Most people use it for less than a minute anyways and charge those that use it more.

[scottyyy]

omg how will i survive with this 50 cent increase

[abu_sme]

OMG: that means that this year I will spend zero dollars and next year I will spend zero dollars. I haven't used a pay phone for year, although , they are pretty good value if you are making calls. I only make long distance calls from a payphone anyways, and that is using a 1-800 calling card.

Back in my teens it was always fun logging into the menus and (very rarely) being able to find out what the last few calls made were and how much money is in the hopper.

[Sprite_TM]

i guess they are just trying to make people get a cell phone

[Reallycheapguy]

Suck it up it is already 50 cents for 5 minutes in the U.S. BTW who uses payphones these days anyway???

[Siefer999]

That would make sense if telus and rogers had payphones but they are only cellular carriers, and not landline. Everyone knows bell is the only landline carrier in canada. and when i say landline, i mean, they also own the cables underground too

never been to western canada huh?

[atforum]

Suck it up it is already 50 cents for 5 minutes in the U.S. BTW who uses payphones these days anyway???

In US people earn more than in Canada and pay less taxes in many provinces.

[felix]

Hmm..I got an idea...why doesn't bell build a Large Area WiFi much like Hydro One's so that they can use VoIP onto the payphones AND sell wide area internet access?

It would be an awesome Idea. I wonder how many people would switch to Sympatico if they knew if for $5 more they can have wide area network alongside thier home internet access or something like that. I would switch if a company offered that service.

They could also offer it on thier cell phones rather then use GPRS or whatever the cell phone standard is for CDMA.
That would be a good idea. I'm sure they've probably thought of it already though.

Is wifi still free in downtown area?

[DaVibe]

Most payphones in the city of Toronto are dirty and you can barely hear anything out of them ... that is, if they're working.
As if they fee is needed.

[just_For_ipod]

In US people earn more than in Canada and pay less taxes in many provinces.

In the U.S. they also force people to join the army and fight pointless wars.
Stop comparing and complaining, if you don't like it, start your own company. Or else just make 1 less trip to dollarama. With a dollar, you can make TWO phone calls!
Wow! ....


"Fifty cents a lot of money.."
-Chinese Guy at Pacific Mall
-Russell Peters

[Instagator]

Its been like 10 years since I used anything but a cell phone :D

[CHINAdeals]

was in buffalo just yesterday..their payphones are 50 cents

[Paolo]

never been to western canada huh?
Of course I have. I also noticed bell uses a different logo over there!! :)

[nalababe]

Silly them...

At 25 cents I would use a pay phone instead of my cell (especially when the signal was iffy), now I wont.

[Beradon]

Most payphones in the city of Toronto are dirty and you can barely hear anything out of them ... that is, if they're working.
As if they fee is needed.
Yeah I've been turned off of payphones for hygenic reasons. The thought of having everybody else's ear wax slapped onto my ear is one thing. Then you can imagine what everybody's hands have went through when you touch that phone... dam, I'll pay the per minute charges on my phone. :lol:

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

Do Bell payphones have any use nowadays other than to serve as toilet cubicles for homeless winos and squeegee kids?

[AudiDude]

Suck it up it is already 50 cents for 5 minutes in the U.S. BTW who uses payphones these days anyway???


A time limit is coming to the Bell payphones as well, they have been disussing it for years. As the industry is deregulated things will change. Maxime Bernier has been pushing for faster deregulation. Bell has been saying that they can't compete because they aren't allowed to set their own prices. They must charge the $55 install fee and cannot waive it. However they limited from selling services below cost and they are limited from putting the price of basic service through the roof. They have always been able to lower the cost on all the features as they are not a necessity.
Bell is complaining that they are forced to charge higher prices and neglecting to mention that if fully unregulated, that they are planning on increasing the cost of rural phone services as they see fit. The CRTC turned down most of their increases they applied for.
Jane/Finch and Jane/Shoreham pay phones make the big dollars. Bell has even increased the amount of phones in this area. People spend too much time per call on these phones, so a time limit plus the 50 cent increase would make them big dollars.

[spm24]

alberta has 35 cents percall and its hella a pain in the ass to make phone calls espically when trying to organize something and not wanting to use out of province cell phones.


i kept having to get change in quarters and dimes to make calls. 50 Cents being easier to find as change will be a pain in the ass for people who have to make calls on a go.

[danfromwaterloo]

I haven't used a payphone since I was in high school.

[ricoboxing]

what's a "payphone"?

it's those machines that you can call 411 for free, then dial the number on your cell phone.

[Paolo]

just to avoid confusion, its not a 50 cent increase, its increasing to 50 cents, which is a 25 cent increase. thats doubled.

I wonder if you can still call in to a payphone like the one at the warehouse my dad works at.

[sixer]

Seems fair

[phomp]

it's those machines that you can call 411 for free, then dial the number on your cell phone.

woahh I was never cheap enough to think of that...:lol: