[Merged] Cellular System Access Fee Class-Action Lawsuit

[devilsknight]

Looks like this thing is going to court as a class action suit, so i figured i would share the site where you can register to join to class action suit and the article on the latest news.

Let's get our $$$ back lol !!!

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/258049

http://www.merchantlaw.com/cellular.html

[J_u_n_i_o_r_3]

they way to go
6.95 is too much money

[J_u_n_i_o_r_3]

if this goes thorugh stock prices |
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[4flava]

It's about time..we've been raped long enough.

[mself084]

I like it.. I mean, carriers would probably just bump up your plan by $6.95/month to make up for the lost fee, but still the costs of cellphone use would be up front.

[akito925]

I like it.. I mean, carriers would probably just bump up your plan by $6.95/month to make up for the lost fee, but still the costs of cellphone use would be up front.

umm I don't think so canada is the most expensive for cell phone plans.. look at our neighbours cell phones USA cell phone plans

[purple_rabbit]

whatever added my name....let's see what happens..

[cdnNick]

The carriers have showed time and time again that they will just raise the cost of the plans or offer less feaures and charge you for what you want to use. Look at voicemail and caller ID these were included when I got my first cell 10 years ago, now they are an add-on.

No system access fee will mean higher rate plans.

[Shaner]

The carriers have showed time and time again that they will just raise the cost of the plans or offer less feaures and charge you for what you want to use. Look at voicemail and caller ID these were included when I got my first cell 10 years ago, now they are an add-on.

No system access fee will mean higher rate plans.

Then so be it. But when I am told that my plan costs $25.00, I expect to pay $25.00 and not a penny higher. I understand taxes will be added on, but that's to be expected. I don't expect to sign up for a plan that costs $25.00 and end up paying close to $40 by the time all the fees and taxes are added on. It's completely misleading and should be made illegal by parliament.

[hyperion]

This is a boat I want to be on. *cross fingers* that a class action lawsuit that deals with Bell's billing practices also comes along.

[mself084]

What about the 911 Access fee (or something similar)? Is this in the same boat?

[st7860]

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Top...howbyline=True

The lawyer at the head of a massive class-action lawsuit against Canadian cellphone companies said the service providers have become "addicted" to collecting unnecessary fees from customers.

"When the companies first had cellular service you had to have a wireless fee, and the companies got into the habit of charging this," Tony Merchant, the lawyer who initiated the suit, told CTV Regina.

"When they weren't required to pay the wireless fee, it was sort of like a crack cocaine that they were used to," he said. "They just kept charging, taking the money and mis-describing the money they were receiving."

A Saskatchewan court certified the lawsuit against Canada's cellphone providers on Tuesday.

The suit, first launched in 2004, alleges Canada's cellphone users are owed $12 billion plus interest for unfair "system access" fees collected over the years.

After two weeks of arguments from lawyers for the class action and the cell phone companies, the Court of Queen's Bench in Regina ruled Tuesday that the suit has enough validity to go forward.

It is described as the largest class-action in Canadian history, potentially affecting every cellphone user in the country. Currently, there are 7,500 complainants signed onto the suit.

"As a financial story for these companies it has an absolute blockbuster impact upon them. So if the industry has a judgment of $20 billion delivered, the impact would obviously be huge," Merchant said

The suit claims the companies are practicing "unjust enrichment" by charging the so-called "system access" or "licensing" fees.

Merchant maintains cellphone service providers have convinced customers the fees are required under federal regulations.

"They're gouging people. They're receiving money they ought not to receive and people believe they're paying it with good and just cause, and they're not."

The practice effectively allows companies to advertise lower prices, then boost the cost of cellphone plans through hidden fees, he said.

Here are the monthly subscriber access fees charged by Canada's major cellphone providers:

Rogers Wireless: $6.95
Telus Mobility: $6.95
Bell Mobility: $8.95, after a recent $2 increase
An investigation by the Toronto Star several years ago revealed many employees of cellphone companies were incorrectly telling customers the fees were required by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission.

While required by the CRTC when the cellphone industry was in its infancy, the fees are no longer legally required, but are still being charged.

The investigation also found the fees would generate about $800 million annually for the industry.

Merchant said that number is now closer to $1.3 or $1.5 billion.

Critics argue the fees are necessary in order to allow cellphone companies to continue doing business, and point out that the court's certification of the class-action suit doesn't mean the case has been deemed to have merit.

[White Comet]

At last people are realizing about the system access fee, what a rip. I remember asking them many years ago what this was...and they mumbled a bunch of crap that I already forgot about it.

There is also link to news here

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14888.aspx

and apparently...you can join in the lawsuit

What about the 911 Access fee (or something similar)? Is this in the same boat?

911 emergency fee is different from the system access fee (SAF) the 911 is only $0.50/month but the SAF is $6.95/month. I'm using Fido btw

[hyperion]

and apparently...you can join in the lawsuit

That's the best part.

[d_jedi]

Sign up here:
http://www.merchantlaw.com/cellular.html

What's particularily galling is Bell increased this fee for people who were on contract with them. There is nothing, technically, preventing them from raising the fee to $20/month or something.. and wanna cancel? That'll be $$$, please.

Scrap the system access bull$hit.. and end this deceptive, consumer-hostile practice!