Bell Misleading Descriptions on Website?

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That70sGuy

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I recently purchased the Upgrade Kit #5 from Bell's online shopping site for $179.99 CAD. I ordered this because I currently have a few channels that I am subscribed to in my package bundle that require the second satellite. I currently have 3 receivers in the house hooked to 2 different dishes (2 receivers to one dish/satellite and 1 receiver to the 2nd dish pointed at the same main sattelite), but now to get the second satellite for all 3 receivers, I needed a switch. The attraction to this package offered by Bell was that it offered a $90 credit coupon with the purchase:

Accessory features

* Includes 1-LNBF dish, 1 4x4 switch, 1 power inserter and a $90 credit coupon.​

(Note that I assume the "dish" word in this description is misplaced since the package doesn't include a dish. Who writes these descriptions anyway??)

To my chagrin, I received the package today and discovered that to receive my $90 credit I need to PURCHASE FURTHER PROGRAMMING!! This is not explained on Bell's website.

Thankfully there is a pre-paid XpressPost sticker which I can use to return the order, and I hope Bell will refund the entire amount including shipping to my credit card.

Am I overreacting? Has anyone else experienced similar problems with advertising from Bell?
 
Why did you purchase this switch?
I'm assuming to receive programming from the 82 degree satellite?
To qualify for the $90 programming credit, you then have to subscribe to a theme pack from the 82 degree satellite
I don't see the problem here
What I think they may be doing is trying to stop pirates, from getting rebates on equipment
 
I've never seen a credit coupon on programming (from Bell or any cable company) that didn't require you to buy more programming so I am not surprised. I usually confirm with companies when the deal seems to good to be true.

I don't know what the webpage says but mistakes happen. Around here I've learned that both customers and companies screw up.

It's annoying but my advice is to send it back.
 
I currently subscribe to the 11 Themes and Movies package which includes several stations that require the second satellite (specifically the Variety 3 package). I am already paying for this package and decided that I might want to see what I am paying for. But now they want me to buy additional programming to get the credit. I'm not really arguing that fact. If that's what they want, so be it. What I really resent is not being told the specifics of the credit requirements *prior* to the purchase. The online description is misleading.
 
Agreed. I just think its a goof up on the copy as opposed to a deliberate attempt to mislead.

Sending it back ensures they are more likely to check the copy the next time!
 
Sorry if this is a stupid question
Why are you paying for Variety 3, if you can't receive it? (This is why you purchased the sw44 switch)
If you weren't paying for it to begin with, and now decided to pay for it, you wouldn't need to add any more programming and would get your credit (unless I am mistaken?)
 
That coupon is the old Nimiq 2 promo...

Call EV and book an Nimiq 2 free upgrade...
You might have to argue over this as the promo is usually that you buy the LNBF with the agent and they will book free install on the same call. I could confrim it is possible even whithout threthning to disconnect as I had it home

They will send a tech in to install it for you (less hassle for you!)

All you need to do to be eligible is to suscribe to Nimiq 2 channels (it could even be Salt & Light religious channel at 2.50$/month) for months minimum and the LNBF cost will be refund in full
 
My programming bundle includes 11 Themes and I'm not a huge Sports fan so I didn't get the Sports 2 or Sports 3 packages. The only other package left was Variety 3, which looked good to me, and thought I might get the switch in the future. So I included it in my programming. Since it is part of a bundle, I didn't have the option of adding it this time.
 
Even if you are not a huge sports fan, wouldnt you rather pay for channels that you could have watched, instead of subscribing to channels that you weren't capable of receiving?
Maybe the CSR should have stressed that to you, as I still don't understand why they would let you pay for channels you weren't going to get
It just sets the stage for an unhappy customer
I guess it is in the past, so it doesn't matter....
 
Salt and Light is the correct answer. How long do you need to subscribe to that upgrade?
If you can you should ask if they can do any better.
 
Ok... There were no other packages I wanted. So I guess I should have selected 10 Theme packs for the same price as 11 even if I did anticipate eventually getting the switch? I'll remember that in the future. Thanks for the tip.

And as for a CSR. IMHO they are rather useless. I terminated all of my Bell cellular and internet services because of CSR issues. I even had a technical support person once tell me to ignore threats from the accounting department over my account as the result of a minor plan change since Bell's records would "catch up" in the next month or so. He was right, but this shouldn't have happened. The final insult was Bell telling me I hadn't returned my DSL modem when I clearly had and used their pre-paid Canada Post sticker to do so. It was laughable that the Canada Post worker even advised me to get my receipt stamped because "Bell *will* lose your modem, trust me."

I do all my transactions online now. Although I'm reconsidering that as well since Bell's site is truly horrible from a technical perspective. The only reason I have stayed with Bell for satellite is that the only legal alternative to me is StarChoice... *shudder*

But once again... That isn't my complaint. My complaint is the misleading online description of the upgrade kit.
 
LOL isn`t it funny that one of the largest communications company in the world has one of the worst websites in the world. Kind of ironic!!
 
i thought they wouldn't even be able to add Variety 3 if you didn't have the upgrade kit...odd that the system allows you to subscribe to programming you can not receive.

and for the N2 promo, you need to keep said programming for a minimum of 12 months...the problem you may run into now, is if you currently have Variety 3 (even though you can't watch it), it may disqualify you from the promo, as you have to be "new" to N2 programming...you would be new to actually viewing it, but if you already subscribe to it, it may cause problems...of course, the simple remedy would be for bell to override the system and give you the promo anyway...whether that will happen is another story.
 
Just realised that he suscribes to Variety 3...unfortunatly that indeed makes hm not eigible for the promo.


Dirtyjeffer it's 6 months that the client needs to keep programming that requires N2, not 12!


If I was that client I would call EV, request a credit saying that agent added that package when in fact you coudn't receive them since you didn't had the upgrade kit. I would complain that because of that mistake you are now not eligible for the upgrade promo. I would request a 5$ credit per month that I suscribed.

You might have to fight it, but you could certainly have the free install and fefund
 


Lots of CSR's don't even know that this theme requires the N2 upgrade...
The option is in the system since when agent does the apoitement he could make an open order for the channels to start on the day of the appoitement, therefore avoiding a second call for the client.
There is also people who have the N2 upgrade but don't have an HD receiver (like me before I got my 9200)...there is no way for the agent to know if that's the case! There is no etails in the ayatem as to what is installed at the client's house.
If you place the order on line for one of the N2 theme pack there is a mention that additionnal hardware may be required...but it let's everybody place the order for those theme pack
Sstems at EV are far from the best... Dish Care is not offered to BC clients...but the option is there in the programming choices, and Dish Care could be added.
 
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