Expiring contract - what to expect?

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theflake

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I understand, but then at least it's MY fault if my bill goes up by 35% and catches me off guard. It takes no time or effort to have a message print off on an invoice, even if it is just a note advising you that your plan expires in 30-60-90 days and to check the web for options.

If I go online now and change my programming, it tells me I will lose my discounts; as my contract expires in a week, this is not a concern. Am I on a month-to-month agreement at that point, or am I automatically in another two year term?

And 987654321 has a point; Bell's multi-million dollar profits are not my main concern. I entered into a two year agreement with them, and both parties have lived up to their end of the bargain. Bell owes me nothing, and vice-versa. Now I am shopping for a provider of certain services, and I would be foolish to stay with Bell if I can get similar services for a better price elsewhere. I would suggest that if Bell provided some sort of loyalty offer to renew, they would not have to offer a million incentives to win people back. If someone from Bell had contacted me with any offer (TMN free for 3 months, a discount on an HD PVR rental, etc) I would probably not be looking around. And I can guarantee you that is my bill HAD gone up without me noticing, I would already have chosen another provider.
 
i highly doubt BEV even turns a profit, so giving away further discounts isn't in the best interests of the company or its shareholders...BEV's goal is to lead the way with HD, user experience through great hardware at competetive pricing...leading the way with the "lowest pricing in the market" is something starchoice does, and it obviously doesn't work.
 
My two year programming contract expires this month. I have a 5900 PVR that I own, and currently pay $40 per month for the Digital Standard and three basic themes. The bill says $55.00 less $15.00 in "adjustments".

The CSR I spoke to today tells me that the billing will remain the same for next month, and will not change to the new rates unless I change the amount of themes. Is this in fact the case? I find it odd that I have received nothing from Bell trying to get me to sign up for something new. Is this thier normal practice? I know the good deals are all for new subscribers, but you think they would at least ASK me...

I have an HD-ready TV, and will likely look at the dual tuner HD PVR in the future, but as I don't watch many shows that are broadcast in HD, I can't see the point right now. If my rate goes way up, however, I may look at an alternative supplier.

Thanks in advance.

Blake
 
... or moves some of its call centres to, oh, say, India? :rolleyes:

I agree with the rest, however -- I don't see the point switching TV or Internet or Phone suppliers every year or two when a contract expires. I'm interested in the service I am getting: is it reliable? does it offer the content I want? is it, more or less, priced competitively? and what do I give up switching away -- favourite channels or services for example?
 
You will lose any price guarantees the day your contract ends. Digital standard is currently $31 and themes are $8 each or $5 each if you have atleast 5.
So your bill will increase to $31 + $24 = $55. That's a huge increase to deal with. If you add 2 more themes, your bill will be $51.
Once Bell has you, they do little in the form of offers. You might want to take a look at Star Choice, Rogers, Shaw, Videotron (depending where your located)

EDIT: Basically, you'll lose the $15 credit.
 
When my contract expired they didn't offer me anything just a price increase....

And increased from my regular $25 basic to $31 plust $8 per theme...

On top of that they will not give me a price break on a new HD receiver since I am not in a contract anymore.

Just makes me feel like cancelling everything!

Cheers!!!
 
I'm not looking to change for the sake of change. I don't recall the expiration date of every service contract I have, and I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a little advance notice, and maybe some options, before my monthly invoice goes up 35%. It's almost like Bell is trying to hide this information, and are hoping you won't notice the increase; if you doubt this, try surfing their site or perusing an invoice. The info is nowhere to be found, even after signing in with your dozen user names and passwords... It doesn't make me feel any better when the CSR doesn't know how the billing works either...

And let's face it; TV channels and internet accounts are commodities at this point. You pick what you want and pay for it. Fast, reliable internet access is expected whether you use satellite or cable... I'm not looking for a lot of "value-added" services here, but maybe that's just me.
 
I'm in the same boat. My contract ends in June and I'm probably going to head back to Star Choice, and not just because my bill will increase by $6.
 
I bet you can renegotiate and get a better deal. I was reading about someone that was in a similar position this morning and basically they threatened to leave and go to Rogers and as a result got a free HD PVR for 2 years and a price reduction as well as the next 6 months for free.

I guess if you can't get a better deal then ditch.
 
Its funny how these company's work... No one cares about you wile you're on contract or when you want a "perk". then Once you make threats to take business else were their all over you!!

When i wanted some kind of deal from rogers they wouldn't give me any. as soon as i called to cancel my digital cable and i told them that bell was coming in a day to install they immediately wanted to give me a free PVR for 2 years, and some ppv credit. I told the CSR politely, HELL NO!! and i'll never return to them again.

So once my contract is up with bev.. if they dont want to " hook me up" so to speak.. ill go see how things are going over in Starchoice Land!
 
BoaVista I think the agent that activated you didn't offered you the bast value for your money...did you know that 5 themes is actually cheaper than the 3 themes you are now paying? 3 themes at 8$ each makes it 24$ for the themes. When you pick 5 themes, we offer you one free and the themes becomes 5$ each, so 5 themes cost 20$.

When your contract expires the only difference will be that if you have a price guarantee you won't have it anymore

My suggestion would be that you add 2 themes (save 4$)

What was the promo you suscribed to? Why did you add 15$ adjustement? Are you sure the receivers are purchased, cause usually client that had adjustement during contract lenght were adjustement for rental cost?

At the end of the contract you will oose that 15$ credit
 
i usually find it funny when i read threads like this..."BEV better give me XYZ because otherwise i will cancel and go with Rogers/Starchoice/etc".

BEV offers a competitively priced service with flexible programming options...what is wrong with market prices for your service...BEV may have given a discount, in exchange for a contracted price as per your agreement made when you signed up...both parties have lived up to their agreements...i am curious why BEV needs to buy your business...if you really feel that Rogers has better deals, go with Rogers...after 6 months, you will be considered new to BEV again should you wish to return...the grass isn't always greener on the other side, as all of us sell the same grass for about the same price.
 
What are you talking about Agent Expressv??
I never mentioned anything about how many themes i have lol...
i happen to have a very good deal right now...
i get 6 themes, HD pack, TMN, and Western US feeds, and Leafs tv and bell Magazine, for $76.??/month INCLUDING TAX'S!!!!

Now.. if u seen what rogers was going to charge me for the same channels i have now you would have blown your tv up into 1,000 pices lol. For me the decision was well worth it to change to bev.

Plus i have home phone and Bell Hispeed DSL too.. so AIO bill saves me a few bucks..
 
dirtyjeffer,

Why are you so mystified with this

attitude?

There are many reasons why "we" have this attitude:
1. I don't care if Expressvu, or Rogers, or anyone else makes a profit or not. I'm trying to keep my bottom line in the black.
2. They, as in all of them, want my business. Great, you want it? Make me a deal.
3. Makes me feel good knowing I got something for less. And this feeling is renewed each month when I open my bill!
4. And last but not least, why not? Why shouldn't "we" try to save money?
 
If you cancel and re-open a new account in 6 month with that receiver only you would have to pay for the reconnection charge (50$) and won't get any promo or new clients deal.

If in 6 months you sign for a new contract with new receivers THEN you will get a new client's deal. You will have to sign a 2 years contract to be able to get discounts.

You can also sell the receiver, just call us to let us know you sold it so that the person could activate it.

I think that at 15$/month for 2 years you got quite a good promotion. most clients gets 2 months free or 50% off for 6months. You got way over that

BEV all in one packages do have lifetime warranty, but the receivers are rental. Part of the cost of the package are for the receiver's cost. All in one packages are basically the same Genesis packages we had before last summer + receiver's cost

Sorry BoaVista I used the wrong name...
 
Not so my amigo. We are shopping around as our contract is soon up.

Price of our choices: taxes extra

Expressvu $57
SC $55
Rogers $65

Advantage SC + Rogers: TCM + NG HD +Showcase HD
Advantage Rogers: Movie package not needed for AMC
Advantage SC: Lifetime warranty on Receivers
Advantage SC: Can be reduced by $5 by eliminating HDNet/A&E HD/Discovery HD

What surprised me (well not really knowing how Rogers operates) is that their price was only similiar to BEV/SC after the maximum bundling discount applied.

For anyone wanting a minimum package, there is a hands down winner: SC @ $34 for a package that includes US nets + TSN + NG + WGN all in HD

As I mentioned above, prices differences vary by channel selections.
 
What happens with my hardware (I own a 5900 PVR) if I cancel for at least six months and then return? Do I need to reactivate the unit (at a healthy cost, I'm sure) or do I just plug it back in and carry on?

I appreciate that Bell has a business to run, but I find it odd that I have heard nothing from Bell. If I didn't happen to think about the contract expiring I would have just seen a $15.00 increase. This seems an odd way to endear yourself to a customer... At least a call or note to say "the packages have changed" would be nice...

Maybe it's time to look at bundling the whole TV/internet/phone package with another provider...
 
I should have clarified that a little; I signed up for two years when the deal was $25 for the basic package, plus 3 Themes at $5 per. Once the basic went up to $41, and the Themes to $8/per, the creidt started appearing. The deal I got when I first signed up was getting to buy the PVR for $70...

If I go on to the site and change my programming (therefore eliminating the $15 credit, which expires next week anyway) am I considered to be running on a month-to-month deal, or will they expect me to sign up for two more years?
 
If I was you I will call them to complain about the fact that my price will go up and threat to disconnect. They will put you throught to a nice retention agent who will offer you the equivalent of the increase for 3 months, then for 6 months. They could also offer you 2 months or 3 months free. Or a 10% off for 6 month or 12 month

I guess this is you best bet!
 
you will need to re-activate it and create an account again, but it can be done all over the phone in a matter of a few minutes (most likely they can reference your old account)...i believe there is a $50 fee to activate "used" receivers.


wouldn't work for two reasons...one, most people don't read the bill or bill inserts as it is...secondly, they would yell at bell for "spamming" them with calls, flyers or emails...damned if you do, damned if you don't.


make sure you read all the fine print, often, bundled services from other providers are actually not any less expensive than bell's "non bundled" prices anyway.
 
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