Rumour: Grandfathered pricing eliminated in January

O

Orlando

New member
According to an expressvu rep ALL non contract subscribers will be upgraded to the new pricing model in January 2006. I tried to clarify that if I had a super 7 package would I not okay till the end of 2006. He just repeated that if you are not on a contract you will move to the new pricing in January.

Can anyone confirm this?
 
I have "The Works" circa 1999 package (grandfathered) and no intention of ever changing.

No notice here either, sounds like another FUD rumour...
 
I just spoke with the Bell Loyalty team last week - and they confirmed that the only price increase I'll see is the $3 service charge added - my contract ends January 2006.

I have the super 7 package.

If my price increases (as you're saying) I will be calling and cancelling on the spot.
 
Just curious...but what sort of package is "The Works" and what sort of pricing are you still paying for it?

Same question for the "Super 7"?
 
I got my bill today and this is what it says:

"IMPORTANT NOTICE: The price protection for the rate increase will expire within 30 days; the Digital Standard package will increase in price by $2. You will see this increase reflected on your next bill. Rate increase for other packages may also apply. For further details, please refer to the rate increase notification letters or visit http://www.bell.ca/billexplanation
 
I have a letter in my hand that my price is garanted t"ill Aug. 2007.the letter is dated in Oct 2005
 
When I went to add HD to my Ulitmate 9 package Bell started to add activation fee for the 9200 $2.99 plus $2.00 for TSN HD and Discovery HD plus $10 for all the rest of the HD.....at the end I got tired of the noise and switch to their ultimate package, lost some statsion but most I did not watch anyways. Works out to about $9 more including HD than I had before and can have up to 6 receivers with no additional charge.
 
I just called Bell and the CSR outlined the exact same thing. She stated that we (I) will be forced to switch to the new package coming this January 2006.

Be curious to see if they try and force us to agree to a contract.
 
If you were to pay completely for a year in advance, would that save you from any increases ?
 
I too am no contract super 7 and have no letter from BEV. Have been on super 7 for 3 years.
Bill
 
Off the top of my head...

All the locals and US locals. The Movie channels, no BBC or anything Bev added in the past two years...it does include the A&E, Bio, etc.

Price...$54 including taxes and I can have up to six IRDs on my package.
 
I know this is true for the Super 7 package that I have! When I called to activate HD they tried to get me to switch to the new programming. Of course the said I would save money. Long story short, Bell has split up a number of bundles meaning I would have to order a number of channels separately, making it more expensive then what I pay now. The CSR laughed and said I would be a fool to switch.
 
The original "packages" had guarantees of no increases ever. What Bev has done is "system" fees of $2.99 and "additional" IRD fees $2.99 (total regardless of number of IRDs) AND most dastardly...NO CHANGES ALLOWED to your packages. You can NOT add any new channels unless you switch to a current package.

The current cost of the same channels that I have under The Works is $85 (includes some channels I do not have) which is $31/month more than I pay right now!!!

So, you know what I have told them since they stopped selling "The Works"? LOL
 
well they might have to increase their pricing even more to counter the hack for their rom102 cards. looks like the game is on again.
 
Same with me here... when I got my 9200 in Sept they tried to get me to switch away from my Ultimate 7 package. Instead I just added the HD pack on. Found out that you don't get TSN-HD and Discovery-HD as part of the old package but just bought TSN-HD a la carte.
 
i find that a little hard to believe...that package is so old that BEV didn't have nearly the number of channels they offer today...the Ultimate package still includes the premium movies package, plus digital standard and additional theme choices and is $68...now while that is more expensive, it will contain a LOT more channels that what you currently have.
 
i don't really find the new packages to be really any different...i also have the ultimate 7 plan, and the new ultimate value combo is basically the same thing.

the new ultimate plan gives you the basic channels, plus premium movies plus 6 themes for $68.

the old ultimate 7 plan gives you the basic channels, premium movies and 7 theme packs for $65.97 ($59.99 plus $2.99 system charge plus $2.99 additional receiver charge).

many people initially think that the new plan is worse because you get one less theme package...but the reality is, in the new packages, your US Networks is part of Digital Standard (so already included), and News and Learning is one theme package in the new package, whereas it is two separate themes in the older packages.

When you really compare the themes, think about the new Ultimate Combo ($68) being Locals, US Networks, Premium Movies, as well as (if you subscribe to News as well as Learning in the old theme choices) News and Learning (one theme pack, not two seperate ones), plus 5 more different choices (for example: Sports1, Lifestyle1, Variety1, Family1 and Family2).

I think most people don't realize how much programming is really in the new Ultimate Value combo packages...while it might not suit every person, i think too many people are too quick to judge it.
 
My bill is currently $60.99 for the Ultimate 7 Pack plus a System Charge of $2.99. I have 3 receivers and there are no other fees. So my total bill for the basic package alone is $63.98. So to switch to Ultra Value Combo I'd be paying $4 a month or $48 more per year.


I have no idea technically what packages I am subscribed to but I currently get the following channels that I frequently watch: CNN, Discovery, TLC, TechTV, Discovery Civilization, TSN, Rogers Sporsnet, Spike TV, Space, TV Land, Deja View, Scream, Action, and Drive-Inn.

By my count to get these SAME channels under the new structure I would have to get the Ultra Value Combo and purchase an extra theme pack at $5 a month more. So now between the $4 increase and the $5 theme pack I'd be looking at $108 more per year plus tax.


But don't forget when you add on the HDTV Package you get ALL of the US networks (SD and HD) as part of that package. So the SD versions of the US Networks under the new package don't add much value to me since I am already getting them under my HDTV package. In a way I'd be paying twice for them! Give me something else of value and I'd be tempted to switch!


You're right... it's really up to each person. For me for now I'll stay put and just pay the $2 extra a month for TSN-HD. But as Bell adds more and more channels to their line-up and don't offer them under the older packages I may be inclined to eventually make the switch. For now I'll keep my ($4+$5-$2) $84 a year until there's something more worthwhile. Having said that the new channels such as NFL Network, Fox News, Discovery-HD, and the 5 Galaxie Channels I can't get under my older package are just not worth it!
 
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