Bell Ditches the SAF Effective Nov 20th (Updated)
Updated the post below with new information.
Yes, the day shall soon be upon us, where the SAF will finally die. From an internal communication..
Effective November 20th, 2009 Bell Mobility will be launching new pricing for all existing postpaid plans & will no longer be charging the $6.95 system access fee. Review the job aid for more details.
It is assumed that Bell will be following in TELUS’ footsteps, and will increase the base price of their plans, but not introduce another empty charge à la Rogers’ GRRF. (Update: Bell is of course going the route that Telus went. Plans increase by $5, with no additional fees)
A couple questions remain to be answered however:
1) What happens to existing customers currently paying the SAF? (Likely have to migrate to one of the new plans to save the SAF) (Update: Of course staying as they are until they decide to move to one of the new SAF-free plans)
2) What about customers on Corporate plans, where switching plans isn’t much of an option? (Update #2: Looks like those currently on corp plans continue with the saf like everyone else, but if they change to a new corp plan, thent he saf is removed!
3) The communication makes no reference to the 911 fee. “…will no longer be charging the $6.95 system access fee” So will Bell continue to charge this fee once the SAF is dead? For now, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, and say that they won’t, and just simply left it out of the communication. But we all know how much Bell loves to charge for 911, even to those who don’t benefit from the service. (Update: 911 fee is gone as well)
Discuss here
Some TELUS locations are offering this phone for $24.99 on a 3yr term with a data plan.
Comment by Jeeverz on 17 November 2009:
But Telus still charges for ‘paper billing’
[Reply]
kjbninja Reply:
November 20th, 2009 at 5:11 pm (Quote)
To my knowledge Telus doesn’t charge for paper billing.
[Reply]
Me Reply:
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 am (Quote)
Telus charges for DETAILED paper billing, not paper billing. It is a $3/month charge, unless you have had it on a previous plan that you’ve had since the days of per second billing on Telus. (which was a LOOONNNNG time ago… think clearnet takeover time frame)
[Reply]
Comment by Old Faithful on 17 November 2009:
Pardon me for doubting the move, but what is it going to change at the bottom line? I can bet you, nothing whatsoever.
Unless it is forced away by court decision, it’s juts more wool over the consumer’s eyes.
In other words, more of the same BS we are so accustomed to hear from Bell.
[Reply]
Chance Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:29 pm (Quote)
The problem with the system access fee is that it is a mandatory charge that allows them to advertise a lower price than they actually charge. Before, they could advertise a $20 plan that would cost over $30 after tax (and fee). Now, it’s more in line where a $20 plan will cost just under $23.
Even if they increase the cost of the plan to $25 you will at least know how much you will be paying before you get your first bill.
[Reply]
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