Proposed national holiday aims to help end wireless contracts in Canada

[howard]

Proposed national holiday aims to help
end wireless contracts in Canada

National Break Your Wireless Contract Day to provide relief and freedom from
contract termination fees; Mobilicity to offer $200 credit to contract breakers this weekend

Toronto, ON – June 20, 2012 – Canada may be the true north, strong and free, but as long as the majority of Canadians are locked in wireless contracts, wireless freedom is at risk, according to Mobilicity, which today applied for Official Holiday Status of National Break Your Wireless Contract Day.
The unlimited carrier, known for its no-contract model and ongoing support of consumer protectionism legislation across Canada, submitted to the Federal Government that the proposed national statutory holiday be observed whereby Canadians can get out of their contracts without incurring unfair, punitive early contract termination fees.
To help gain support of National Break Your Wireless Contract Day, Mobilicity is making it easier for Canadians to #breakfree from their mobile contracts this weekend (June 23-24). The carrier is offering a $200 credit to consumers who bring their phone numbers over and switch to Mobilicity.
“We can’t get Canadians the day off yet, but we can give them $200 to help ease the sting of breaking their contracts,” said Mobilicity Chief Customer Officer Anthony Booth. “We are hopeful that National Break Your Wireless Contract Day is declared an official holiday to give Canadians the freedom and peace of mind they deserve.”
About 12% of all consumer complaints in Canada concern wireless contracts, according to Montreal-based non-for-profit consumer advocacy group Option Consommateurs.
Last year, the company held a similar event, enabling thousands of Canadians to break free and take advantage of a smarter way to use mobile phones, free of contracts and hidden fees commonly charged by Canada’s Big 3 carriers.
For more information, go to www.breakyourcontract.ca

[will888]

What a gimmick! If I were to read into this, it seems like for the next 20 months there will be little in the way of network expansion/improvements. Subs will have to live with discounts as a substitute.

[briancanada3]

the main reason I am with Wind is because I was with Mobilicity and found the service awful and at one point while living in downtown Calgary I was stuck on CDN roaming no matter what I tried to do and when I took it up with the technical support they told me that I should have full home coverage. Another time I made a credit card payment for my month of service and my credit card showed the payment made, Mobilicity did not, so I had to pay again and when I sent in a copy of my statement that showed the double payment the only solution I got from Customer Service was I can receive a 5 dollar bill credit for 8 months to cover the 40 dollar duplicate charge.
I DO wish Mobilicity well as a company but I personally will stick with Wind because no matter what goes wrong they can fix it, There is also a repair store close by me and they are very helpful there no matter my issues

[computergeek541]

For a promotion, I have no problem with Mobilicity's marketing campaign of a a $200 credit or even that they are calling it a contract breaking day.

I suppose it is Mobilicity's right as a Canadian company to lobby for any law changes they see fit, but as a tax paying citizen, I would be a little upset that they would waste tax payers' money if they really did submit that request. After all, a federal employee would have to read the request and although I'm sure it would get immediately dismissed, that employee does get paid by tax money. Surely, Mobilicity didn't really do such a thing I believe that part is just being said in the press release because it makes for a good story. I don't believe that part of the statement by Mobilicity was ever intended to be taken seriously by anyone and that we are just seeing a marketing person's sense of humour at work.

[1976]

Why don't You complain about all taxpayer's money being wasted on all government levels from municipal to federal and leave Mobi's money *waste* in the last place in the list?

[1976]

I was with Wind for more than a year - what a waste of my money, time and hopes! Now I am with Mobi (actually all my family) and we are more than happy to have such an excellent provider compairing to crappy Windmobile!

[migo]

Great opportunity to jump ship for a lot of people.

[migo]

I looked at the terms in more detail, it's $10/month credit for 20 months. Given that you'd be paying taxes on the cancellation fee, assuming you're in BC, you'd only be ahead if you have 8 months or less left on your contract. Even less when you consider you probably can't bring your phone over and have to buy a new one. $100 ATM for the Nokia 500 isn't bad if you need just a phone, but $150 for the 9320 will also cost you another $5/month for BIS (essentially bringing your $10 monthly credit down to $5, and after the 20 months of credits are up you paid the difference of a Lumia 710).

It's a good marketing gimmick to get people to port over, and you can probably expect it to be recurring, but it's only really a good deal for those no longer on a contract, as the $10/month credit really only ends up alleviating the sting of having to buy a new phone.

Not that I want to discourage people from switching to Mobilicity, but if you're looking at the cost/benefit of breaking your contract, it's really about difference in plan costs. If you're paying over $80/month on one of the Big 3, then effectively paying $35/month for the first 20 months gives you a savings of over $40 each month. That more than makes up for the cancellation fee ($20/month). If you're paying $150 or more due to overages, then it's a no brainer, and I guess it helps if the marketing prods people into switching because they were otherwise afraid of the cancellation fees.

[pjw918]

“Due to the competitive intensity,” Bell offers up $200 port-in credit on select Small Business plans - mobilesyrup, June 21

"Looks like the port-in credit offers are popular once again. This time Bell is targeting the small business segment and has decided to offer up a huge $200 port-in credit. This deal officially starts today..."

Let there be no doubt, Mobilicity is having an impact on the industry. This is just one example. WIND dropping their NAM roaming to .20 is another. Rogers moving to their Flextab wouldn't have happened without the new entrants.

[icemasta]

“Due to the competitive intensity,” Bell offers up $200 port-in credit on select Small Business plans - mobilesyrup, June 21

"Looks like the port-in credit offers are popular once again. This time Bell is targeting the small business segment and has decided to offer up a huge $200 port-in credit. This deal officially starts today..."

Let there be no doubt, Mobilicity is having an impact on the industry. This is just one example. WIND dropping their NAM roaming to .20 is another. Rogers moving to their Flextab wouldn't have happened without the new entrants.

The Big 3 have offered port in credits on a large percentage of business and corporate plans for a while now, not because of Mobi or Wind. The other Big 2 even give larger credits.

[saqeeb90]

guys i switched to mobilicity from wind and break my contract 4 days ago
i would rather take $ 200 at front then instead of the plan they had for $ 30 for 12 months 5 days ago .
is it possible to take new offer ??

[migo]

No, it's not possible, and it's not $200 up front. Read the small print.

[pjw918]

The Big 3 have offered port in credits on a large percentage of business and corporate plans for a while now, not because of Mobi or Wind.

"Due to competitive pressure" are Bell's words, as are "when addressing competitor cancellation fees". Sure brings to mind Mobi's current campaign. (not to deny there have always been incentives in the corporate segment)

[icemasta]

"Due to competitive pressure" are Bell's words, as are "when addressing competitor cancellation fees". Sure brings to mind Mobi's current campaign. (not to deny there have always been incentives in the corporate segment)

It could very well be competitive pressure from Rogers and Telus which also offer conpetitve business rates and sometimes larger port in credits.

[pjw918]

Indeed; that thought did cross my mind.