Grandfathered Data Plan to LTE

[Ecode]

Teejster - have you got the phone?

I am in the exact same position as you and I can confirm, despite retention telling you that you'll get LTE, I can confirm that you 100% will not, and retention will basically tell you to pound salt.... They even said that being told incorrect information on the phone, information that I used to decide on signing for another three years, could not be used as a reason to cancel. So if I were to cancel I'd be paying the cancellation fee.

Overall an absolutely horrible experience from Bell (the reason I only have Mobility with them), and I will 100% be switching after this term (if not sooner if I decide to sell the phone outright, use the money to pay off the fee, and move to wind).

[the.teejster]

Yes I got the phone and my plan is working fine on the S3 albeit (as many have stated) no LTE.
Let me confirm what retentions said. They said my unlimited plan was compatible with the S3 so I could retain it.
My inference was that since the S3 was an LTE phone that I would be on the LTE network. I had no knowledge prior to researching here that they would sell an LTE phone and not make any mention that I would not be able to connect to the LTE with my current plan.

That being said,
I'm not very impressed with HSPA+ speeds. My phone is always showing 3 or 4 bars (4 being max) and speedtest are all over the place (Most I have seen is 5.3Mbs down) and averaging about 1.3Mbs down (I got that with CDMA @#$@#$)

Teejster - have you got the phone?

I am in the exact same position as you and I can confirm, despite retention telling you that you'll get LTE, I can confirm that you 100% will not, and retention will basically tell you to pound salt.... They even said that being told incorrect information on the phone, information that I used to decide on signing for another three years, could not be used as a reason to cancel. So if I were to cancel I'd be paying the cancellation fee.

Overall an absolutely horrible experience from Bell (the reason I only have Mobility with them), and I will 100% be switching after this term (if not sooner if I decide to sell the phone outright, use the money to pay off the fee, and move to wind).

[Ecode]

When I negotiated my new plan, I explicitly asked 'will I get LTE data with a GS3' and the answer was 'Yes, as long as you have an LTE phone and are in the LTE area, data is data'. I confirmed this multiple times with the rep.

I even have LTE provisioning on my account when I look online.... but I get the same wonky speeds that you are getting. The absolutly gross thing is I am 100% positive that I can get LTE, it's just Bell's 'policy' to not give it to people with old plans. I bet if we were to stick with our unlimited plans, there will eventually be enough of a backlash, or possibly the CRTC involvement to get them switched over....

I called and spoke to retentions yesterday and asked them to pull the call where I agreed to the new plan (and am almost certain confirmed again that I would have LTE speeds, not just that my plan was compatible with an LTE device) and was told that even though I was given 100% wrong information during my renewal, that I was out of luck..... needless to say I am going to give it one more chance today, speaking with a supervisor and seeing where that goes. There is no point in keeping my plan with Bell if I'm not getting LTE. I can move to wind, get the same speed as I have now, and pay $40 a month with the same phone.....

That being said, Bell's LTE network is incredibly crappy right now, so even if you had a plan with LTE on it, you'd probably never actually find a place where LTE is solid enough to test it....

EDIT: a note on speeds - I loaded in the pda2.bell.ca apn and get consistently 1Mbps higher down when using it over the stock pda.bell.ca - no idea why... I've had speeds as low as 1 to as high as 11 since getting the phone. That 11 was found in Wheatley provincial park of all places too....

[the.teejster]

Where do you see this online ? I checked my account and cannot see any reference to LTE at all.

I even have LTE provisioning on my account when I look online....

I added this new APN (cannot edit the original one named "browser") but it keeps deleting itself. No idea why. I add it, save it, exit settings, go back into settings and it's still there and checked off. Exit settings, run speedtest.net app, go back into settings and it's GONE.

EDIT: a note on speeds - I loaded in the pda2.bell.ca apn and get consistently 1Mbps higher down when using it over the stock pda.bell.ca - no idea why... I've had speeds as low as 1 to as high as 11 since getting the phone. That 11 was found in Wheatley provincial park of all places too....

[Ecode]

Where do you see this online ? I checked my account and cannot see any reference to LTE at all.

When I log into my bell, on the right I see this:



I called in and talked to a regular CSR (after going to tech support first) who apparently added LTE provisioning on the account no problem... and that's when it showed up. However, when I talked to the retention CSR, he noted that I had it on there and was 'almost' set up for LTE, except the plan.

Someone who knows exactly what this 'feature' means can comment more. Who knows, maybe I am set up for LTE, and I'm just not in an LTE area at all? I can check tonight when I go to yonge/dundas and see.... I guess I'm looking for a 4G or LTE icon instead of the H+?

As for the apn, no clue why it wouldn't save it.... I ran the pda2 one all day today with no issues.

[WorldIRC]

There is a $0 LTE provisioning code in the system that is meant to be used for "technical support" reasons. There are a number of accounts that improperly won't access LTE for one reason or another; this code is supposed to enable the access on those lines.

I am not sure if adding this will indeed activate LTE when combined with an ineligible data plan (like an unlimited data plan). Obvious the billing system will allow both of them to be on the account, but who knows what practical use the feature has when combined with UNPDA like Ecode has.

Ecode, if you want to PM me your info, I'd be glad to take a look and see if the provisioning does indeed enable LTE access on your unlimited plan. 100% without that code you would NOT have access.

[WorldIRC]

Checked Ecode's account. As I thought, the $0 LTE code will not enable LTE on incompatible plans, such as the unlimited.

[Scotch-guy]

Checked Ecode's account. As I thought, the $0 LTE code will not enable LTE on incompatible plans, such as the unlimited.

Will the 6 Gig data plan (part of the $85 Small Biz package) work on LTE?

[Ecode]

The 6G plan should, as a while ago, all non unlimited plans were migrated over IIRC.

Related note, after an email to executive.office@bell.ca, I got a call from them!! They can't do anything on my plan to make it LTE, nor construct a comparable plan, BUT they did tell me they can confirm I received the wrong information and can let me cancel the contract and redo OR switch to a different provider.... so the search is on....

[WorldIRC]

Will the 6 Gig data plan (part of the $85 Small Biz package) work on LTE?

Yes sir it will

[Scotch-guy]

Yes sir it will

Great.....thank you!

[Ecode]

As a follow up to this - I just switched from my old FAb 10 student to the new Fab 10 60 - LTE data is now working as it should be. I lost my unlimited data, but after looking over my usage, 6G should be fine....

[chinkking]

Hmm I have an issue with the S3 as well.

LTE capable, LTE sim, in LTE coverage area but does not connect to LTE network. When I called in to customer service they said that I had all the requirements and that I should be connected to the LTE instead of the H+ network.

Initially I talked to tech support and the agent added LTE provisioning to my plan. The rep said that because of the plan I'm on (Corporate) and added 6gb of data to hit the $50 min. that I may not be able to connect to the LTE server?

After consulting with client care, they assured me that my plan met the requirements etc etc and that I should be connected to LTE.

edit: attached current plan

[WorldIRC]

Hmm I have an issue with the S3 as well.

LTE capable, LTE sim, in LTE coverage area but does not connect to LTE network. When I called in to customer service they said that I had all the requirements and that I should be connected to the LTE instead of the H+ network.

Initially I talked to tech support and the agent added LTE provisioning to my plan. The rep said that because of the plan I'm on (Corporate) and added 6gb of data to hit the $50 min. that I may not be able to connect to the LTE server?

After consulting with client care, they assured me that my plan met the requirements etc etc and that I should be connected to LTE.

edit: attached current plan

Could be a bad SIM, could be network related...could be many things.

You wouldn't be the first Enbridge customer who can't connect though...seems like a problem in the rate plan. I bet $100 if I open your account it'll say "NOT PROVISIONED" despite what CSRs may tell you

[chinkking]

Yeah, there are too many variables that could affect it but its good to know I'm not the only one...