Aliant booting evdo customers to open up bandwidth in NB

Babrbarossa · EVDO Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

Apparently Aliant in New Brunswick (not sure aboutother provinces) is calling its unlimited data subscribers and informing them that despite what they told us, the contract they signed is not in fact for unlimited data. They are booting unlimited customers who use lots of bandwidth by forcing them to resign a 1GB per month limit package for $60 (special rate) or else bugger off.

I can't beleive that they can get away with this. I was one of the people they called today but there were many others. I am going to scream bloody murder until they either lay off or I'm getting rid of them- unfortunately that will mean that I have to go back to dialup as that's the only other option that we have in rural new brunswick despite the agreement aliant signed with the province to provide high speed to everyone in exchange for a 12.5 million dollar handout.
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Aliant Sucks!

firedude · EVDO Junkie Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 317

Smells (I mean sounds lol) just like the Verizon thing that ended up costing Verizon millions. Maybe Canadian law is different, but they might want to ask Verizon or the NY attorney general about it. Confused

Sounds very familiar and Verizon had to pay out millions if I remember right. Now if you choose not to stay and leave are they saying you will have to pay Early Termination Fees? I think that would be the big kicker here as it was with Verizon.

imaddicted2u · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I too got the call from Aliant today. This is totally unfair treatment. They laughed throughout the entire conversations I had with a couple of csr's at aliant. They acted as if they were doing me a favor when I was told they would cancel me without penalty or I could take the 1.0 gb a month at $60.00 and pay $1.00 per extra megabyte.
The UNLIMITED package I bought was for $75.00 a month. Bell Aliant apparently gets to define excessive use at their discretion.
Can they get away with it....Looks like it so far.
I've yelled, screamed and pleaded to no avail.
Babrbarossa, keep me posted on any headway you make.

imaddicted2u · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

Below is the text included in the complaint I lodged online with the: Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services in Canada.

On March 25th I received a call regarding my Unlimited data to go wireless internet package. I was told that my UNLIMITED data package ($75.00/month) is being discontinued due to EXCESSIVE use. Excessive use was never defined by the provider of the dervice, Bell Aliant, during my 4 months on the service.
The option I was left with is...remain on the service but be moved to a 1 gigabyte data plan for $60.00/month and pay $1.00 per megabyte over that.
Considering that my data usage averaged 23333.45650475 meagabytes per month in my 4 months on the service I would be left with a bill averaging $23392.47 plus tax per month for a total of $26433.49. If this seems ridiculous, it is.
I was sold an unlimited data package. I spoke with Aliant CSR's while I was researching the product and I was assured repeatedly that there were no limits on the amount of data that could be downloaded. Now my service is being discontinued. A resonable person would presume that unlimited means just what it says "unlimited".
How can a user EXCESSIVELY use a product that is advertised as being UNLIMITED?

Babrbarossa · EVDO Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

Thanks imaddicted2u- at the VERY least I will also write a letter or two to the Commissioner for complaints (didn't realize there was one). It's interesting to know that such a campaign blew up in verizon's face - although was is more because they tried to charge an early cancellation fee?

I'm going to contact CBC about this to see if they think it's worth picking up on- sometimes they're into this kind of thing.

The bottom line is that this is flase advertising, breach of contract, and goes against the conditions of the provincial cash handout for internet infrastructure development.

Anyone else who experiences this, please reply to this thread
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Aliant Sucks!

Species8472 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:45 am Post subject:

Call Telus.....

Babrbarossa · EVDO Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

I didn't think that they offered the service here...will look into it and post back- thanks
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Aliant Sucks!

Species8472 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:15 am Post subject:

Sure do. I have a 595 and am in Fredericton as we speak. 75 unlimited

imaddicted2u · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I'm talking with Telus right now. They use Aliant's towers in my area. I was told that unlimited is unlimited. The nice girl at Telus put me on hold after I explained my situation with Aliant, she came back and reiterated that unlimited is in fact unlimited.
So I think i'm gonna give it a try but my only concern is the disclaimer.....TELUS reserves the right to suspend or cancel service for abuse, in accordance with the Service Terms.
Seems I've seen that somewhere before.
Oh well ya pays your money ya takes your chances.

Species8472 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject:

To be honest. I am a Road Warrior and it is imperative I am able to receive emails, docs etc. I have aircarded for 5 years now and if there is "abuse" , I am ok with providers putting a limit on usage. Just do not punish all subscribers. Downloading the new Indy Jones movie over EVDO screws it up for everyone else who may be sharing that tower. Telus is excellent. I also have Bell cards deployed in teh TEam. I called and there is no limit. You could change your Aliant card to Bell in ONT/ QUE. Keep your card that way too. Mine is in ONT and I use in ATCAN

imaddicted2u · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I have averaged under 1gb a day and don't download movies. I have it networked and there are 3 computers sharing the connection.
With Telus I will have change my card. My impression was that Bell and Aliant were cancelling contracts all over, not just here in NB.

So...Species8472...are you saying I can sign up with Bell in ONT/QUE or ATCAN and keep my current aircard? Does 30gb a month seem like excessive usage?

Species8472 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject:

1 gig per day seems like a lot. I am not sure if very many forum users will push that.

My VZ has only hit 1gig /month 1 x. I do not have a home internet. I havea EV router (KR1) for that

imaddicted2u · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

For those that are interested...
I got a call from aliant's consumer resolution center today.
They got my complaint from the commissioner of communications.
I'm told the registered letters have not been sent out yet.
I said they should get them sent asap so I can show it to the CBC.
After my first discussion I called the aliant lady back.
The wording in the conversation changed and I'm getting the feeling we are not being cancelled but being moved to the lesser plan, like it or not. That's why we are being told that there will be no penalties for cancelling.
If that happens the financial ramifications could be huge. In my case possibly $1000+ a day.
Anyway, she indicated that no changes will be made at least until the registered letters are received.

Species8472 · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject:

Don't sign for them! Twisted Evil

Larry Dalrymple · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

for those who don't know aliant is the name of the maratimes/atlantic provinces. telephone company. whose parent owner is bell canada.

in the end i had a 75 a month unlimited contract that aliant/bell let me get out of because i used excessive bandwidth that aparently was in there words being detramental to there network and other users where in turn suffering.

The towers here in stewiacke novascotia are co shared by bell/aliant and telus.

I now am with telus on the exact 75 unlimited contract just cost me another 50 for a aircard that would work with telus's activations.

I did in turn call aliant and took 5 contracts 4 cellphone's to telus and kept same # for them.