Switching to Bell?

[CWolfCW]

I'm currently in Mississauga, Ontario and am subscribed with Rogers; however, I am deciding whether or not to switch to Bell when the HTC Desire Z is launched. Unfortunately, I am still on contract with Rogers. I have no qualms about ECF atm ($280) as I was originally planning to purchase HTC Desire Z no-term which I estimated around $600 and in fact, will likely save money on the HTC Desire Z ($149.99 w/ 3yr + $280 ECF). The reason I'm considering Bell is I can't say I'm particularly happy with what Rogers is giving me for the price I'm paying monthly - I've already contacted customer relations and they won't budge. I'm also informed that 3G on Bell is significantly better than Rogers right now (and I honestly don't see that changing much for the next few years).

My plan with Rogers for ~$70 (after taxes/fees) is:

250mins w/ Unl. eve/wknd (after 6pm)
Unl. incoming
6GB data w/ tethering
Unl. texts (Canada and US)
Voicemail
Call display w/ name
1000 Canadian LD
+ few other misc. features like caller ringtones, mobile backup, etc.

My priorities are the 6GB data w/ tethering, the Unl. texts (Canada and US), voicemail, and call display w/ name. I don't use a lot of minutes calling out as most of the time it is clients that call me so even 150mins with unl. incoming, unl eve/wknd after 6pm or something like that would be fine.

Will I be able to get anything comparable if I switch to Bell? Any advice? Pretty much my decision will be locked to the plan. For phone or ECF + phone, my budget is $600. Plan I can afford up to $70/mo but would rather keep it as low as possible, obviously.

[brwmstr]

Don't mean to be a **** about it, but my advice would be to go to the Bell site, pick any random smartphone and build a contract for it. That way you can see exactly what the plan you want is going to cost, and not someone else's plan that may be outdated and not available any longer. Hell, it probably would have taken just as much time to do that as it did to type out that post.

But, from the sounds of it, what you're getting on Rogers would cost more on Bell.

[LickTheEnvelope]

In short, no.

In long the main problem here is the data. Bell had a 6 GB promotion until the end of September, but it is gone (physically is impossible to add).

Anywhere over 1 GB of data on any plan and you will be paying more than what you are paying right now. =\

[Jim]

I'm currently in Mississauga, Ontario and am subscribed with Rogers; however, I am deciding whether or not to switch to Bell when the HTC Desire Z is launched. Unfortunately, I am still on contract with Rogers. I have no qualms about ECF atm ($280) as I was originally planning to purchase HTC Desire Z no-term which I estimated around $600 and in fact, will likely save money on the HTC Desire Z ($149.99 w/ 3yr + $280 ECF). The reason I'm considering Bell is I can't say I'm particularly happy with what Rogers is giving me for the price I'm paying monthly - I've already contacted customer relations and they won't budge. I'm also informed that 3G on Bell is significantly better than Rogers right now (and I honestly don't see that changing much for the next few years).

My plan with Rogers for ~$70 (after taxes/fees) is:

250mins w/ Unl. eve/wknd (after 6pm)
Unl. incoming
6GB data w/ tethering
Unl. texts (Canada and US)
Voicemail
Call display w/ name
1000 Canadian LD
+ few other misc. features like caller ringtones, mobile backup, etc.

My priorities are the 6GB data w/ tethering, the Unl. texts (Canada and US), voicemail, and call display w/ name. I don't use a lot of minutes calling out as most of the time it is clients that call me so even 150mins with unl. incoming, unl eve/wknd after 6pm or something like that would be fine.

Will I be able to get anything comparable if I switch to Bell? Any advice? Pretty much my decision will be locked to the plan. For phone or ECF + phone, my budget is $600. Plan I can afford up to $70/mo but would rather keep it as low as possible, obviously.

I suggest that if your serious about switching, don't pay the ECF, just find someone to take over you contract.

The plan you have is VERY good!!! 6 gig of Data / unlimited text US and Canada / 1000 mins long distance, this is better than my corporate plan, and I thought it was really good.

Serious, if your looking at switching I would take this plan off your hands, PM if your interested.

I doubt if you can come even close to that with Bell!!! And as stated I doubt if you can get the 6 gig for data.

[Meadus101]

My plan with Rogers for ~$70 (after taxes/fees) is:

250mins w/ Unl. eve/wknd (after 6pm)
Unl. incoming
6GB data w/ tethering
Unl. texts (Canada and US)
Voicemail
Call display w/ name
1000 Canadian LD
+ few other misc. features like caller ringtones, mobile backup, etc.



Obviously, the reasons Rogers Retention won't do anything for you if because you already have an amazing Plan. I wouldn't touch it in all honesty. I've worked for Rogers, and Currently for bell and as long as you have no issues with reception i wouldn't bother switching.

[CWolfCW]

Obviously, the reasons Rogers Retention won't do anything for you if because you already have an amazing Plan. I wouldn't touch it in all honesty. I've worked for Rogers, and Currently for bell and as long as you have no issues with reception i wouldn't bother switching.

Yeah, I realize the plan itself is good, but the price I'm paying is kinda up there. I realize it's still better than what most people get at that price without negotiating though.

However, when I've been a Rogers customer longer than my friends (just under 8 years on my own account) and my family's been using Rogers (whole bundle package) since the early 90s (starting with my mother and a fat Motorola cell phone :P ), it's rather disappointing to see my friends getting nearly the exact same plan for ~$50 after taxes/fees and being under 4 years as a customer along with getting a new smartphone. (Instead of unl. texts US/Canada, they got 2500).

Again I will emphasize that I realize at ~$70, the plan I have is good. But I also have to consider the fact that over a 3 year period that ~$20 difference ends up being ~$720. Heck, on my account I still have to pay the bloody SAF and I found out recently it's been discontinued since Sept/Oct 2009 and replaced with the much cheaper GRRF.

Personally, I've had experience with Bell internet (back when it was Sympatico) and Bell phone service (before Rogers Home Phone took off), never had an issue but like people have stated, they always try to sell you stuff. After I switched my family to Rogers, they would always call like 2-3 times a day to try to 'sell' us on getting back to Bell.

I prefer Rogers and I always recommend Rogers to people but money talks, you know? I just feel like I'm getting ripped off at the moment and it seems like Rogers is just saying to me, "Well we got your money already, BYE!".

As I've stated above, there are only a few things I really care about in the plan. The stuff they've added for me like LD, ringbacks, etc. I almost never use. Last time I spoke with them, I was asking them to take that off and give me a lower overall price, they won't do it stating it's a 'bonus' and if they took it off, all I'd have is the same price with less features.

But judging by what I'm being told here, all I can do is suck it. I just wanted to address in more detail why I'm considering Bell. Seems like you guys think I'm crazy. Haha. :P

Oh well. *sigh*

Edit: In regards to selling off the contract, I'd rather keep the phone number I have. As far as I'm aware, to sell off a contract, the phone number will be sold as well. I have too many clients that call me on my phone to be able to do that.

[brwmstr]

I'd really like to know where it's possible to get 6gb of data, unlimited/2500 texts and 1000 long distance minutes plus all the standard stuff for around $50. Either your friends are lying to you or they are quite the smooth talkers and have negotiated some killer plans.

I pay around 75 for 1gb of data, unlimited received/500 sent txt, 5 unlimited numbers in canada, call id, message center, insurance, and my evenings don't start until late.

remember, we're in canada, not the UK. Our plans are expensive. I know lots of people who are paying over 100 a month for unlimited stuff.

[Jim]

In regards to selling off the contract, I'd rather keep the phone number I have. As far as I'm aware, to sell off a contract, the phone number will be sold as well. I have too many clients that call me on my phone to be able to do that.

You can do this and keep your existing number. I don't want you to think I'm saying that just to influence you in giving away your plan (you might even be able to sell this plan off). If the day comes and that's what you want to do, just post something here or on HOFO and someone would gladly walk you through it.

[urbnlgcy]

I wouldn't bother taking your business to Bell. Firstly, you won't get a comparable plan for the same price on regular consumer pricing.

Secondly, I still think there are some avenues for you to stay with Rogers. Have you tried to reduce the amount of stuff you get on your Rogers plan in order to lower the cost? It's probably you don't need all of it so you might be able to drop it down a little instead of getting a straight discount. Call their retentions, have them escalate it, etc. I'm sure you can get something done with Rogers.

Your savings (ECF + cost of new phone vs outright pricing) won't be substantial.

Lastly, I think Bell's billing system is garbage and you can save yourself some headaches.

[LickTheEnvelope]

I wouldn't bother taking your business to Bell. Firstly, you won't get a comparable plan for the same price on regular consumer pricing.

Secondly, I still think there are some avenues for you to stay with Rogers. Have you tried to reduce the amount of stuff you get on your Rogers plan in order to lower the cost? It's probably you don't need all of it so you might be able to drop it down a little instead of getting a straight discount. Call their retentions, have them escalate it, etc. I'm sure you can get something done with Rogers.

Your savings (ECF + cost of new phone vs outright pricing) won't be substantial.

Lastly, I think Bell's billing system is garbage and you can save yourself some headaches.

All the providers use the identical system, they just arrange it in different ways. But I agree Rogers, right now, is much easier to read.

[urbnlgcy]

All the providers use the identical system, they just arrange it in different ways. But I agree Rogers, right now, is much easier to read.

I should have clarified. While the billing programs are pretty much the same, -how- Bell bills you/supports you/etc. as a system is pretty sub par.

[CWolfCW]

Out of curiosity though, most of the complaints I see here are in regards to Bell's customer support, billing, etc. But that's only if you have problems and have to deal with them, right?

Hypothetically, if you don't run into billing/account/service issues and you have a comparable plan and price to Rogers that fits your needs, the only thing left to compare is actual service.

How is Bell's 3G HSPA network anyway? I've never used Bell Mobility in my life so I have no idea.

The way I see it, Bell is the kind of company where you want to get the best thing possible up-front then ride it out - at least that's the feeling I get after speaking with Bell employees. Rogers seems like the kind of company where you start with something 'mediocre' then tweak it repeatedly until you get a good plan and such from my own experience.

[davidA]

How is Bell's 3G HSPA network anyway? I've never used Bell Mobility in my life so I have no idea.


The Bell/Telus network is (imo) the best, and is most certainly the biggest network in Canada. Bell own the majority of the infrastructure back east, while Telus own the major portion in the west.

When using the combined Bell/Telus network the differences are seemless, as they are (for all intents and purposes) one and the same.

Having said that, I do know that their are a few locations (back east) where the Rogers network is superior.

[Meadus101]

The Bell/Telus network is (imo) the best, and is most certainly the biggest network in Canada. Bell own the majority of the infrastructure back east, while Telus own the major portion in the west.

When using the combined Bell/Telus network the differences are seemless, as they are (for all intents and purposes) one and the same.

Having said that, I do know that their are a few locations (back east) where the Rogers network is superior.

This generally applies to the GTA region only.

In Newfoundland for example, The Rogers network Covers 3 towns, and none of the major Highway.

it's rather disappointing to see my friends getting nearly the exact same plan for ~$50 after taxes/fees and being under 4 years as a customer along with getting a new smartphone. (Instead of unl. texts US/Canada, they got 2500).

I call BS. I've been in the cellphone game and was a Support Rep ( The person regular reps go to for questions/Escalations) for Rogers and I've never seen anything close to a plan like that. Black out the info with a sharpie, and scan and post the bill because I truly think your friend is talking you for a walk.

[ericstewart22]

I was with Fido (Rogers' network) for the past year and a half and my iPhone 3G almost always had great service in Ottawa.

Just recently I got a Galaxy S with Bell and the service is poor in a lot of places and not available in others; I can't even send a text message for half the day. The phone consistently reports signal strength as being in the range of -89 dBm to -111 dBm, and I've heard -111 dBm is really bad. It's not the first time I've had signal reception issues with Bell, either... I just thought they had gotten better, but they haven't.

I'm going to go back to Rogers since their network is so much better in my area.

[CWolfCW]

Yeah... I'm stuck with Rogers atm. Almost switched to Bell but due to my work place's policy on corporate plan (having to activate through them instead of direct with Bell), I'm still on 'work probation' so ineligible. Gonna wait until I can switch and get the heck off Rogers.

Anyway, in regards to service, where I'm at in Mississauga, the phone keeps dropping from HSPA+ down to 3G and even EDGE/GPRS - frequently staying at only 3G. It's pretty sad. With the Bell SIM (just for testing), never dropped below HSPA+ in the same area.

[urbnlgcy]

Yeah... I'm stuck with Rogers atm. Almost switched to Bell but due to my work place's policy on corporate plan (having to activate through them instead of direct with Bell), I'm still on 'work probation' so ineligible. Gonna wait until I can switch and get the heck off Rogers.

Anyway, in regards to service, where I'm at in Mississauga, the phone keeps dropping from HSPA+ down to 3G and even EDGE/GPRS - frequently staying at only 3G. It's pretty sad. With the Bell SIM (just for testing), never dropped below HSPA+ in the same area.

HSPA+ is 3G :confused: and there are no phones that are HSPA+ enabled...

[CWolfCW]

HSPA+ is 3G :confused: and there are no phones that are HSPA+ enabled...

I dunno, that's just what I ***umed from the manual:

G = GPRS
E = EDGE
3G = 3G (in the manual)
H = HSDPA

Hm... I have a feeling I misunderstood something, haha.