Activation/Setup Fees

[dirtyj]

Blatant cash grab.

Do you mind paying them? I, for one, would fight to my last breath to not have to pay a fee of that nature. I see it like this: How can I possible justify paying $35 to open account so I can give you more money over a 24/36 month term.

None of my customers complain about having to pay the activation fee. :confused::confused:

[JimmyCrackCorn]

I agree... and think all carriers will get rid of those fees eventually. What is worse is the 911 fees.

Was there not some bill supposed to be going through by David Mcguinty to get rid of the SAF?

[serans1987]

Even more ridiculous is when some customers do a hardware upgrade they get charged the $35 fee again which is retarded. So true Dirtyj if you going to rob us of are money in a 24/36 period span why charge $35 in the beginning. Activation ye right, doesn't cost you $35 to just get one cell phone up and running.

[becks]

Even more ridiculous is when some customers do a hardware upgrade they get charged the $35 fee again...

so people will get charged another time when they commit for another 3years? you would think it would be waived for "customer loyalty"

[dirtyj]

so people will get charged another time when they commit for another 3years? you would think it would be waived for "customer loyalty"

Depends on the circumstance. Not 100% sure how Rogers gages the "upgrade fee" but I have never paid it. I had a friend who negotiated a new plan through retentions for an iPhone, and they charged him a $30 upgrade fee.

We need a Rogers CSR to clarify this.

[DaveW]

In my opinion, the 35$ activation fee is kinda needed basicaly to keep the cellular providers in buisness. It takes alot of money to keep the services up to date, rate plans as what they are without being alot more expensive. Also just to have a new tower setup and maintained with land taxes, electric power to the tower, f.c.c fees and im sure a whole bunch of other fees the companies have to pay just to have a tower in a certain location and the maintence on the towers im sure are astronimical for what they are paying as well. Also not to mention to pay there employees, recoup the sale of a discounted phone back to there dealers, and call centers and any other possible fee of having any other affiliate company and there employees.

[ripreads]

So far with Bell i've avoided the SAF, 911 fees but got nailed with the admin getting the AIO plans but with Rogers it's the opposite timing was right avoided the admin fees but got nailed with the SAF and 911 lol

[dirtyj]

In my opinion, the 35$ activation fee is kinda needed basicaly to keep the cellular providers in buisness. It takes alot of money to keep the services up to date, rate plans as what they are without being alot more expensive. Also just to have a new tower setup and maintained with land taxes, electric power to the tower, f.c.c fees and im sure a whole bunch of other fees the companies have to pay just to have a tower in a certain location and the maintence on the towers im sure are astronimical for what they are paying as well. Also not to mention to pay there employees, recoup the sale of a discounted phone back to there dealers, and call centers and any other possible fee of having any other affiliate company and there employees.

Isn't the bogus SAF supposed to cover those expenses?

[Kronk86]

Well the SAF WAS once charged by the government back in the late 80's early 90's. The companies did keep them as a means of paying for spectrum acquisition and network upgrades.

This $35 activation fee is only charged once at TELUS. I know, i work there.

They do charge a Handset swap fee of $25, but depending on the circumstances, they usually waive it.

The activation fee is indeed needed. The cost of acquisition is 10 times higher then a few years ago, and with more competition, all the companies are spending more to try to get clients.

Just my two cents...

[urbnlgcy]

The fact of the matter is that that most consumers want to pay the lowest price and to give $35 to give a company business seems absurd. If the COA is so high, then incorporate it into the overall pricing strategy instead of making it a "if you sign up, you need to recoup our cost of acquiring you as a customer" fee. Handset/upgrade fees are really the cash grab. Another $20-$35 out of MY pocket for keeping me as a customer? There was no additional COA, only MY loyalty, and YOU'RE charging ME for it?

[becks]

do the carriers in the US or Europe charge a fee also?

[quicksilv3r]

do the carriers in the US or Europe charge a fee also?

Yes but they don't get anally raped like we don't. No Offence. Every upgrade I do with Rogers, usually there is an upgrade fee (cause I usually do upgrades once a year) I get them to waive it, I have been with Rogers since they were Cantel AT&T back in 97, so I have 12 years with them, and I have cable, home phone and internet, I have only ever had to threaten once that I am taking my business somewhere else, and boy, did they ever react to keep me lol.

But yes, the fee's are ridiculous

[Eon]

so with all the competition coming, globalive etc... will any of this actually change? Or will we keep taking it

[serans1987]

I dont think they will change the fee just cause of the competition that is arriving, but maybe decrease the amount that they steal from the customers lol.

[becks]

was there not a petition or a politician doing something about this? I think it was David Mcguinty

[Sweetness]

anybody know what is going on with Bill C-555:
http://www.davidmcguinty.com/english/Archives/Latest_News/Bill_C_555_the_Get_Connected_Fairly_Act.html