Bell settles Late Fee Class Action case out-of-court

Back in January of 2008 a Quebec judge gave the go ahead for a class-action suit against Bell Canada and Bell Mobility regarding late fees. The case was started by Bell customers Annie Boulerice and Julien Grégoir who claimed they paid their Bell bill on time through a financial institution but were charged late fees. The case was estimated to be worth at least $2 million… but today they have announced they have settled out-of-court.

In a release it states that “An out-of-court settlement has been concluded in the class action filed on behalf of Bell Canada and Bell Mobility clients who may have paid late payment charges on payments made before the payment deadline provided on their bill. This settlement affects Bell Canada clients who paid their bill through their financial institution, and Bell Mobility clients who paid their bill by cheque or through their financial institution, between June 21, 2003 and August 9, 2009.”

Reading over the settlement of the hearing they give a summary of how Bell will make changes, credit and reimburse customers who are no longer customers.

– The defendants have taken the necessary measures so that the customers who pay their Bell Canada and/or Bell Mobility invoices in full through a financial institution, before or on the expiry date of the grace period to avoid late payment charges, are not imposed late payment charges resulting from the processing of this payment by the financial institution, even if this payment is known to the defendants only after the grace period expires;

– Bell Canada will credit the identifiable persons who are still its customers who paid late payment charges between June 21, 2003 and August 9, 2009 despite payment of the invoice in full through a financial institution before or on the expiry date of the grace period;

– Bell Mobility will credit the identifiable persons who are still its customers who paid late payment charges between January 1, 2005 and August 9, 2009 despite payment of the invoice in full through a financial institution before or on the expiry date of the grace period;

– In lieu of a reimbursement to the unidentifiable persons and those who are no longer its customers having paid late payment charges between June 21, 2003 and August 9, 2009 despite payment of the invoice in full through a financial institution before or on the expiry date of the grace period, Bell Canada will disburse an amount to various charitable organizations;

– In lieu of a reimbursement to the unidentifiable persons and those who are no longer its customers having paid late payment charges between January 1, 2005 and August 9, 2009 despite payment of the invoice in full through a financial institution before or on the expiry date of the grace period, Bell Mobility will disburse an amount to various charitable organizations;

More info here at BGA Law