McGuinty’s Government proposes legislation to “help eliminate” bill shock in Ontario

Ontarians, the McGuinty Government apparently has your back. Following Quebec’s Bill 60 and Manitoba’s Bill 35, the Government has proposed legislation that would “help eliminate the shock many consumers get from opening their cell phone and wireless services bills.”

We’ve seen massive cellphone bills in the past that range from  $37,000, a $8,000 and $13,000. This proposed legislation is called the Wireless Services Agreements Act, 2012, and if passed would have similarities to Sault St. Marie MPP David Orazietti’s proposed Bill 133, plus echo the CRTC’s recent request for feedback about a “National Wireless Services Consumer Code.”

The press release noted that the legislation will “take effect six months after it is passed” and ensures wireless customers – specifically for cellphones, smartphones, tablets and internet sticks – will find it “easier to understand the costs and terms of wireless services agreements…before contracts are signed.”

Here are the features of the proposed Wireless Services Agreements Act, 2012:

– Contracts will be written in plain language
– Providers must get it in writing before they renew or amend a contract
– A cap on the cost of cancelling a contract
– Only a modest fee for walking away from fixed-term contracts
– Contracts would spell out which services come with the basic fee & which would result in a higher bill

You can check it out the press release here. You like?