Koodo raising prices for some existing customers, blocking plan changes

It looks like Koodo is joining its owner Telus and Rogers in raising prices for existing customers.

A couple of posts on the r/Koodo subreddit show warning messages customers received about a “scheduled” rate plan change. The message appears in Koodo’s self-serve portal when customers view their current plan. Here’s the full message (note that the date in the warning depends on customers billing dates, so we replaced it with ## in the quote below):

“A rate plan change is scheduled for Oct [##], 2024. You can change your rate plan after that date, and it will come into effect in your next billing cycle.”

It’s not clear how widespread the increases are or how much prices are going up. However, comments on the Reddit threads from impacted customers indicate a range of $3-$5, similar to what customers are seeing at Telus and Rogers.

Koodo rate plan increase message. | Image credit: Reddit user ONE-OF-THREE.

MobileSyrup reached out to Telus for more information about the Koodo price increases but did not hear back before publication.

While price hikes are always frustrating, what’s particularly egregious here is locking plan changes, which prevents customers from switching to another plan and potentially avoiding the price increase.

Of course, anyone really wanting to avoid the price hike can just port out to another carrier. While that would typically be my recommendation, it’s tricky given how close we are to Black Friday and holiday deals, which is usually the best time to switch. So as much as it sucks, it might make more sense to bite the bullet and pay the increase for a month or two and then port out on Black Friday.

Source: Reddit, (2)