Link: thestar.com – Bell, Telus face class action over texting fee
Well here’s one for the “You could see that coming a mile away” category…
MONTREAL – Two of Canada’s cellphone giants are being served with another a class action lawsuit in Quebec over plans to charge customers for incoming text messages.
A Montreal law firm has filed its second class action suit in two weeks, this time against both Bell Mobility Inc. (TSX: BCE) and Telus Communications Inc. (TSX: T), on behalf of a Quebec man.
Eric Cormier, a Bell Mobility subscriber for the past decade, initiated the suit saying both companies are acting illegally by unilaterally changing the terms of cellular contracts with their clients.
Both cellphone companies have announced plans to charge customers 15 cents per incoming text message, with Bell introducing the charge on Aug. 8 and Telus on Aug. 24.
The law firm of Saint-Pierre Grenier filed a separate class action lawsuit against Telus on July 14.
Until now, incoming text messages have not been subject to charges.
Krystal in canada have you never been charged for incoming sms, on any network?
I want to know, how in Business anyone could even think of charging their customers for receiving a text someone else sent them!
Why would anyone even think of doing that?
Samantha.
Here, here
nope. Only get charged to send.
if that happened in the uk then people would be very angry indeed. Shocking!
The biggest issue with Telus charging for incoming texts is that the receiver of the text does not have control over those texts coming in. Even if the phone is off and the battery is removed the incoming texts are still being charged to the account. This is very wrong! The receiver must have the ability to accept each identifiable text as it comes in and it should not be charged unless he/she decides to open in to view. It is like being charged for phone calls that you don't answer! HELLO!!!???
The biggest issue with Telus charging for incoming texts is that the receiver of the text does not have control over those texts coming in. Even if the phone is off and the battery is removed the incoming texts are still being charged to the account. This is very wrong! The receiver must have the ability to accept each identifiable text as it comes in and it should not be charged unless he/she decides to open in to view. It is like being charged for phone calls that you don't answer! HELLO!!!???