Welcome to the first installment of "Big Ass Advice". I'm answering questions based on keywords and searches that brought people to BigAssSuperstar.com, as found by analyzing log files. It turns out people come here based on searches that don't necessarily yield the info they were looking for. So I figured I'd give the information anyway, in the chance that they'll stick around and enjoy the place. On to the first question!
Dear Big Ass Superstar:
Dear Aliant subscriber:
Yes you can, but you need to be careful.
Number Portability is now available to Canadians. But just because you can change providers and keep your numbers doesn't mean the phone and cable companies have run out of ways to screw you. I don't have full specifics for Bell, Aliant, Rogers, Eastlink, Telus, Shaw or others, beyond my story and some details.
I wrote about keeping your Aliant phone number after we moved in a post titled "Keeping your phone number while moving; or, how not to get screwed by Aliant":
Read the post for more information.
Bottom line: read the fine print, and plan well in advance.
Dear Big Ass Superstar:
can i cancel my aliant service and keep my phone number?
Dear Aliant subscriber:
Yes you can, but you need to be careful.
Number Portability is now available to Canadians. But just because you can change providers and keep your numbers doesn't mean the phone and cable companies have run out of ways to screw you. I don't have full specifics for Bell, Aliant, Rogers, Eastlink, Telus, Shaw or others, beyond my story and some details.
I wrote about keeping your Aliant phone number after we moved in a post titled "Keeping your phone number while moving; or, how not to get screwed by Aliant":
Let's say this happens: you're an Aliant customer, and you contact Eastlink to order phone service that maintains your existing number. Eastlink says everything's cool, just be sure not to cancel your service with Aliant or the number won't transfer. Eastlink does *not* you that you'll be liable for an extra month of service payment if you don't give Aliant 30-days notice of cancellation. Your Eastlink phone service is set up, the number is ported, and Aliant service is terminated. But because you never told Aliant you were leaving, you triggered the 30-days-you-pay-sucker clause and now you're on the hook.
That's how our final phone bill came out to twice what we expected.
Read the post for more information.
Bottom line: read the fine print, and plan well in advance.
Wow. I'm sure the reps at Eastlink know this is how it works, because in all likelihood, they also have a similar policy in place for people who leave THEIR service.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing they wanted to secure the sale. The fact that their new customer is about to get screwed then becomes irrelevant...
Excellent point. I mingle with Eastlink CSRs on a daily basis, and a supervisor-type told me they're really supposed to tell you more up front. Somehow I got burned. I will say that Eastlink ended up making up for it, but that was more 'cuz I ran into the right person in the smoking pit at the office than because of some sense of altruism.
ReplyDelete