Telus Internet Price Increase For Contract Customers - Tips for Fighting Back

Chintzy enjoys a great deal on just about anything, as everyone knows.  And Chintzy enjoys his excellently priced and scrumptiously incentivized Telus Optik Internet and TV service for a low low price with lots of free extras including several free Telus PVR's, a free Samsung Galaxy Tablet, and extra discounted pricing for the first 6 months.  It's a great deal if you happen to have the right mix of services and requirements, and Chintzy calculated it as approximately $1000 savings over the life of the 3 year contract over the service that he had had previous.  That was a little over 4 blissful money-saving months ago.

Fast forward through 4 months of happy Optik-ing at a heavily discounted price and enjoyment of a free android tablet.  Suddenly, a sly $3 price increase just sidles into place on your bill - where it won't even take effect until the "first 6 months" promo expires.  Chintzy was extremely disappointed, and realized this was a classic big corporation calculated move to extract as much money from its customers as possible while keeping the number of people willing to complain at a minimum.  Even at only 4 months into a contract that one would have thought did include price stability, Chintzy was hesitant to put in what would likely be wasted effort to complain about this to Telus for only $3 per month.

Every nefarious villain needs a Don Quixote to tilt at windmills though, and Chintzy answered the call.  Starting with the online chat from the Telus website, Chintzy exclaimed Telus' dirty tactics, the implication that the price was included in the contract, that a measly 4 months into a 36 month contract is not the time for a unilateral price increase.  Fruitless, Chintzy was told to call customer service directly.

And so our hero did.  And explained once more to the CSR over the phone what evil had been done, what disservice had been rendered.  And listened to tired explanations about how the contract covers everything but price.   Eventually, Chintzy was able to be transfered to an unknown department that did have the power to offer certain compensations.   Once again, Chintzy was bombarded with the list of goodies and extras that Chintzy had originally negotiated to receive.  Once again, Chintzy appealed to conscience, threatened to spread the word about this dastardly bait and switch, to complain to the Commissioner For Complaints For Telecommunications, and raised the spectre of false advertising, or at least deceptive business practices.

Worn down, this new representative offered some bill credits to ease the pain of the undeserved price increase.  Heartened, Chintzy held out for a rebate of the whole amount.  And eventually got it.
Oh, happy day!  Chintzy loves nothing better than a deal, and better yet a triumph over evil into the bargain.

So be forewarned and forearmed dear Reader.  If you have, as many Telus customers have, tricked and deceived into accepting a price increase while under contract, there is hope.  Be polite.  Be articulate.  Be forthright and be steadfast!  Good luck and good hunting!

TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING WITH TELUS


1) If you accepted your contract based on advertising that said "$XX for 6 months, $YY thereafter" bring that up.
2) Explain how sneakily keeping the price out of a contract that binds the consumer in every other way is unfair and deceptive.
3) If no one told you price was not protected, hammer this point.
4) Ask if they would rather you go to the CCTS and make a complaint
5) Ask them if they think customers would still be signing up for all their free goodies were they to know Telus would and will raise the price at their whim
6) Explain how you switched from XYZ Company because you thought Telus would be more honest and straightforward
7) As a last resort you may bring up the possibility of taking your story to the various consumer advocacy news segments available in your area - Chintzy advises for using this as a last resort.  They know it's unlikely but devastating were it to happen.
8) Always ask for a supervisor
9) Ask the representative what they would do in your position to get this resolved