Bell Pkg texting not covered in US!!

[maggieb9975]

Ouch....I called Bell to get the plan that gives you the 100 minutes long distance coverage for my trip in October. In talking to them I wanted to confirm that our text bundle still covered texting at WDW.

Last time we were there my 3 DD's must have texted at least 1000 times....each!

Bell said as of August 1/08 when all the changes came re texting that our packages still covered unlimited texting in Canada only!!!!

So please be forewarned...I am glad I found out ahead of time...but sure ticked about it!!

 

[hockey mom]

I sure hope not because that is the only reason I got unlimited texts- for my Vegas trips.

 

[disneyfreak89]

That's a terrible shock! I wonder if its only on the package deals.

I called a couple of months ago and asked about adding texting for the month we'll be in Florida (October) and the girl on the phone said 'no problem', that it was something like $5 and I got up to 1000 texts and I could cancel when I got home.....gee....I better give them another call and BEFORE Sept. 29th otherwise they'll charge me a $3 fee for 'talking to a human being'.

 

[F4disneyfan]

I just spoke with a Bell Mobility rep and was told that the TEXTING bundles are now not included. You can text from Canada to the US but not back and not within the US it is 60 cents a message for each text. So to text back and forth to each other while in the US is 60 cents per text same with texting from the US back to Canada. Now you can recieve texts from Canada in the US but you can't respond to the text without the 60 cents being charged.

 

[F4disneyfan]

That's a terrible shock! I wonder if its only on the package deals.

I called a couple of months ago and asked about adding texting for the month we'll be in Florida (October) and the girl on the phone said 'no problem', that it was something like $5 and I got up to 1000 texts and I could cancel when I got home.....gee....I better give them another call and BEFORE Sept. 29th otherwise they'll charge me a $3 fee for 'talking to a human being'.

Atleast with Bell you get to talk to a human I am still on hold with Rogers and it has been 35 minutes now. Rogers has such stellar customer service LOL...

I was going to post my findings from Bell and Rogers in one post but I got tired of waiting so I just posted what I got from BBell while I still wait for Rogers to get somone live to speak with. So I posted my Bell findings just in case there was a time limit in which your post could sit before you actually posted it.

 

[F4disneyfan]

So I finally got off the phone with Rogers. They are primarily the same as Bell other than the fact they have 2 plans one is 50 dollars and gives you 50 outgoing texts from the US and the other plan is 25 bucks for 5 outgoing texts from the US. After that they are 60 a text for text in the US this also includes texts between Rogers customers using their phones in the US.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

So I finally got off the phone with Rogers. They are primarily the same as Bell other than the fact they have 2 plans one is 50 dollars and gives you 50 outgoing texts from the US and the other plan is 25 bucks for 5 outgoing texts from the US. After that they are 60 a text for text in the US this also includes texts between Rogers customers using their phones in the US.

We were on hold last night - first time, "only" 10-15 minutes. Got an unhelpful rep, hung up. Oooops!! Second time was on hold for 67 minutes!! Eeek. Then found out we called "past our billing cycle date" so to add anything for the US would have to be charged 2 cycles, yada yada. Hubby was ready to switch to Bell. Finally got a very kind (3rd time is a charm) rep who helped us pick.

Tip - check your billing cycle and call a few weeks before your trip!

 

[disneyfreak89]

O.k. someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Solo Mobility is Bell right? That's what I have.

According to their website it says we can "Exchange text messages with your friends and family, anywhere in Canada and the U.S. Most incoming messages are free when you activate on a monthly plan with a text messaging bundle, and there are no long distance fees....A regular text message costs 15¢ to send and 15¢ to receive. If you have a monthly plan with a text messaging bundle, your outgoing messages will be subtracted and your incoming messages are free. If you have a prepaid text messaging bundle, your outgoing and incoming messages will be subtracted."

ETA: Oops....just stumbled across this just now "When you send a message while roaming in the US, you’ll be charged $0.60 for each message sent*. Sent messages are pay-per-use and are not included in the Text Messaging bundles. Received text messages are charged the same as if you were in Canada. *Premium text message charges are extra"

So, these two paragraphs seem to contradict themselves don't they? First they're telling me I can text message anywhere in Canada and the U.S. for 15 cents but if I'm 'roaming' its 60 cents?

 

[sean-1966]

BEFORE Sept. 29th otherwise they'll charge me a $3 fee for 'talking to a human being'.

Whats this?? I gotta pay to talk to a rep???

 

[disneyfreak89]

Whats this?? I gotta pay to talk to a rep???

Yep, well, I just got a letter in the mail from Solo Mobile (Bell) and they want us to start using their 'self serve' options to top up our account, pay our bill, manage our features and more either with your cell phone or online. The letter said "if you prefer to speak with a Client Care representative, a $3 charge will apply....effective Sept, 29th." And their reasoning? "These self serve options let us continue to offer affordable rates."

Not sure what the other cell phone carriers will be doing, but they all usually follow suit. BTW, I emailed my carrier regarding texting in the U.S. so I'm curious to see what they say. I'm bracing myself for the worst of course.

 

[hockey mom]

How is it that if you signed up for a 3 year contract that included unlimited texting to and from the states that they can change it?

Could I not cancel my contract then?

 

[F4disneyfan]

How is it that if you signed up for a 3 year contract that included unlimited texting to and from the states that they can change it?

Could I not cancel my contract then?

My guess is they have a provision in there that stipulates the contract can change yada yada.

 

[Hockeychic]

This is confusing, I just called Bell in a panic because when I am in the US that is how I keep in contact with the kids....well not kids by my kids and the woman I spoke to I got her name...just in case. And I asked and she said no if you have the bundle on your phone.....unlimited texting...which I have. Then it is still included......only thing you need is roaming minutes and that is only if you are using the voice phone but texting is still ok.

So looks like we all got a bit of different info, but I heard what I wanted to hear and have a employee name so if any problems with my bill when I get back Bell will have a huge fight on there hands.

 

[maggieb9975]

This is confusing, I just called Bell in a panic because when I am in the US that is how I keep in contact with the kids....well not kids by my kids and the woman I spoke to I got her name...just in case. And I asked and she said no if you have the bundle on your phone.....unlimited texting...which I have. Then it is still included......only thing you need is roaming minutes and that is only if you are using the voice phone but texting is still ok.

So looks like we all got a bit of different info, but I heard what I wanted to hear and have a employee name so if any problems with my bill when I get back Bell will have a huge fight on there hands.

Hey there, I would call back....when I first called I was in shock and asked to speak to a supervisor and she confirmed that as of Aug 1...texting is NOT covered by our package.....I don,t think having a name will help you when you get that big bill...

I am so glad that I at least found out before I left.....

 

[maggieb9975]

How is it that if you signed up for a 3 year contract that included unlimited texting to and from the states that they can change it?

Could I not cancel my contract then?

I asked and they said no.......I know that there will be some action with this and someone will sue them...can,t wait to see it...texting was how we kept in touch with each other at the parks...it was fun..my kids would text me and say come on Mom ..no lineup at "" and by the time I had started to type that I was coming they would be texting me again saying are you coming??? I am not a fast tester like my kids. Plus we texted home too!

I am so annoyed about this...now I will have to look at a buying a US phone of some kind.

 

[Hockeychic]

Hey there, I would call back....when I first called I was in shock and asked to speak to a supervisor and she confirmed that as of Aug 1...texting is NOT covered by our package.....I don,t think having a name will help you when you get that big bill...

I am so glad that I at least found out before I left.....

Actually no I am not going to rock the boat, calls are taped and she also she she would note my file, and I could hear her typing away as we spoke so I hope she did. I know I just early renewed my contact, last Friday actually and they told me I have many options no longer avail as I have a "grandfathered" plan. No access fees, no 911 fees etc. and a price I couldn't come close with, with any other company. So I don't know if that has something to do with it.

I might see if I can get a friend to call and ask the same questions but I don't want to call again with my # and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

On my Bell phone I have a plan that allows me 500 text messages per month and it's also good in the United States. I even sent a few messages last month while I was in Clearwater Beach and WDW. Finally on my latest bill I was not charged anything extra for those text messages.

 

[F4disneyfan]

On my Bell phone I have a plan that allows me 500 text messages per month and it's also good in the United States. I even sent a few messages last month while I was in Clearwater Beach and WDW. Finally on my latest bill I was not charged anything extra for those text messages.

This has changed we also have unlimited incoming and outgoing text on our plan but it is no longer for the US we can text to the US but not from.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This has changed we also have unlimited incoming and outgoing text on our plan but it is no longer for the US we can text to the US but not from.

Well I don't know what to tell you because my texting plan worked for me while I was in the United States.

 

[F4disneyfan]

This is confusing, I just called Bell in a panic because when I am in the US that is how I keep in contact with the kids....well not kids by my kids and the woman I spoke to I got her name...just in case. And I asked and she said no if you have the bundle on your phone.....unlimited texting...which I have. Then it is still included......only thing you need is roaming minutes and that is only if you are using the voice phone but texting is still ok.

So looks like we all got a bit of different info, but I heard what I wanted to hear and have a employee name so if any problems with my bill when I get back Bell will have a huge fight on there hands.

We have had our contract set up for over 8 years and it is a BELL corporate plan with free evenings and weekends starting at 6 and free web browsing and texts unlimited and they are no longer free in the US. So do not be suprised if they are charging you for them bundle or no bundle if they are charging for them on the Bell corporate plan you can be sure you are going to get nailed with them on your plan.

Just like we had all free texts and now I get text updates about the HABS and they were always free they are now considered a premium text and no longer free I only pay 15 cents each for them not 60 like normal but they are not covered any longer.