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Email this12:30 pm
December 23, 2011
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The reason I have put this up is due to the continued gouging by Telus, Shaw and Bell for phone, internet and TV services. I think most of have one thing in common "GET THE BEST BANK FOR EVERY BUCK WE HAVE!" No doubt the "skinny programming" set out by the CRTC did not work; in what we thought "Pay and Pick" would be. And no doubt if available, none of the carriers are taking about it or showing it on their websites. But when I look at my bill the largest of the 3 charges is for internet. The other day, in the mail was one of those envelopes full of coupons. As I walk back the the house I opened it and looked for a few that I may keep....usaully none....when back at home all the junk mail ends in the recycling bag in the garage. Sooooo there was this YAK coupon....looked good.....then checked where web site and still looks good......but I see they may be owned over all by Shaw. Looks like YAK has been around for awhile but if Shaw owns, are they buying the competition and then slowly phase the YAK clients over to Shaw products?
Never the less .... any one have....any comments about the YAK product?
See here
1:06 pm
September 11, 2013
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I don't know how much you're going to save paying Yak about $40/month for internet, that's about what I pay Bell in my bundle (includes landline and TV). I just signed up for Bell internet at the cottage, $31 for the first 3 months and that's as long as I need it, when I'm up here for the summer, then I shut it down. I've just stayed with Bell and I call them up regularly (Loyalty Department) when a promotion price ends or my overall bill gets too high and they always knock it down again to the point where it's not worth looking elsewhere for possibly a few bucks less. Maybe I'm wrong but I think internet, along with mobile phone, is now their primary service, TV satellite/cable (thanks to Netflix and lack of interest among the young) and landlines are ancillary.
2:42 pm
May 24, 2016
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Bill, tell me how to get tv, landline and Internet for around $40! I pay Bell $61 incl. tax, for Internet alone! What am I doing wrong! I pay Fido $60+ for landline and cell - just got a basic 200 minutes/month, no data. Pay Shaw about $60 for tv. I'd love to lower these costs. Tell me how
4:16 pm
December 23, 2011
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I just verified my last TELUS bill.
Phone $30 minus $5 bundling discount = $25
Internet $68 minus $5 bundling discount = $63 ....recently went up by $3.
Basic TV $38 minus $5 bundling discount = $33 ......recently went up by $3
Total before tax $121.00
The TV is just full of junk channels and we may only watch no more than 10 of them. They call us to add more....$7 per package......and maybe 5 more channels with only one good one you would like to view. They continue to market and advertise us to death with JUNK.
And like I say the pick and pay never happened. So we as consumers should revolt? I can do with out phone but need for alarm monitoring and for wife!!
Consider a HD Antennae? Watch TV over Apple TV using apps? Netflix? Showme or Crave. I have heard the latter has poor content that is not updated.???
So I just checked online for what I am paying and look at the notice!!!
Gee just add more to the bill. I always thought that if you urn a business part of your charges or fees is set aside for upgrades.
High Speed Internet Service rate change
The cost of providing TELUS Home Services continues to increase as TELUS invests in networks and services across urban and rural areas. TELUS investments ensure customers have access to our world-class communications service.
As of July 1, 2016, the regular monthly rate for TELUS High Speed Internet Service will increase by $5 per month. This change will be reflected in the Internet section of July bills.
5:42 pm
September 17, 2014
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Hi kanaka
Any excuse to justify raising rates. Or maybe they held rates low for years without increasing. Of course they often real you in with discounts then increase the rates at least yearly
Yak are owned by Globalive Communications who own Wind Mobile
One place to see Yak reviews is
https://www.dslreports.com/comments/3359
Living in Ontario I've been using Teksavvy for 10 or so years, they also provide service in BC
Third Party Internet Providers rent the last mile service from you home to their connection to the internet
Years ago I dropped Bell's landline service as they were ridiculously overpriced and their customer service was the last straw so I dropped them and they've got $0 from me since then.
Instead I use Freephoneline.ca Voip with an "ATA" box connected to my house wiring. Quality is great but if your internet drops you lose the phone. In that case I have it automatically forward the call to my Cell. And if needed I can have it direct all calls to my cell
However as you noted since it's VOIP alarm services that rely on landlines are not compatible.
Years ago a friends system went of and the police did not respond. Have heard of that residential alarms were low priority for police. Most breaks in are during the day, and they are in and out in a few minutes. The alarm may even be using the phone for a few minutes if your home and try to dial 911
We had Shaw direct for years, but were not watching it much, so cut it also and use an Over The Air antenna for local programming as well as a Netflix. Like any programming sometimes good sometimes blah, but keep in mind you need an internet plan that has a high enough GB limit to cover its usage. For us evenings and weekend using HD streaming about 150GB a month but it could go much higher I don't think I've ever hit 300GB streaming
Can't comment on Shomi (Rogers) or Crave (bHell)
My mother still pays Rogers ridiculous amounts monthly for Phone and Cable service. She is technology challenged so a cable box remote is easier to use, and being home mostly she likes watching certain channels only available on cable
There are other companies offering TV, Internet and Phone (VOIP) such as Vmedia
Cheers
6:16 pm
September 11, 2013
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JenE, the internet portion of my 3-service bundle is about $40. And I don't download, etc, so I get away with the lowest level of gigabytes, I never use near enough to hit capacity. You have 3 different providers, you could call Bell or Shaw and tell them what you've got and what you're paying to 3 different providers and ask them what they can do if you consolidate. I've found Rogers always costs more than Bell, so I don't bother with them any more.
6:41 pm
September 17, 2014
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Bill, Interesting others I've spoken with found bell services more expensive then rogers. Some say it depends on which Rep you speak with as some give better offers. Frankly I find it poor customer service to have to call in yearly to request the best deal, so I don't bother with any of them now. The best rates they offer should be the best rates they charge everyone, if they can discount that much it means they are charging someone else to much
7:01 pm
September 11, 2013
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SlowPoke, I'm sure there are a million different experiences and opinions out there. As I indicated, I've been with Bell forever and so "qualify" to speak with their Loyalty Department and they always do me right once they see my history. Whenever Rogers calls me they're not even close, at least after the first 3 months. Now I'm always looking for basic access, no bells and whistles (e.g. landline with no call display, minimal amount of internet capacity, mid-tier TV for my wife) that seem to ratchet the price up, so Bell knows what type of customer I am and seem happy to keep me relatively happy and so keep that automatic pull from my bank account coming their way.
9:34 pm
December 23, 2011
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SlowPoke. Keep in mind. Shaw recently purchased Wind.
This was very interesting too...thanks
One place to see Yak reviews is
https://www.dslreports.com/comments/3359
I have emailed Yak....no response.....not impressed.
Will look at Teksavvy
8:12 am
September 17, 2014
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Has that Shaw deal for Wind closed already? Looks like Globalive retained YAK communications
If you do decide to sign up with Teksavvy ask about their referral bounus
6:27 pm
February 18, 2016
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Did anybody managed to knock off Bell land line charge claiming 'loyalty' and threatening to switch?
I have Bell land line due to DSL Internet. Bell is about $32, Internet $34 (tax incl).
VOIP is 'nice' but you Have to have Internet + phone modem (or whatever) ON all the time. No electricity - no phone. No Internet - no phone.
I keep modem/router on only when I go on-line.
No live TV of any kind. Documentaries, movies - torrent or library. Cannot stand interruption by idiotic commercials, period. Cancelled live TV some 20 years ago and never looked back. Do not care about free over the air stuff either. Still have 27" CRT. 4K? Who cares. You cannot see the difference unless you sit 1m from the screen.\
As for the YAK, I currently research long distance carriers. Would like to have no contract, just pick up and dial, with low, low price for Europe.
8:23 pm
October 21, 2013
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We switched recently to Rogers for the bundle. We don't consider it a bargain, but require call forwarding on the land line, a feature that was hard to find. We had to sign up for 3 year contract.
Before we did this, we considered getting rid of cable TV in favour of indoor antenna. Internet research suggested we were in a good geographical area for the antenna. We bought two antennae to try from BestBuy, but neither was much use, so they were returned. Disappointing.
I consider the cable TV a complete rip-off, especially as I rarely watch it. But it is a compromise for the sake of marital harmony!
5:10 am
September 11, 2013
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Cable TV is one of my top investments - keeps my wife occupied for a few hours most days, the free range time for me is worth every penny.
7:29 am
December 23, 2011
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Well I have done some research. Most but not all of the 3rd party suppliers have issues with BBB or Canada ISP.
So for BC and AB folks I found one that seems to do well with little to no negative ratings or comments. And less than half the price as Telus. But there are some equipment costs that would still make the first year a huge savings.
Surf Internet ..... See here. http://www.surfinternet.ca
10:48 am
September 17, 2014
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Hi kanaka,
They seem to be a new smaller company who opened shop last year. The longer and larger a company is the more reviews positive and negative they will receive
A lot of Third Party Internet Access providers get negative reviews related to the services provided by Bell or Rogers or Telus etc.
As they are so new there are only a few reviews and questions about them so it's difficult to know how their service will be base on reviews
7:29 pm
December 23, 2011
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Good point for sure. Their website says they have been around since 2013. And I think in 3 years they would have had some complaints but could not find any.
Re Surf Internet.
BBB Looks good
http://www.bbb.org/mbc/busines.....bc-1279191
ISP Canada looks good as others I found had a lot of negativity other than TekSavvy
http://www.canadianisp.ca/cgi-.....;ispid=291
One only comment was good…..but lots of shill comments no matter where you check
http://www.canadianisp.ca/cgi-.....;ispid=291
Other good comments
http://www.canadianisp.ca/cgi-.....;ispid=274
Other comments
Any reviews of Surf Internet provider from people who use them?
byu/FlyBlueGuitar invancouver
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