A Million Reasons Bell Makes Me Want to Yak!
Sneaky advertising annoys me, and I have issues with bullying - even commercial bullying. And when you are one of the biggest players in the telecommunications market I definitely take issue with what I consider the equivalent of filching.
“Picking my pocket” for a couple of bucks might not seem like a big deal, but multiply this by a few million customers and this is significant money we’re talking about - millions of dollars actually.
A Million Dollar Windfall
On Jan 21, 2008 Bell is ‘changing its long distance rates’ and will also begin charging a new monthly fee of $1.25 for the first long distance call you make when you do not have one of their LD plans. Accidentally dial a long distance number from your land line and you’ll incur a charge of $1.25 the first time, plus the new charges for the call. Other LD calls that month simply incur the new rates. The next month, Bell will charge you $1.25 again for the first LD call you make.
I don’t use Bell for my LD calls, I dial 1010-YAK before my LD number and pay only $0.05 a minute for LD calls in North America. Incidentally, to get 5 cents a minute from Bell you need to pay $5 a month for this level of LD Plan.
Oops! I Did It Again…
And I checked… every so often, I mess up and dial a long distance number without using 1010-925 (YAK) to get the lower rate, and with this new change from Bell, you’re going to get billed an additional couple of bucks for nothing new.
Increasing prices is fine, it’s a requirement in many cases. However, the way this change has been presented read in a very underhanded fashion and forces you closer to picking an LD Plan from Bell. And don’t get me started on the ’spin’ they applied to their presentation of the new rates! “50% discount” my foot… [Clever copywriting I must say]
Well I’m not playing along. Bell offers a $0 a month LD Plan where you are charged $0.15 minute for your calls. Since I use another provider for mine (1010-YAK) when I mess up and dial an LD call through Bell all I’ll get dinged for per minute is 15 cents… no $1.25 monthly LD access fee 
Silly Rabbit, Tricks Are For Kids
Perhaps you think I’m being petty, but I don’t like being silently ‘encouraged’ into parting with money for nothing. And although Bell’s plans don’t affect me financially, I know of plenty who will feel the few extra dollars missing from their purse with the arrival of the new Bell billing charges.
My 2-Step Plan to Avoid Giving Bell a Million Dollar Windfall
- Call Bell and ask to be put on the (FREE) 15 cents a minute LD Plan. [You won't get any $1.25 access charges when you make a call through their service with this plan.]
- Always dial 1010-925 before your LD calls and pay only pennies per minute. [Instead of 15 cents a minute through Bell, you'll pay more likely 5 cents.]
Yes, I Want to YAK
And NO, I’m not a sales rep for YAK. Use any free 1010 provider you like. I just use YAK because it has a funny memorable name, they give me what they promise and I don’t have to pay silly money for something I consider a commodity - a phone call.
