One Reason Bell Canada should Die
I use Bell pay as you go for my cellular service, because I don't want to be locked into contracts. One of the "features" of pay as you go is automatic notification when your account balance gets below $3. For example, I make a call, and AFTER I'm connected, a female voice (I'm sure chosen because of her soothing tone) interrupts and notifies me that my remaining balance is whatever $. Notice this happens after I'm connected.
I also use calling cards for long distance. I have the calling card PIN number programmed into my phone so I can make long distance calls simply. I've programmed it with pauses so that it will enter the PIN at the right time.
So lets say I want to make a long distance call, but I don't know that my account balance is, say, $2. I call the number, and before the programmed pauses are done, before it can enter the PIN, the soothing female voice comes on and tells me my balance. This, of course, screws up the timing of the call, so now I have 2 options. If I have my long distance card with me, I can enter the PIN number manually, or I can go top up my pay as you go account, so that I can try it again, without the convenient interruption by Ms. Bell.
Meanwhile, I've payed the cost of placing another call, or the cost of an extra minute or two, for no reason whatsoever.
Of course, Bell did lower their pay as you go rates from 30 cents a min to 30 cents for the first two minutes and 5 cents a minute thereafter. Luckily for them, that's irrelevant in this case.
I also use calling cards for long distance. I have the calling card PIN number programmed into my phone so I can make long distance calls simply. I've programmed it with pauses so that it will enter the PIN at the right time.
So lets say I want to make a long distance call, but I don't know that my account balance is, say, $2. I call the number, and before the programmed pauses are done, before it can enter the PIN, the soothing female voice comes on and tells me my balance. This, of course, screws up the timing of the call, so now I have 2 options. If I have my long distance card with me, I can enter the PIN number manually, or I can go top up my pay as you go account, so that I can try it again, without the convenient interruption by Ms. Bell.
Meanwhile, I've payed the cost of placing another call, or the cost of an extra minute or two, for no reason whatsoever.
Of course, Bell did lower their pay as you go rates from 30 cents a min to 30 cents for the first two minutes and 5 cents a minute thereafter. Luckily for them, that's irrelevant in this case.
Labels: Bell, corporations, telecommunications
This entry was posted
on August 17, 2006 at 12:13 PM.
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