Wireless service complaints on the rise in Canada… but so are Big Telecom profits

Hey Canada, it’s time for more competition Canadians have been speaking out about their wireless services in growing numbers. In fact, complaints about services from Big Telecom companies such as Bell, Telus, Rogers, and Fido have dramatically doubled over 2010-2011. According to a report by the Commissioner for Complaints to Telecommunications Services, Canadians are most frustrated with inaccurate billing and contract disputes. When it comes to data usage, Canadians are unhappy with how data use is being measured and billed by some telecoms. In particular, Canadians have expressed concerns about their data usage, limits, and resulting overages being unclear. The report also notes consumers are unsatisfied with hard-to-understand service contracts and early-termination clauses.

Do these complaints sound all too familiar to you?

Considering the lack of wireless competition in Canada, the rise in complaints shouldn’t be all that surprising. What is troubling is the simultaneous rise in consumer complaints and Big Telecom profits. Take for example Bell, which received the highest number of complaints according to the CCTS yet, also just posted a whopping 41% jump in their third quarter profits.

Here at OpenMedia.ca, we believe that more competition among service providers is necessary to better the wireless services that Canadians are increasingly using on a daily basis. Last week, we presented a report to Canadian MPs outlining ways to boost competition through, for example, more effective use of airwaves for mobile Internet. This is increasingly relevant as there is an upcoming spectrum auction, the results of which will significantly affect the level of competition in the Canadian telecommunications arena, and ultimately the quality of wireless services and diversity of choice that Canadians will have in the future.

Check out our action plan here and let us know what you think. Also, why not send a copy of the report to your MP and let them know your thoughts on why there needs to be more competition among telecommunications service providers in Canada? It’s quick, easy and can be done here.

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