Feeling burned by your telecommunications provider? The CRTC wants to hear from you
by Collin Whitehouse
Starting today, Canadians are invited to share their personal experiences with possible misleading or aggressive retail sales practices used by large telecommunications service providers.
On June 6, 2018, the Governor-in-Council used its power under Section 14 of the Telecommunications Act to direct the CRTC to prepare a report regarding the retail sales practices of Canada’s large telecommunications service providers.
The CRTC will take a close look at these issues, including:
Misleading practices such as failing to provide consumers with the information necessary to make informed decisions or providing incomplete, unclear or misleading information.
Aggressive sales practices including offering products to consumers that are unsuitable for them and the abuse of an ill-informed consumer base in order to benefit the providers.
The harm, or risk of harm, to consumers related to their finances or situations that could cause str ess, confusion and frustration as a result of aggressive or misleading sales practices.
Ian Scott, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the CRTC said, “To provide a meaningful report to the government, it is important that we hear from Canadians across the country. We invite them to share their personal experiences with their telecommunications service providers in terms of misleading or aggressive retail sales practices. In particular, we encourage current and former employees as well as those who are more likely to be affected by these sales practices – such as seniors and people living with a disability or whose first language is neither English nor French – to come forward with their stories.”
These service providers include Cogeco, Bell, Telus, Xplornet, Rogers and Shaw.
The comments collected through these requests will help shape the next phases of the public consultation.
The CRTC is accepting comments until August 30, 2018.
The CRTC must submit their report to the government by February 28, 2019.
Residents can participate in this consultation through a few different avenues:
Writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON2
Sending a fax to (819) 994-0218
