r/canada•
zzybert

Teksavvy are reducing 200GB or unlimited caps to 25GB per month, starting March. Overage rates are up to $2.35 per GB. Thanks, CRTC and Bell!

Not happy to receive this today. Not TekSavvy's fault:

Dear TekSavvy Customer,

There are a lot of things going on at TekSavvy that we want to be sure you know about, including the introduction of some exciting new services, and changes to some existing ones.

TEKSAVVY VOIP SERVICE On its way!

The TekSavvy voice over Internet (VoIP) service finish line is in sight! We will soon be launching our hot new VoIP service, aggressively priced to allow our customers to save even more with TekSavvy while you benefit from the cutting edge "technology savvy" options you've come to expect from us! Great pricing with great features, coming soon!

Usage Based Billing-UBB

As some of you know, the CRTC recently rendered a decision forcing all independent DSL and Cable Internet providers to substantially match incumbent (like Bell) usage rate caps. This will influence all of our internet service packages eventually, but DSL residential customers in Ontario and Quebec first, as of March 1. Along with you, we are not pleased with this, and our view is more fully expressed in our press release which you can find here: http://www.teksavvynews.com/

From March 1 on, users of the up to 5 Mbps packages in Ontario can expect a usage cap of 25GB (60GB in Quebec), substantially down from the 200GB or unlimited deals TekSavvy was able to offer before the CRTC's decision to impose usage based billing. Users who were on unlimited package rates will be returned to $31.95 capped rates although larger blocks of bandwidth can be purchased.*

In order to facilitate this transition we have constructed a new easy-to-navigate portal at https://myworld.teksavvy.com where our customers can choose from the amended and new packages. The details of our new rate plans and charges can be found there. You will be able to register using the account information found at the end of this email. More on the portal below. In addition, in order to accommodate these changes, we have amended our Terms of Service, primarily regarding implementation. The amended Terms form part of your Agreement with TekSavvy and can be viewed at https://secure.teksavvy.com/en/termspolicies.asp.

Please note if you do not choose a new service before March 1, 2011, your existing package will be transitioned into an amended package. Existing packages and the ones they will be replaced with in each case can be found at http://teksavvy.com/en/faq-ubb_on.asp for Ontario and http://teksavvy.com/en/faq-ubb_qc.asp for Quebec.

Content and data like Netflix, YouTube, IPTV, large file downloads or other streaming services can consume large amounts of bandwidth and place your cap limits in jeopardy very quickly. We encourage you to monitor your usage carefully, as the CRTC has imposed a very high overage rate, above your new monthly limit, of $1.90 per gigabyte ($2.35 per gigabyte in Quebec).

The CRTC did however provide an option for insurance usage blocks at $4.75 per 40GB block per month, which can be purchased if you want to reduce your cost for use above 25GB (60GB in Quebec).

Ontario and Quebec up to 5 Mbps users with a monthly limit of 25GB and 60GB respectively:

Insurance Blocks Offered:

  • $4.75 - 40GB extra usage
  • $9.50 - 80GB extra usage
  • $14.25 - 120GB extra usage (maximum 3 blocks)
  • $55.00 - 275GB extra usage (maximum 240GB extra usage in Quebec)

To select a new package please visit https://myworld.teksavvy.com You will be able to register using the account information found at the end of this email.

Unhappy With the UBB Decision? So Are We!-Join Us!

The CRTC decision to impose UBB on the whole market is a big win for Bell and other major carriers, but a big hit to everyone else. To view the CRTC decision, go to:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-44.htm

Like our customers, and Canadian internet users everywhere, we are not happy with this new development. We will continue our efforts to fight the imposition of exorbitant bandwidth charges on usage with virtually no incremental cost to Bell and other UBB carriers, and we will develop strategies to restore the usage levels and costs our customers have come to expect. But we need your support to succeed, and get back to the cost structure we have a right to expect.

If like us you are disappointed with the CRTC's decision, make your views known on UBB and what it means to you (and Canada frankly) by going to www.stopthemeter.ca, where you will find a petition against UBB. Sign it, get involved, and together we will make a difference! Let everyone you know understand that Canada is about to become the most expensive internet market in the industrialized world!

We will keep you informed of our efforts, and look to you for your help.

If you would like to get more involved go to these links to make your thoughts known and join this battle:

  •     www.stopthemeter.ca - signing the petition will now automatically send our Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, the person politically responsible for the CRTC, an email.
    
  •     Join the twitter campaign at http://act.ly/2kw
    
  •     Join the Facebook campaign http://www.facebook.com/notes/openmediaca/stop-the-meter-on-your-internet-use/455248704798
    

TEKSAVVY CABLE Internet Expansion

The cable Internet roll-out continues vigorously! We now have Cable Internet, at higher speeds than DSL, across much of the Greater Toronto Area, including Richmond Hill and Mississauga. Many more high speed locations are expected soon!

TEKSAVVY CUSTOMER PORTAL

After months of testing and tweaking we're pleased to announce the launch of our new customer portal, where you will be able to view your customer details, Internet usage and if needed pre-purchase additional usage blocks. Go to https://myworld.teksavvy.com to receive your online access information.

To register for portal access you will need to supply the following information:

We thank you for your continued patronage as we work hard for your Internet enjoyment and future!

Sincerely, Rocky Gaudrault CEO

To contact us:

By Mail: TekSavvy Solutions Inc. 330 Richmond Street, Suite 205 Chatham, Ontario N7M 1P7

By Telephone: 1-877-779-1575 By Fax: 1-519-360-1716 By Email: [email protected]

For additional information about TekSavvy, see http://www.teksavvy.com

  • Taxes extra. Offer and rates are subject to change. Offer only available in those locations that are accessible by suitable facilities and technologies, and that are served by underlying required services provided by other providers of telecommunications services, where applicable. Some terms and conditions apply. See https://secure.teksavvy.com/en/termspolicies.asp.

Posted Jan 29, 2011, 10:09 PM UTC · edited

23637
benjp2k1•

I suggest editing your post and removing the last bit with your mailing address, email address, CID and OID.

22
xtirpation•

I'll email him, it doesn't seem like he's on Reddit.

8
zzybertOP•

Thank you.

2
zzybertOP•

Thanks - missed that. Dumb of me.

1
paulg1•

I just emailed the PM, my Member of Parliament, filed a complaint at the CRTC, AND left a voicemail for my Member of Parliament (i'll call again when the offices open).

You should do the same, details in this reddit post (not mine): http://redd.it/faoy7

It gives details, links to contact info for CRTC, Members of Parliament, etc. Please upvote so we can increase exposure!

5
on_a_moose•

They don't understand emails, or rather, they don't give a fuck. They won't understand anything short of what's going on in Egypt. That is the only way to reach government these days, and Canadians as a breed are too docile to bother, or to risk anything.

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

3
jamessnow•

So, I assume those caps aren't for cable?

3
civildefense•

yet

3
TheMcGOntario•

Rogers will apply the new caps to all ISP's as of July 1st.

2
jamessnow•

Thanks for the info. Where did you find that?

1
TheMcGOntario•

google, there isnt much info right now. They haven't stated what the caps will be etc. i think they are going to be about what rogers offers right now.

Im hoping they keep the 50$ max overage fee.

1
jamessnow•

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r24985051-New-Rogers-TPIA-tarrifs-agreements

This page suggests TekSavvy has no legal agreement and that caps can change at any time.

1
MHenderson•

I got this email recently as well and I am incredibly pissed off at Bell. I don't understand how this is legal at all, they already have a total monopoly over DSL in most areas of the country and now are forcing the ISPs who use their network to charge certain rates? That's not a free market.

This ruling will totally fuck so many companies that it seems absolutely absurd that this went through. Like, how am I supposed to buy games off steam when I have to worry about getting charged a ton if I accidently go over the retardedly small internet limit? How am I supposed to watch 720p youtube videos I've come to love. What about netflix? There are countless other industrys that DEPEND on the large bandwidth which is available that the bastards at bell have arbitrarily decided to charge more for. The entire pornography industry will have a huge blow from this shit with their Canadian sales.

So by throttling access to the internet, they are going to cripple tons of revenue, for the sake of a bunch of greedy fucks at Bell.

Worst of all, since they have a monopoly over the internet you effectually CAN'T boycott them entirely. I would really love to see their company rott for doing this, but it's impossible to not use their network.

3
FlagCapper•

Does anyone know why Quebec is getting better rates?

2
[deleted]•

That's the cap Bell uses in Quebec. You'd have to ask them why they offer a larger cap there.

6
TurtleStrangulation•

Probably because Vidéotron's competing plan has a 40GB cap. Doesn't surprise me from Bell. Last year they started offering à la carte TV packages for Québec only because they were losing customers to Vidéotron that had been offering them for a while. They didn't offer them anywhere else.

5
Dyzon•

Videotron is exactly the reason, they probably aren't much better than Rogers but they at least try to fight with Bell for market share. Anytime Bell changes a plan Videotron changes theirs within a very short time period like a few days.

1
TurtleStrangulation•

Exactly, Vidéotron and it's parent company (Québecor) are about as bad as the others in it's practices, but strictly as an ISP, it is the lesser of both evils compared to Bell. I wouldn't say it applies to the UBB issue, because they have shadily implemented it a while ago and charge $4.50/GB on their main plan.

As far as independent ISPs go, they actually have been worse and less cooperative than Rogers and Bell, becaus Teksavvy Cable is more expensive than Videotron for exacly the same speeds/caps for exactly that reason. But for Vidéotron to be a better choice than Bell, I think that shows at what point Bell is evil.

I switched from a Bell grandfathered unlimited plan to Videotron's $10 more expensive TGV30 last month, and altough I have a 100GB cap now, it has been worth it as I actually have a 10 times faster connection, no more reliability issues and a good customer service. And Tuesday, my upload speed will double (1 to 2 mbps) and my cap increase to 120GB. That's a bit different from my experience with Bell when the only thing that increased was the monthly cost and my frustration (DNS redirects, unpredicable downtimes, throttling).

The bottom line is that while they are also pretty evil, Vidéotron is actually agressively competing with Bell and it actually acceptably cares about its customers. Also, almost half of Québecor Média Inc. is owned by Québec's public pension fund (Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec), so, i guess that in a certain way it's not as bad as if all of the profits went to Rogers or Bell.

1
civildefense•

Welcome to r/Canada..

Yeah Its totally fucked. I feel bad but i can get a 14mb plan with cogeco for $80, that has a virtually unlimited cap.. So. Im sorry teksavvy.. its just not going to work out.

Anyone have any idea how the business plans are going to differ?

1
OderdiggCanada•

I have no problem with UBB as long as the rates are reasonable and competitive. The rates above seem very high and arbitrary. I use Shaw in Calgary and I have a 100GB cap which I never get close to. If they reduced my usage to something more typical (40-60GB) and dropped my monthly rate (55$ vs $40) in favour of potential overages, fine.

For those of you that are whining about UBB and torrent hundreds of GB's per month, this is all because of you. Give an inch, take a mile. Reminds me of the bitch-fest at Rogers for not having an unlimitted plan for iPhone fanboys and when Rogers finally caved, no one used more than 1-2 GB's / month. Sheesh.

-2
sybau•

Foolish boy: The hive will not hear you.

Edit: Because your post is actually reasonable I will counter-upvote you :P

The only thing is, they're not dropping our rates at all, just our cap from unlimited to 25gigs. Same price.

1
OderdiggCanada•

That's the problem. If they don't drop the monthly rate and just reduce the cap, that's bullshit.

1
MagicRocketAssault•

WTF, you think people need to be punished for downloading things? Get fucked, you retard. We are paying more for less, you fucking inbred lunatic.

0
OderdiggCanada•

Where the fuck did I say people should get punished for downloading? I said people should pay for what they use. Nice insults, it really helps your cause.

1
MagicRocketAssault•

Have fun on facebook and twitter.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

16
MattDemers•

Bell is killing competition, and they still won't allow Teksavvy to sell higher profiles than 5000/800 to residential customers. Meanwhile, they'll offer several times the downstream to their own customers. UBB is going to completely remove the ability for wholesalers to compete.

Old info. Big companies are now legally required to speedmatch.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2