WARNING – Bell Sympatico Internet Usage Tracking IS Misleading at Best

On July 27, 2010 I cancelled the added insurance that Bell Internet Service put on my account for me back in June and July.

That same year, on August 1, I telephoned 310-7873, and was assured that I have 78.06 GB of download allowance, which is clearly shown at Bell’s internet tracking website. [Click on the image below to see a clear view of my internet usage tracking. Screen print taken 2 August]

When I informed the lady that this looked like what I would have had WITH the insurance, and asked her if she was SURE. She assured me that this website is up to date. When I told her I did not trust her word due to too many previous reps mistakes, and asked her if she could send me an email guaranteeing me that is my monthly download allowance. She told me she could not that I would need to get that from customer service.

Over the past few years now, I have been told many “stories” from Bell reps, and then when I telephone to complain about the misinformation (I have even asked them to listen to THEIR recorded call), all I’ve ever received from Bell’s complaint department was something along the lines of “well, that rep shouldn’t have told you that because…” …and I’ve been forced to pay for THEIR mistake anyway.

Customer service wasn’t open that day, so on August 2, I telephoned 310-7873… selected 1, entered my 10 digit phone number as I was prompted, then I selected 3, and then 2… and got to Bell’s internet customer service department.

The customer service lady then assured me I have a 78.06 GB monthly download allowance. I asked her, “Are you sure? I had the insurance removed awhile ago now, and at THAT time, the gentleman told me I have a 25 GB monthly allowance without the insurance.”

After much prompting, the lady left me on hold and went off to check other records. She discovered that yes, in fact I had called on the 27 of July, and requested the added insurance be removed. My new monthly download allowance is only 25 GB.

So then my question to her was, “why has the online tracking record not been updated? It’s not like I cancelled the insurance yesterday. This IS an electronic record…”

I then requested that this fact be logged as my complaint to Bell…

You betcha’ I feel Bell’s internet tracking usage misleading at best! Can you imagine the cost of my August bill if I HAD of used the 78.06 GB that TWO reps guaranteed me I had? [Click on the image below to see a clear view of my internet usage tracking. Screen print taken 2 August]

PS: It’s been several hours since my call with customer service and I have NOT received a confirmation email as the lady had promised I would receive. I even made sure to verify she had my correct email address… which she did. Customer service at it’s best, huh?!

UPDATE: Here it is… a new billing month. You know, the month where the last customer service rep of Bell’s assured me that my internet tracking usage would be corrected to read 25GB by the 11th of the month…

Well, look what greeted me once I had signed into Bell’s internet tracking usage this morning… the 12th of the month:

…you can click on the image above to see it up close. Go ahead… and really pay attention the blued area on the usage allowance bar.

After calling for clarification again, I was informed that this kind of mistake happens rarely.

Yeah, SU-U-URE it does.

And that within 5-7 working days, this WILL be corrected.

SU-U-URE it will… just like the last rep assured me.

Oh, but this time it will be because this rep is upgrading the last rep’s ticket to have this corrected.

Wow, isn’t it great living in an age that takes nearly a month now to make a simple correction to an electronic document. Don’t ya’ just love technology?

Ooooh, hurry up November 1!

Spread the love
Trish

Given my passion for genealogy, is it any wonder that I eventually wanted to publish my work? Learning to use a personal computer was a natural step once I was introduced it in the 1990s. Then the internet offered a second means to "publish" and now, here I am with a personal blog.

31 thoughts on “WARNING – Bell Sympatico Internet Usage Tracking IS Misleading at Best”

  1. I stopped downloading tunes and movies over a year ago after going over the 25gb limit on my plan.
    I got nailed again for the past 2 months (my spouse gets the bill and doesn't bother to tell me) and I didn't download anything.
    So for the past week I've been checking usage every day. Seems that an hour or 2 on Facebook is 0.25 to 0.50 GB! 4 hours surfing, emailing etc is @ 1GB
    This is without uploading or downloading any music/video files.
    Is anyone else experiencing this?

    Reply
    • That's a good question Edward, one I hope someone can answer as I'm no longer with Bell, though Telnet is using Bell lines. Seems both Rogers and Bell are punishing anyone that even uses a Torrent for downloading LEGAL files… go figure. That's their way of controlling the internet for sure. They punish users by slowing down the high speed access to mere dialup. Hopefully a new provider will be able to offer better service… soon I hope. I'm still suspectiing that both of the big guys have over sold their services and cannot truly service all of the customers they have now thus we are ALL experiencing sllllllloooooooower internet access.

      I do remember that if you watch YouTube videos that too gets added to Bell's limits… just a thought

      Reply
    • Hey Mark, I chose to deal with a local business for my telephone and internet access. If they are near you, I can easily recommend Telnet Communications. Though, yes, they're limited by Bell Telephone's antique landlines, they are waaaaay easier to deal with then Bell has been in the past 5 years! Hope that helps.

      Reply
  2. I’m a highschool student, so thanks to you for making my study a lot easier since you compiled the facts I need right here on this page. I’ll be glad to bookmark your site and look forward for more posts.

    Reply
  3. This post couldn’t be stated any better. Reading through your article reminds me of what my old roommate went through with Bell. He’s always going on about it. I’ll forward this post to him. Am fairly certain he’ll have as good a read as I did, and be very thankful you posted your experience here for others to know of. This way, no one feels they’re exclusively scammed by the big guys. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. This is something which i dont usually do, but what the hell i loved your post so i wish to say thank you. You’ve got gotten a loyal reader.

    Reply
  5. I love to tease my buddy who is stuck using Bell for their internet access. Hah! Boy, they’re high-speed DSL is a laugh when compared with Shaw’s high-speed access.

    Reply
  6. Oooh boy, does your post here ever have a familiar ring too it… pun intended. Yikes. I’m glad I don’t have to use them for my internet access, though too many of my friends do.

    Reply
  7. Hey very nice website, the content is written in a simple yet very effective manner so even the newbie could understand and put these great tips to practise, I will be coming back to check out your new post, thanks again.

    Reply
  8. Thank you for this valuable information and wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff your upcoming blog posts…

    Reply
  9. Great blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

    Reply
    • Hi Rosella… I have no affiliate link to offer you. My host is located in Toronto, Ontario and it appears you are located in the States. Glad my website loads up fast. That's GREAT news!

      Reply
  10. BELL is nothing but Scam Artists !
    They will offer 1 price, just to get you to sign up, but once they have You in a contract, they will add extra fees & scam you with any & every possible charge on all bills, hoping you won`t notice it, or take the 1-2 hours on their bull shit customer lines. They like to make you wait on the phone when you call them, or just keep switching you from 1 agent to another, in hope that you will get tired of the B.S. and pay your full bill with scam charges anyways.

    Bell already admitted that their usage tracker is NOT accurate ! But they like to scam everyone, because very few will catch them & complain, so they line their pockets. See Links below….. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/02/0… http://www.thewirereport.ca/briefs/2011/02/09/bells-internet-usage-tracker-reported-errors-report/21964

    These Bastards continue to Rip us OFF & the CRTC won`t listen & does nothing about it.
    Just guess where the CRTC Big Wig`s Bonuses must come from ? Hmmmmmmmmm.
    They said that bringing in more companies in would lower the prices = BULL CRAP again.
    These scammers are just like the Oil companies, they all talk to each other to keep the same prices.

    CANADIAN users already pay among the most expensive Cell & internet in the world.
    People need to get their Governments to hear them & change these Rip Off companies` ways.

    Reply
    • You're not kidding Norm, I hear ya' loud and clear. Here's ANOTHER documentary regarding cell phone over charges! http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/canadas_worst_…

      Turns out Distributel's services are not so reliable afterall… but, I still have a choice. I selected to deal with a local telephone company here in Oshawa. They've been in business for about 9 years now… so pray for me that this works. The good part is, I'll have a REAL landline back again by the end of this week AND internet access separate instead of merged together as with Distributel.

      I was left without ANY form of communications for over 48 hours starting real early Sunday, April 10. This isn't the first time without a telephone, internet OR email… just the longest. So, come Monday morning I was off to the local company and signed up with them.

      Though Distributel has THE best support staff EVER. It's just that their system is NOT reliable. So now I have to say; Distributel? Use with caution!

      Trish

      Reply
  11. my internet tracking has been frozen since Aug 10th. On previous dates, my usage went up as high as 11.GB with an average of 5. GB Even though I am computer illerate, I was able to discover that I was been used by a hacker. Spent over 4 hours on two different occasions with a Bell technition
    to remove it. The service was courteous, but to long to fix this.
    We have onlt 2 internet services in Toronto Bell and Rogers. Thank you CRTC for allowing them to take the cap off on usage.
    I thank God that they do not handle the water and air we breath.

    Reply
    • Do you mean that Bell and Rogers had to remove the download limitation R.Sz? Wow, now that IS a NICE surprise, IF that's what you mean.

      And… just so you know should you need to shop around for an internet provider in the future… Distributel should be available to you in Toronto, as they are for me. I live in Oshawa which is only a few minutes east of your location.

      Reply
  12. Thank you for posting this, It’s just what I had been looking for on bing. I’d much rather hear opinions from an individual, rather than a corporate site, that’s why I like blogs so a lot. Thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Comment