Pssst ... Ma Bell is a gold digger! Pass it on.

I received my final bill from Bell Canada today. It’s the “final” bill because hell will freeze over twice before I deal with them again.

When I first signed on with Bell (internet) service, not that many years ago, the monthly bill was about $48. The last increase—made while rumours were pending that Verizon might be coming to Canada—was from $56 to $59.

That was usurious enough, but after years of the same usage, without exceeding my 25 gigabyte package, I was suddenly exceeding it by 11 – 13 gigs at $3.98 a gigabyte!!

Did I somehow and mysteriously start exceeding my limit? I don’t know. The fact is that I only have Bell’s figures to go on, and those are calculated at a different time than my regular billing date.

There may be an app out there whereby I can keep track of my own usage, but I’m not aware of it. However, for the money it charges Bell should offer unlimited service—not this ridiculously low 25-gig package. Moreover, how can Bell justify charging $3.98 per gigabyte when the regular charge is $2.40?

It all smacks of usury, but one is utterly helpless to do anything about it except go to another server, which I have done. Nonetheless, The Harper government, and Minister James Moore in particular, bear some responsibility in this as well. For apart from vague platitudes about ‘lower prices,’ they do nothing specific to bring them about.

PS: I switched to Distributel DSL6 (unlimited) for $36.95 (tax not included). If you wish to check it out, follow this link: https://www.distributel.ca/en/cat/Internet