Advice wanted - lost Bell cell phone

[YSF]

Need some help from the rfd cell phone experts out there...

I am a Bell Mobility customer since 2001. 12 days ago I upgraded to a new $350 phone and signed a 3-year contract. I received a $150 upgrade rebate and a $100 credit on my account making my final cost $100 + tax.

PROBLEM - I lost my cell phone on the weekend and cancelled my service. Bell is refusing to replace my phone saying I lost it and have to pay full price ($350.00 with no rebates re-applied). They won't let me out of the contract without paying a $400 termination fee. This I find unacceptable being only 12 days!!

Is there a way to either get Bell to redo my upgrade package at the same price as 12 days ago, or a way of getting out of the contract so I can go with Rogers or Telus?

Thank you for any suggestions.

[mrwinky]

I think the reason they are charging you $400 is the replacement cost of the phone. Since you have 15 days to cancel your service with bell, but if they gave you something, then they of course would want it back. Either way I think your screwed on the phone, best bet is to look for a used Bell phone to hook up. Hence why I've got 3 old bell phones just in case. Sorry man but you did lose the phone, and wiether or not you cancelled you are going to have to either pay for the phone or contiune the contract.


Winky

[ItemFinder]

It serves you right for signing with Bell in the first place. They informed you of the Early Termination Fee (ETF) of $400 when you agreed to sign the 3 year contract. It's your own fault that you lost the phone and it's your own fault that you signed a binding contract. What do you want from Bell, sympathy? Why would they give you that? Bell is a business (albeit, not a good one) and is in it to make money. If everyone reported their phone lost after less than 2 weeks use, do you expect them to offer you another discounted phone? It won't end when customers like yourself consistently abuse the system. Don't make excuses for your own mistakes. Either suck it up or go cry home to your mommy. I'm glad that Bell isn't willing to listen to your nonsense.

[maxgohan]

tell them to put your line on vacation plan...i think they just charge like 7 or 8 bucks a month and thats it....then you can pay that 8 bucks a month until your contract is over

[Evil Baby]

I know there is a grace period to get out of contracts. With my dad's company there is a one month grace period according to the Ontario Government. I'm not sure if this grace periods just applies to sales pepole in cars and vacuums and such or if it also counts for telecommunication companies.


Like everybody else said I think you are done in for the phone you lost it, but you should call immediatly to get out of your contract. Tape your call if you can so you have proof that you asked to be released from your contract.

[ItemFinder]

tell them to put your line on vacation plan...i think they just charge like 7 or 8 bucks a month and thats it....then you can pay that 8 bucks a month until your contract is over
It is likely that your contract will be extended to accomodate for the vacation months if you decide to choose that route. It may only be effective for a maximum of 6 months as well.

I know there is a grace period to get out of contracts. With my dad's company there is a one month grace period according to the Ontario Government. I'm not sure if this grace periods just applies to sales pepole in cars and vacuums and such or if it also counts for telecommunication companies.


Like everybody else said I think you are done in for the phone you lost it, but you should call immediatly to get out of your contract. Tape your call if you can so you have proof that you asked to be released from your contract.
There won't be a grace period because the original poster lost the phone. If he/she wanted to negate the contract, then he/she would be obligated to return the phone, which is impossible at this point.

[Evil Baby]

There won't be a grace period because the original poster lost the phone. If he/she wanted to negate the contract, then he/she would be obligated to return the phone, which is impossible at this point.


Ahhh good point. The user could just buy that model phone and be out and extra 100 instead of 300 for the buyout

[YSF]

Respect your opinion..and yes it was my fault to lose the phone..but c'mon do I really look like a customer trying to abuse the system. Get real. I've been a loyal paying customer who has not complained or asked Bell for anything special for years and should at least be given more consideration...just my opinion. I mean Bell and Rogers are the first to offer reduced cost retention plans the minute you want to leave so obviously they care about keeping us a customers..so why not in my situation?




It serves you right for signing with Bell in the first place. They informed you of the Early Termination Fee (ETF) of $400 when you agreed to sign the 3 year contract. It's your own fault that you lost the phone and it's your own fault that you signed a binding contract. What do you want from Bell, sympathy? Why would they give you that? Bell is a business (albeit, not a good one) and is in it to make money. If everyone reported their phone lost after less than 2 weeks use, do you expect them to offer you another discounted phone? It won't end when customers like yourself consistently abuse the system. Don't make excuses for your own mistakes. Either suck it up or go cry home to your mommy. I'm glad that Bell isn't willing to listen to your nonsense.

[boonjaca]

PROBLEM - I lost my cell phone on the weekend and cancelled my service. Bell is refusing to replace my phone saying I lost it and have to pay full price ($350.00 with no rebates re-applied). They won't let me out of the contract without paying a $400 termination fee. This I find unacceptable being only 12 days!!
.

I find nothing wrong with what they are doing and it is perfectly acceptable that they don't refund you anything, it's not their fault you lost your phone, next time to avoid this situation you can always buy insurance on your phone. If they were willing to replace every phone that someone lost shortly after they signed a contract then they would be out a lot of money. If they warned you about the early cancellation fee of $400 then they covered their a$$es. Go get a used one or bum one off one of your friends who's not using it anymore.

[blackhawk]

I'm with everyone else here, you lost the phone and why do you say you want to go with rogers or telus now?

Just replace the phone through bell and there wont be any contract cancellation but otw it looks like you just want out to go with another carrier and I bet thats what they think.

[mcewen]

I don't think you will get anywhere with them on this... but try and email their customer comment department on their home page.

Explain the situation - you lost the phone, but have been a loyal customer for X amount of years, and ask if they would sell you a phone at a discounted price.

You probably won't get anything - I just did a hardware upgrade and they wouldn't even swallow the $10 upgrade fee. (ba$tards). If my old phone didn't die on me and I didn't need a replacement right away, I would have waited. As soon as number portability comes I am switching EVERYTHING to rogers... computer, phone, TV, 3 cell phones. *uck'em. I hate Bell.

Good luck.
M

[YSF]

blackhawk..agreed probally best to try and source another phone under Bell..

I'm with everyone else here, you lost the phone and why do you say you want to go with rogers or telus now?

Just replace the phone through bell and there wont be any contract cancellation but otw it looks like you just want out to go with another carrier and I bet thats what they think.

[MadMonarch]

Sim Cards Rule.....Woot ;)

As far as I hate it, as a Rogers deal, I would say you would have had better luck as Rogers has a lost cell phone program where you pay something around the range of $75 or something like that for a cheap phone you can continue to use your service with. At least that is offered to continue to enjoy the service you pay for. (Even though that's the buyout price of their cheaper line of phones.)

Best way to prevent cell phone theft is to purchase a bluetooth compatible phone and keep it in your inner jacket pocket and use the handset, or get yourself a nice sturdy belt clip for your phone. Not a cheap plastic one that breaks easy, but something with a little more strength to it.

Good luck to you though!

[aquariaguy]

Don't they have a "lost" phone type of deal thing? So jut get a cheap phone and stick with it. I don't know what else you can do. Maybe talk to someone higher up? Or just run from it?

[BobW]

Bell customer service sucks.

I've had a Bell account for 4 years... about 8 months ago my phone died..went to the bell store to see what could be done...they put a call thru to cust service..who told me that I had 2 more months before I was eligable for a h/w upgrade.

Long story short...had to do all sorts of crap to get my phone repaired. My contract comes up for renewal at the end of the month.. guess what? I've ordered a GSM phone off the internet and will be activating elsewhere.

Hope Bell figures it was worth it. I only spend 100-200 month on cell service... they get to lose all that revenue because they wouldn't help out a long time and loyal customer...

GSM for the win ... Bell for the lose