For Quebec customers: Videotron Retention plans

[chomsky71]

Just called the retention for videotron internet.

Got this deal: 7.5m/bits, 60go bandwidth@42$/mo taxes included. (student deal 30.95+ 6$ for 30go additional)

I think I could have done better, but I'm content.

They weren't really that hard to deal with, but if your contract is ending soon, make sure to give them a call. I made a jump from 72.60$/mo extreme internet (10mbit/s, 100go bandwidth) to 42$..

I used the new Bell internet deal (10 mbit/s, 60go) @44.95$/mo taxes included for 12 months then 54.95$ after (no contract). But with videotron you always get a speed very close to what they're offering while bell's 10mbit/s is around 7-8mbit/s depending where you live and the traffic.

Hope that helps.

[VenomZeus]

You're getting 60 gigs or 100 gigs?

When my contract ended this month they would not give any kind of special except the regular $10 off.

[_pOtEnZa_]

You're getting 60 gigs or 100 gigs?

When my contract ended this month they would not give any kind of special except the regular $10 off.

hes getting 60 (30 basic + 30 more)

[RMSimard]

Retention gave me 7$ off regular High Speed for 1 year last year on top of the $10 off for 12-months contract. They had decided that my then grandfathered 6-month contract was now 12 months long at the same discount rate (12 used to be 20$ off instead of $10) so after a cancellation threat the retention department cut that deal without hassle. So 7x12=$84 savings. I was happy! :)

However I've added a 30-gig package 2 months ago and doing so canceled that 7$ off deal without notice. Plus they happily shafted me with overage fees because being on a pre-March 2009 contract "I should have known" that they had changed their offering and that the 30Gig extra DOWNLOAD package I asked for over the phone was really 20GB download, 10GB upload. Notice how nowhere on their site or on my receipt did it ever state this awkward extra bandwidth allocation. So they hit me with bandwidth overage fees of 30$ per month. So 2x30$ + 2x7$ = 74$ back to them. I ended up saving 10$ over the whole year, yay. I felt cheated. :twisted:

While I couldn't haggle out as I need Internet access with large, high-speed transfer for work and my contract was up for renewal that day, they'll get a nice complain letter instead. I was considering them for more services like TV or cell phone, but with them BSing me so much, coming up with bogus excuses like "You know the plan you're under, we don't; it's not shown on our screens" and undisclosed terms for the 30gig package I'll most certainly NEVER give them more money than what they get for my Internet access. They short-changed me out of 74$, but they ended up losing hundreds in yearly business from me. Bad business practice.

Morale of the story is:

If your current contract pre-dates March 1st 2009 and you order the 30Gig package, expect to only get 20Gig download out of it.
Keep an eye on transaction notices; any changes on your service could end up with you losing previous discounts.
Do not tie up all your communication means to one company; if they decide to play unfair you're SOL until you find alternate communication routes.


I'll still call them to reclaim those 2 months of 7$ discounts that disappeared. Simple matter of principle.

[chomsky71]

Morale of the story is:

If your current contract pre-dates March 1st 2009 and you order the 30Gig package, expect to only get 20Gig download out of it.
Keep an eye on transaction notices; any changes on your service could end up with you losing previous discounts.
Do not tie up all your communication means to one company; if they decide to play unfair you're SOL until you find alternate communication routes.


I'll still call them to reclaim those 2 months of 7$ discounts that disappeared. Simple matter of principle.

Good to know. Good thing I usually don't hit the 60go, if I do I'll let them know pretty quick. Just like you I forgot to ask if it was in/out or simple 30go more in-bandwidth.

But, yes in my case this didn't cancel any previous discounts. But overall, I'll agree that this company is poorly run. The guy at retention felt that way as well lol.

Oh and he told me they are currently building a 4G network for their phones. No idea why the jump from the old network to the 4G directly, but oh well. They better lower their rates because as of now they are awful.

[a in yul]

just upgraded ftom a 10Mbps to 50Mbps and only getting 17-20Mbps;

buyer beware; i have been trying for 4 days to get this worked out..!!

[chomsky71]

just upgraded ftom a 10Mbps to 50Mbps and only getting 17-20Mbps;

buyer beware; i have been trying for 4 days to get this worked out..!!

Where do you live?

[jacob106106]

DSL High Speed Internet - http://www.teksavvy.com/
Service - Bandwidth - Price
Premium - 200G/mo. - $29.95/mo.
Unlimited - Unlimited - $39.95/mo

I have premium service at home. Equals to 31.60 with taxe per month...
Good support !
No contracts !
No Activation fees !

Take a look at other ISPs at http://www.canadianisp.ca/

[_pOtEnZa_]

DSL High Speed Internet - http://www.teksavvy.com/
Service - Bandwidth - Price
Premium - 200G/mo. - $29.95/mo.
Unlimited - Unlimited - $39.95/mo

I have premium service at home. Equals to 31.60 with taxe per month...
Good support !
No contracts !
No Activation fees !

Take a look at other ISPs at http://www.canadianisp.ca/

yeah im going with tekssaavy after my 12 months of videotron, i wanted teksavy before but i also wanted cable and they would have charger me 100$ installation fee for just cable while it was free with 2 services, but in 4 months im FREE and going with unlimited teksavy !! cant wait !!! :)

[qafyg]

Just called the retention for videotron internet.

Got this deal: 7.5m/bits, 60go bandwidth@42$/mo taxes included. (student deal 30.95+ 6$ for 30go additional)
Hope that helps.

Got a similar deal last year. When my contract expired this year I called them to cancel hoping to get a similar deal. I was transfered to the retention departement and they just cancelled my subscription without any offers. So, ymmv, especially if you have done this in the past.

[RMSimard]

But, yes in my case this didn't cancel any previous discounts.

Lucky you! :)

DSL High Speed Internet - http://www.teksavvy.com/


True. But I'm a tad wary of the upcoming CRTC ruling on Bell-forced 60GB bandwidth capping of such resellers. Check it out and take 30 seconds to sign the petition and email your concern to Harper, Clement, Ignatieff and your MP: http://www.consumersforinternetcompetition.com/

If that project dies, then I might switch to TekSavvy. Pity that a large chuck of your monthly ISP bill essentially goes to that monopolistic dinosaur that is Bell though. :(

[ZeroCoolZ]

DSL High Speed Internet - http://www.teksavvy.com/
Service - Bandwidth - Price
Premium - 200G/mo. - $29.95/mo.
Unlimited - Unlimited - $39.95/mo

I have premium service at home. Equals to 31.60 with taxe per month...
Good support !
No contracts !
No Activation fees !

Take a look at other ISPs at http://www.canadianisp.ca/

and how's the download speed?

[jacob106106]

True. But I'm a tad wary of the upcoming CRTC ruling on Bell-forced 60GB bandwidth capping of such resellers. Check it out and take 30 seconds to sign the petition and email your concern to Harper, Clement, Ignatieff and your MP: http://www.consumersforinternetcompetition.com/

If that project dies, then I might switch to TekSavvy. Pity that a large chuck of your monthly ISP bill essentially goes to that monopolistic dinosaur that is Bell though.

Yes this is true !!! Please people, sign the petition ! Even if you are not with a reseller.


and how's the download speed?
Up to 5M/800k

But that question is tricky !!! It all depends on how far you live from the CO and the quality of the line... No matter which company you are with (cable or DSL technologie)... it's all about the price and the support because there using the same line (cable or DSL).
So if you are using cable at home and not DSL because it is too flaky or slow... If could be the opposite story for your friend whom lives a few block away.

[FFWFire]

I tried to bargain with the months back and they said they NEVER do any deals.. Will give it a go in a month or two when my active subscription ends.

[chomsky71]

Yes this is true !!! Please people, sign the petition ! Even if you are not with a reseller.



Up to 5M/800k

But that question is tricky !!! It all depends on how far you live from the CO and the quality of the line... No matter which company you are with (cable or DSL technologie)... it's all about the price and the support because there using the same line (cable or DSL).
So if you are using cable at home and not DSL because it is too flaky or slow... If could be the opposite story for your friend whom lives a few block away.

That's where it kills the deal. Radioactive has similar prices, but also a quite low top speed. Did you test your speed a few times to see how much you were getting on week-ends? Pretty much why I prefer cable to dsl.

@FFWfire

Make sure to note the names of the employees you're talking to. But I was pretty straight forward. Ask for retention right away due to the 44$/mo offer from Bell and she said she couldn't match that and would transfer me to retention.

[FFWFire]

Alright, I'll try that out tomorrow and I'll get back with my results!

I also have their digital cable services so hopefully they'll make a package deal

[deal_king]

CIA resells Videotron service in Quebec, so you can get cable 7.5mb/30gb for $31/month NO CONTRACT. There are some negative reviews on CIA but none of them are for CABLE in Quebec. In fact everyone in Quebec who has CABLE seems satisfied. (DSL is another matter!) It is basically Videotron under a different name and with less customer service. :)

Videotron has a solid service and the speeds are always consistent.

BUT they are hell to deal with- they coerce people into contracts for exorbitant prices, and when you try and cancel they charge you $20 per service for each month left in your contract.

My poor mother subscribed with them for their trio and when she upgraded her internet speed they reset the contract date without telling her. It turns out that anytime you alter a service under contract, they put you on a new 12 month contract without telling you.

I took a look at her billing and was shocked at how abusive their contract practices are. I called the Office de Protection de la Consommateur and they told me that you can cancel the contract within 7 days of finding out about the terms- especially if you haven't been informed in writing.

I just took her off the contract, and now her monthly billing is the same as what is was without a contract!

[daedalus2004]

and how's the download speed?

be forewarned though that teksavvy is a reseller and is throttled by the bell lines during certain hours. generally between the hours of 6p.m. and 1:30 a.m. download and upload speeds only reach about 25 kb/s if your torrenting. you haveto switch over to single link http download release sites that use rapidshare and storage.to links to keep up the 500 kb/s download speeds...

[jacob106106]

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/129

@chomsky71
That's where it kills the deal. Radioactive has similar prices, but also a quite low top speed. Did you test your speed a few times to see how much you were getting on week-ends? Pretty much why I prefer cable to dsl.

Each Technologie has there PROS and CONS. It all depends on your location.
DSL is circuit oriented so that each connection is independent of all others, giving greater consistency in connection speed.

Cable is typically faster for downloads than most if not all DSL lines, when the cable infrastructure is new or well maintained.

Cable networks are inherently different in design than telephone networks. Cable networks are broadcast oriented, with all subscribers in an area receiving the same signals. Lines are shared with other users, which can affect transmission speeds. Cable networks are hierarchical in nature and require two paths for data transmission: one for downloading and one for uploading. This requires either a second cable plant for uploading, or a second frequency band allocated onto the existing system.


@FFWFire
I tried to bargain with the months back and they said they NEVER do any deals.. Will give it a go in a month or two when my active subscription ends.

- I tried too... But find me a company that has same Tech support and better price for 200gig down/up... And I will go for... Cable or DSL... Please poste the deals !!!!

[aucuneid101]

just upgraded ftom a 10Mbps to 50Mbps and only getting 17-20Mbps;

buyer beware; i have been trying for 4 days to get this worked out..!!

have you tried optimizing your tcp stack? google "tcp optimizer", run the tool and normally it will improve by a lot (I went from 18 to 43Mbps here after optimization). I'm sure there are better tools out there but this one did the job.

[a in yul]

have you tried optimizing your tcp stack? google "tcp optimizer", run the tool and normally it will improve by a lot (I went from 18 to 43Mbps here after optimization). I'm sure there are better tools out there but this one did the job.

i am reinstalling W7; and will look into tcp stack; i have a tech coming back for the 3rd time tomorrow since the videotron tech did the test at his end and he also got 14Mbps...

this is crazy, spending more time with them trying to deal with this then getting work done...

[a in yul]

have you tried optimizing your tcp stack? google "tcp optimizer", run the tool and normally it will improve by a lot (I went from 18 to 43Mbps here after optimization). I'm sure there are better tools out there but this one did the job.

ok, d/l v 2.0.3, and clicked on optimization for both wireless and for network card; speeds seem to be the same. i didnt want to make any other changes due to a lack of info on this prgrm.

also under general settings moved the bar to the max, 20000 kb/s; not much change in speeds yet...

ok, up to 27Mbps now; http://www.speedtest.net/result/597100212.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

hitting 30 now, hmm, this prog does seem to do it; lets hope i go back up to 44Mbps..thank u again..!!

[deal_king]

Anyone know how to get a further discount off the tv part of the package? It seems like if you get a trio you get a discount on the internet. But it doesn't work the other way around....

I'm looking for the best tv deal in Quebec right now. Anyone know the best promotion out there? It seems like there isn't much competition at all!

Right now I have basic illico in french and Super-Ecran (just the channel) for $33. (I already own the Illico box.)

[BiGD33nS]

ok, d/l v 2.0.3, and clicked on optimization for both wireless and for network card; speeds seem to be the same. i didnt want to make any other changes due to a lack of info on this prgrm.

also under general settings moved the bar to the max, 20000 kb/s; not much change in speeds yet...

ok, up to 27Mbps now; http://www.speedtest.net/result/597100212.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

hitting 30 now, hmm, this prog does seem to do it; lets hope i go back up to 44Mbps..thank u again..!!

Remember that with Cable, you are bound with other people sucking the bandwidth in your neighborhood, where DSL is not.

Dsl has maybe more cons than pros but if you are not logically far from the CO, and your profile is on fastpath, you will consistently get the advertised speed. I do have my full 5mbps ALWAYS (Except with the throtling but I use newsgroup so it's a non-issue for me).

Even if your profile is 50mbps, and there is a bunch of people at the same time downloading porn at full blazing speeds, it is normal that you wont get your 50mbps...

Try speedtest at like 6am, pretty sure it will be higher than between 5-9pm.

[chomsky71]

I tried to bargain with the months back and they said they NEVER do any deals.. Will give it a go in a month or two when my active subscription ends.

Anyone know how to get a further discount off the tv part of the package? It seems like if you get a trio you get a discount on the internet. But it doesn't work the other way around....

I'm looking for the best tv deal in Quebec right now. Anyone know the best promotion out there? It seems like there isn't much competition at all!

Right now I have basic illico in french and Super-Ecran (just the channel) for $33. (I already own the Illico box.)

If I were you I'd check out bell for the tv deals and might as well go for the internet there. Their new promo I stated about is pretty good. You should get a discount if add a phone as well.

[deal_king]

If I were you I'd check out bell for the tv deals and might as well go for the internet there. Their new promo I stated about is pretty good. You should get a discount if add a phone as well.

Go for the internet where? Videotron is the same price as everyone else, except they have strangling contracts. Your 37 dollar deal is not that great. I've also checked the Bell TV and the bundle and its almost the exact same price as Videotron.

Its too bad the Bell Entertainment package with IP TV is not available in quebec yet!

[thesubmitter]

The only deal I ever got from Videotron was the HD-PVR for something like 150$ a while back. Videotron is the black dragon of the deal community - I've tried more than once to get a deal and they really don't give a crap....

[chomsky71]

Go for the internet where? Videotron is the same price as everyone else, except they have strangling contracts. Your 37 dollar deal is not that great. I've also checked the Bell TV and the bundle and its almost the exact same price as Videotron.

Its too bad the Bell Entertainment package with IP TV is not available in quebec yet!

I doubt you can get much better than the deal by bell internet right now. 44.95 (everything included) for one year no contract. Up to 10 m/bits, 60 go.

Of course some companies who are on Bell's network will charge less, but they won't top their speed.

My deal is about what Bell is offering. The trade-off was if I was willing to switch (new modem, installation crap, new main email, etc), but for about 3 boxes less per month, that 2.5mbit/s ain't that much of a loss, especially considering that videotron's speed idle closer to the real speed than Bell.

[blah]

Anyone know how to get a further discount off the tv part of the package? It seems like if you get a trio you get a discount on the internet. But it doesn't work the other way around....

I'm looking for the best tv deal in Quebec right now. Anyone know the best promotion out there? It seems like there isn't much competition at all!

Right now I have basic illico in french and Super-Ecran (just the channel) for $33. (I already own the Illico box.)

It probably depends on how many services you get from them. You should have more leverage if you have 2-3+ services. Best way is to call them when you get your contract renewal notice and ask to speak to retentions about what deals they may have. Although there is not much competition, they know that Bell is aggressive, so they might give you X months free for your services and/or a monthly discount for the duration of your renewal.

[CingKrab]

Retention gave me 7$ off regular High Speed for 1 year last year on top of the $10 off for 12-months contract. They had decided that my then grandfathered 6-month contract was now 12 months long at the same discount rate (12 used to be 20$ off instead of $10) so after a cancellation threat the retention department cut that deal without hassle. So 7x12=$84 savings. I was happy! :)

However I've added a 30-gig package 2 months ago and doing so canceled that 7$ off deal without notice. Plus they happily shafted me with overage fees because being on a pre-March 2009 contract "I should have known" that they had changed their offering and that the 30Gig extra DOWNLOAD package I asked for over the phone was really 20GB download, 10GB upload. Notice how nowhere on their site or on my receipt did it ever state this awkward extra bandwidth allocation. So they hit me with bandwidth overage fees of 30$ per month. So 2x30$ + 2x7$ = 74$ back to them. I ended up saving 10$ over the whole year, yay. I felt cheated. :twisted:

While I couldn't haggle out as I need Internet access with large, high-speed transfer for work and my contract was up for renewal that day, they'll get a nice complain letter instead. I was considering them for more services like TV or cell phone, but with them BSing me so much, coming up with bogus excuses like "You know the plan you're under, we don't; it's not shown on our screens" and undisclosed terms for the 30gig package I'll most certainly NEVER give them more money than what they get for my Internet access. They short-changed me out of 74$, but they ended up losing hundreds in yearly business from me. Bad business practice.

Morale of the story is:

If your current contract pre-dates March 1st 2009 and you order the 30Gig package, expect to only get 20Gig download out of it.
Keep an eye on transaction notices; any changes on your service could end up with you losing previous discounts.
Do not tie up all your communication means to one company; if they decide to play unfair you're SOL until you find alternate communication routes.


I'll still call them to reclaim those 2 months of 7$ discounts that disappeared. Simple matter of principle.

If you`re running a business of some sort, you should consider one of their business plans, such as:

http://affaires.videotron.com/affaires/en/internet/caracteristiques-ihv.jsp

It has unlimited data transfer, which makes it much more worth it IMO.

[markj]

The only deal I ever got from Videotron was the HD-PVR for something like 150$ a while back. Videotron is the black dragon of the deal community - I've tried more than once to get a deal and they really don't give a crap....

+1 they are the only company ive ever seen that doesnt care about keeping customers...they literally said 'go to bell they are bigger than use so we cant compete'

[mtlboy]

I got the 7.5mb/30 gig plan + phone and they gave me 10 bucks off as their usual policy. I was offered 6 bucks for 30 more gigs. Too bad, I'm paying a lot for hardly any bw, 30 gigs/mo standard is way too low these days. Has anyone increased their quota for free?

[tehownt]

If you`re running a business of some sort, you should consider one of their business plans, such as:

http://affaires.videotron.com/affaires/en/internet/caracteristiques-ihv.jsp

It has unlimited data transfer, which makes it much more worth it IMO.

Just be warned that if you move, the fees for business accounts are around 250$.

[oop]

Just be warned that if you move, the fees for business accounts are around 250$.

there's no installation fees if you're switching from your existing residential account.

[FiNaL WaR]

Just be warned that if you move, the fees for business accounts are around 250$.

Transfered on monday from residential to business, now have unlimited download, there was no fee, however you need a 2nd modem (useless) to keep all your services.

Would already busted my bandwidth of the residential videotron (30 GB) (yes in 3 days), for 15$ more i prefer to not think about a limitation

P.S you need a business number that you can get for 32 or 42$, then you will even be able to get the taxes back from the governement so you will come back in your money fast

[CingKrab]

Transfered on monday from residential to business, now have unlimited download, there was no fee, however you need a 2nd modem (useless) to keep all your services.

Would already busted my bandwidth of the residential videotron (30 GB) (yes in 3 days), for 15$ more i prefer to not think about a limitation

P.S you need a business number that you can get for 32 or 42$, then you will even be able to get the taxes back from the governement so you will come back in your money fast

Apparently you don't even need a business number if your business name has your first and last name in it:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23146600-Videotron-Business-Cable-Broadband

[tehownt]

there's no installation fees if you're switching from your existing residential account.
If you move as in "if you change home/move out", not as in "if you change your subscription type".

[Flix3r]

I managed to get a one time $50 credit and an extra 10$ off extreme high speed internet on top of the bundle savings last time they renewed my contract. I have TV and internet with Videosh*t.

[a in yul]

ok, d/l v 2.0.3, and clicked on optimization for both wireless and for network card; speeds seem to be the same. i didnt want to make any other changes due to a lack of info on this prgrm.

also under general settings moved the bar to the max, 20000 kb/s; not much change in speeds yet...

ok, up to 27Mbps now; http://www.speedtest.net/result/597100212.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

hitting 30 now, hmm, this prog does seem to do it; lets hope i go back up to 44Mbps..thank u again..!!

although the tech came, ensured me its a network issue i am still getting sub par speeds; paying for ultimate 50 and getting 17Mbps..!!

http://www.speedtest.net/result/598960050.png (http://www.speedtest.net)