Promises, Promises…Ha!
Ever get one of those tele-marketers from Rogers or Bell call you just when you’re having dinner? Usually, I ignore them but for whatever reason, I decided to see what Rogers had to offer recently. First, they wanted to put all of my bills (wireless, high-speed Internet and home phone) on one bill. Okay, that sounds alright. A win-win.
Then, they wanted to move my home phone service from Sprint (analog) to Rogers’ cable system because Rogers wants as many customers as possible to its digital network. So what’s in it for me? Well, they were willing to offer it to me at the same price. That’s good. But what else are you doing to give me? How about making all the phone jacks in my house work? Done. What about running a phone line into my converted garage/office? Done. What about putting a second line for our tenant downstairs? Done. Well, that’s great customer service so sign me up, I’m in.
A few days later, the Rogers technician shows up, and I’m as excited as one can be when the cable guy shows up because my house will be totally wired and I’ll get a second line. Actually NOT. It turns out the cable guy’s work order has nothing on it other than putting digital phone service in the house. What happened to my package of goodies you were offering a few days ago, which made it alright to waste 30 minutes on the phone. Well, there was nothing the cable guy could do so I sent him packing. What a waste of time!
Technorati Tags: Rogers
March 23rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
I think this falls under the adage “if a deal sounds too good to be true…”
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Mark, you should know better than to think Rogers would ever work out that easy!
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I had a similar experience two nights ago when I called to find out about this whole merging all bills into one idea. The CSR kept on telling me it was all for my convenience, but this is decidedly not so. If anything, as you mention, it is designed to be more convenient, and profitable, for Rogers. If there is anyone out there who finds taking time off work to wait for an often uninformed, socially suspect, technician to come inside your home to perform job I could have done in my sleep, usually two hours later than promised, then I’ve yet to meet them.
March 23rd, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Bummer Mark - Cogeco was a lot more pleasant and I actively encouraged them to just cut the Bell line (What a great feeling) and just splice into the phone system there.
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I’ve learned a long time ago that the telemarketers for all companies (regardless of who they work for) WILL LIE through their teeth and promise the moon to get you to sign up. Keep in mind that they work on commission and probably most of them are strictly on commission and how many they can sign up.
Anyway, this happened about close to a decade ago when I was living in a rural, and I mean, a totally small town. And this telemarketer for Primus was selling me their high speed internet and long distance and whatever. I specifically asked whether it is available in my area and the lady confirmed where I am at and said “yes”. So, being the gullible and trusting person I was, I agreed to sign up. Of course a few days later, I found out that I couldn’t get the internet and whatever else and I would have to wait the full whatever number of days before I could get my telephone line back to Telus and get things working again. Grrr.
That was the one and only time I ever believed a telemarketer because I know they lie through their teeth. That’s the way they can get their commission. Now, I’ve disconnected my home line for over a year (it’s so nice since I don’t get any telemarketers (yet) on my cell phone). I don’t regret it a single bit. The house has been so quiet ever since my home line was cut. Ahh.
March 24th, 2007 at 2:01 am
Hey Mark,
Sorry to hear about your experience (not that I’m surprised, it being Rogers and all…). I just wanted to take this opportunity to warn you about your next Rogers bill.
While I DO love having all my services on one bill now (although it’s actually all separated bills as it was before, they just package it all together now) your first bill WILL be a mess.
As I’m sure you’ve seen this with Rogers before, they DON’T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE-TO-READ BILL! Your new bill will show services billed up to the date they called you, then a pro-rated charge of that date up until your billing date. My god I’m scared to even think of the mess they will make on it for you…
Anywho, the reason I tell you this is to carefully inspect it because they WILL inevitably screw up and overcharge you for something in doing this (but sometimes you get lucky and they undercharge too!). And hearing about you sending the cable guy packing makes me scared too. I’m almost certain you will see a bill for the Rogers HomePhone service you never received.
So PLEASE! Look out. Don’t let them screw you around.
March 24th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Sounds like Shaun ^ got a little screwed over there.
Your story is yet another case of ‘How to screw over your customers’