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Bell doubles the cost of pay phone calls

June 4, 2007 › Sandy McMurray | comment

Bell logo - beaver-free versionA delay on the TTC this morning sent me scrambling to make a call from a Bell pay phone.

When I reached the front of the line, I dropped in my quarter and dialed the number. "Please insert twenty-five cents," said the recorded voice.

Huh, I thought. There's something wrong with this phone. I hung up, retrieved my quarter, then tried dialing the number first. "Please insert fifty cents," said the recorded voice.

Pardon?!

As of June 2, 2007 it costs 50 cents to make a local call from a Bell pay phone. There's a rate increase sign right on the phone. This is the first I'd heard of it.

I'm sure there are many reasons why an increase was necessary, but 50 cents?! Come on!

I don't want to pay a monthly fee just to have occasional use of a cell phone, but I sure don't want to pay 50 cents every time I make a local call.

Customers to Bell: this is highway robbery!

Bell to customers: Here's a quarter, call someone who cares.

June 4, 2007 › Sandy McMurray | comment on this item

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