Discussions

Just spoke via Rogers live chat to try and upgrade one of three phones on my account and they are telling me that I can't upgrade unless I change my plan. A similar plan, but with a bunch of extras that I don't need or want, will increase my bill by more than $20 a month. Are they allowed to do that? Force customers to either switch to a more expensive plan or accept a plan with less to keep the price down by refusing a new phone if they don't? The only reason we're trying to upgrade is because the phone is over 3 years old and keeps shutting down when it gets to around 30% battery. It's not like we upgrade to the latest and most expensive phones every five minutes!

Are you on a 3 year contract? You should be able to upgrade now for free. We don't have 3 year contracts anymore. Only 2. Why is the phone over 3 years old? Did you buy it from a friend or did you have it for 3 years now? If so, you should be able to upgrade now ... Point is: rogers like to harass their customers. Switch to mts and you'll get $100 credit

It was originally a three year contract because they weren't doing the two year ones when my husband got the phone. It's likely closer to four years old, as he has been eligible for an upgrade for ages, we just never did upgrade it. Now we would like to upgrade because the battery is clearly wearing out if the phone shuts off at 30%. Rogers aren't querying the fact that he is eligible to upgrade, they just won't let him unless we change our plan! Rogers and MTS are our only options where we live, no one else has service. I would switch to MTS, but I don't want to be charged extra for data every time I leave the province.

Threaten to switch to MTS if they don't give you what you want? Usually works especially since you've been a loyal customer for so long.

You should be able to upgrade now for free. You should pick any phone, any plan. Rogers is crap. Switch to MTS. They have unlimited data which is Canada wide. You won't be charged extra .... Or call Rogers and threaten to leave. They usually listen

talk to someone at one of the stores. The plan your currently on likely isn't available anymore. The main plan they have now is the Share Everything Plan.

I thought MTS data was only unlimited within Manitoba? It was last time I checked with them, although that was well over a year ago. That's great if it is Canada wide. The Canada wide data with Rogers is pretty much the only reason we stay with them. It sure as heck isn't for their customer service.  
 
Yes they said the plan we are on doesn't exist any more. I am sure the plan is a share everything plan though. We have 15GB of data, which we share between the three lines on the account, and unlimited Canada wide texts/calls. Now their 15GB plan (which when all is said and done will increase my bill by at least $21 per month) includes some hockey thing, roam from home and a choice of shomi or a music thing, so say for free. But not really free if it increases my bill by $21 per month compared to what I am paying now. So really, they want to charge me $21 a month for extras that I won't use. Or else we cannot upgrade my husbands phone.

when ever you upgrade you have to put your plan on to an existing price plan. yo can be grandfathered in on an old plan but as soon as you want to upgrade you have to switch. When you upgrade your phone you're getting it at a subsidized rate (on a two year contract) when you renew your contract to get your new phone at the reduced price you're agreeing to the terms on that new contract. That new contract includes if applicable (and in your case it is) changing to a currently offered price plan. The only real way around it would be to buy the a phone for the full retail value and then add it to your account "off contract"  
If you want to upgrade and get the phone cheaper than retail price you've got to agree to the conditions of the contract. If you don't agree then pay full price, switch providers if you can find a better deal elsewhere or just don't bother upgrading and stick with your current phone and price plan.  
 

Looks like I will have to threaten to leave Rogers and see where that gets me. If they refuse to keep us on our existing plan, then I'll shop around for a better deal. If MTS now offers Canada wide data, that might be an option. We still have 11 months to go of the two year contract on the two other lines on the account, so maybe we can pick up a used phone for my husband for now then switch provider once the 11 months is up. I'm just so sick of companies treating rural customers like crap because they know they have little to no competition. It's exactly the same with home phone, TV and internet, we pay whatever they say and put up with crappy service simply because the only other option is to go without.

If you look on their website under the build your own plan.... You can select the features you want to price out your plan ahead of time.  
 
MTS now offers an unlimited Canada wide data plan. The only catch, after 2gb your speeds will just slow down.

Yes you can get canada wide data with mts now but have you considered just getting a new battery for the phone thats what i did when mine got weak. I got mine from The Battery Man in Winnipeg for less then 60 bucks and it works better than the original one ever did. I was in the same situation as you phone battery was weak contract was up but I really liked my phone so i went with the new battery and i am glad i did now i am contract free but did Mts ever harass me to upgrade they were phoning every day for a week with offers to try and get me to sign a new contract with crap that i didn't want or need.

If you want to keep your existing plan you would have to purchase a phone outright. Getting a new phone for free or at a discounted price is the companies way of establishing a new contract and keeping a customer for a couple more years. So if the plan you are currently on is not available anymore you are SOL, however they have to honor it as long as you don't change your contract.

MTS now have unlimited data Canada wide

We were paying less for likely 4 years but just upgraded iphones and our plan is not there any more either. so we needed to change the plan to upgrade. just how cell companies work. can not get nothing for same price as you did 4 years ago.

You either pick a plan or build your plan. MTS have that option to let you build your own plan. My bill is $54 a month (iPhone)

When you want to upgrade your phone at MTS they make you buy out your existing contract then they make you sign up for a new one. Just beware of that if you are going to switch to MTS.

My plan has not changed dollar amounts in three years and about four upgrades with Rogers. I use to have 4 lines down to 2 now.  
 
The Data cap has changed though. The cheaper payment @ 50 bucks fully loaded has been grandfathered from plan to plan. udder to be 50/50/50/50. Then 75/50 50. Now it is 50 /50. When you call Rogers about the customer retention department. I have heard that term a few times from them.

That is how it is with all companies. When your 2 or 3 year contact is up you do not need to pay anything to upgrade which is what the op is doing. Though if you decide to upgrade before your contract is up yes you need to buy out your contract which is usually about 20/every month you have left.

That's for all companies ..... Not just MTS. If you want to upgrade before your contract is over, you need to pay. I can upgrade now but it will cost me almost $400 so no thanks. I can wait another year and it will be free to upgrade when the contract is over.

All cell phone providers in Manitoba that have service province wide are bad and expensive with horrible contracts and plans. Makes you mad when you watch American commercials and they give you unlimited data unlimited calling and 3 free phones just for switching cell phone companies. And here in Manitoba your stuck with MTS because nothing else has any service anywhere outside of Winnipeg or Brandon.

Rogers and Fido have the same coverage as MTS.

I just buy my own. Any pay-as-you-go phone is usually unlocked and you just put your own SIM card in. Changes nothing on your plan. I just purchased a Blu Studio Super Camera on Amazon for $130.00 and it is a great phone. Also if you do not need coverage in the States, 7-Eleven Speak-out will switch your number and I believe contract as well. Some of their rates are pretty good and they use Roger's. With 7-Eleven there is no contracts. Something to think about. With contracts it looks like you get your phone for free, but you pay for it over time. Good luck.

Kent1963 said "All cell phone providers in Manitoba that have service province wide are bad and expensive with horrible contracts and plans. Makes you mad when you watch American commercials and they give you unlimited data unlimited calling and 3 free phones just for switching cell phone companies. And here in Manitoba your stuck with MTS because nothing else has any service anywhere outside of Winnipeg or Brandon. "

to the USA with twice the land and 1/10th of the population. towers and coverage cost