Switching from Fido to Rogers
 

Hi guys,

I'm looking into cancelling my fido contract and going to Rogers as I feel pretty effed by Fido the past 1.5 years since I got my smartphone. I feel like everytime I upgrade my plan for Fido, I end up getting extra charges that I never get a clear answer about whenever I call Fido CS. Basically, to make a long story short I am sick and tired of paying over $600 every month for the past 3 months for my damn phone.

I've looked at Rogers plans+data and they seem to fit my needs and was curious what are the procedures in cancelling my Fido plan to Rogers? I want to keep my number and I have no problems with paying the cancellation fees I'm on a 3 year term--finished 1.5-2 years).

Do I go to a Rogers store and tell my situation or what? Any help/information would be appreciated!! Please and thanks!

Just go to a Rogers retail outlet. They will take care of porting your number over from Fido and set you up with a new plan. Transferring the number can take up to an hour or two, if I remember correctly. After you swap over to Rogers, Fido will send you a final invoice that will include the early termination fee.

IMO, you will find Rogers worse than Fido - especially if hidden charges are your biggest complaint. Having used both Rogers and Fido extensively, I can confidently say that Fido plans are more simple and the reps are less likely to screw up your plan. Rogers has a huge number of different plans, add-ons, packages, and special promotions. Having worked for AT&T as a customer service rep in the past, the system of promotions and add-on packages can be incredibly complicated. Fido only has 5 or 6 different plans and a couple of add-on packages, which in my experience reduces the likelihood of human error by customer service reps.

Not to say you shouldn't switch, but I wouldn't expect much better with Rogers. All of the major cell phone carriers are pretty awful. I've stuck with Fido for a while now and find them to be the cheapest. The $6.95 "System Access Fee" charged by Rogers/Bell/Telus really irritates me, as does per-minute billing.

There's no $6.95 system access fee anymore. At least not on new plans. I got mine in January and so far I've been happy with them completely. I agree with Amaru, going into a store will be your best bet.

Amaru, Should I call retention (Fido) and try to work out a deal? I have been a long time Fido user (2002?) so maybe they will be more willing to try to make me stay?

Doesn't Fido wave the no cancellation fee when you port from Fido to Rogers? That was the case a few months ago as long as you are at least 1 year into the contract.

Perhaps if you let us know what kinda plan you're looking for, we might be able to help you better?

what are your over usage charge for? perhaps list some out and we can see where it went wrong.. as you know.. fido is owned by rogers.. so if u think you are getting effed over now.. it might just be the same with rogers. finding out why you are paying $600 first would be better to just hop over to another provider rite away with another contract this time can't waive the cancellation fee

Yeah, that might be a good idea. It's certainly worth a try... see what kind of retention deal you can get before you bail and head over to Rogers. There's a thread lower down in this forum titled "Fido Retention Plans" you might want to check out.

I stand corrected on the system access fee, I thought Fido was still the only major carrier not charging that. I guess I'm behind the times.

There isn't really any reason to switch if you can call up retention (no reason not to), unless your plans mainly revolves around network calling(not your case).

Call retention-> try and workout a plan that fits you

IF none of the plans the rep suggests is ideal, call another time. Dont give in to the rep before he/she gives in to you :D

as long as you have been with fido for longer then a year, which you clearly have, you can switch over to rogers for free, you can transfer your number as well with no issues. i have to agree with amaru though, you're much better off with fido in the end, since all their plans are simple.

most carriers are not charging it but they increased the plan a little bit to compensate

Rogers change the name and charge Government Regulation Recovering fee for like $2.5/month. :(

Thanks everyon for their help! Changed my phone to Rogers this afternoon at no charge for a Fido cancellation and all that jazz. Got evrything I needed and now the hardest part is getting use to all these functions on my BB vs my old samsung bj!

^ welcome to the bb world (: yay for crackberries!