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Globe says CRTC to ban smart phone unlocking fees

2017-06-16 07:17 ET - In the News

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The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that the CRTC is putting an end to fees charged to unlock smart phones. The Globe's Christine Dobby writes that as of Dec. 1, mobile customers will have the right to have their mobile device unlocked free upon request, making it possible to use that device on other carriers' networks. That means, for example, that once a customer has paid off a device subsidy, typically spread over a two-year period, that customer owns the handset outright and can move to another carrier. Unlocking fees generated $37.7-million in revenue for carriers in 2016, as they responded to 943,000 requests to unlock devices. The fees -- typically $50 for the code used to unlock the SIM card -- are a deterrent to switching providers. Carriers argue that unlocking fees are necessary to protect their investment in the device and prevent customers from leaving before they have paid off subsidies the companies offer on smart phones. The commission also updated the terms around trial periods, ruling that customers will be able to cancel a cellphone contract within 15 days and return their device for no charge, as long as they have used less than half of their monthly usage limits.

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