The Financial Post reports in its Friday edition that wireless customers are being advised to closely watch their cellphone bills to ensure they are not dinged with charges banned under the updated wireless code, which goes into effect today.
The Post's Emily Jackson writes that the CRTC updated the wireless code in June to ban mobile device unlocking fees and clarify rules for multiuser accounts. It gave providers until Dec. 1 to implement the code that governs more than 30 million wireless subscriptions.
It is not clear whether Rogers and Telus can or will adopt the rules by the deadline. Both applied to the CRTC for extensions of up to six months in November, stating that the rules for shared accounts are impossible to implement on time since they require extensive updates to their billing systems. By Thursday, the CRTC had not granted an extension.
Barring a last minute reprieve, extra protections will be in place for shared accounts as of Friday. Data and roaming overage fees are capped at $50 and $100 per month per account. All providers including Telus and Rogers, however, plan to implement the new unlocking rules on time.
As of Friday, all phones must be sold unlocked with no unlocking charges.
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