Talk with family and friends across the nation without watching the clock. Stop counting minutes and talk as long as you like.
These are the catch-phrases for HBC Connections unlimited long distance plans, offered by The Hudson’s Bay Company.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
–adjective
1. not limited; unrestricted; unconfined: unlimited trade.
2. boundless; infinite; vast: the unlimited skies.
3. without any qualification or exception; unconditional.
HBC Connections defines “unlimited” as: twelve hundred. That’s the number of minutes that families in Canada apparently get too tired to talk anymore in any given month, according to their studies. A couple of months ago, I got this telemarketing call imploring me to change my long distance provider. The gentleman on the other end of the line promised me “unlimited” calling within Canada, day or night, for $19.99 per month. “Unlimited?” I said. “So, there’s no fine print, no tricks. I can make as many calls, within Canada, for as long as I want, and I will only ever be charged 20 bucks?” YES SIR! That’s right. Just let me verify your identity and we will take care of making the switch for you. You don’t even need to call your current long distance provider.Grrrrreat!
Several weeks later, I received two bills. One from HBC and one from the phone company. When I complained to the phone company, they told me that they will not, and legally can not, switch my long distance plan without me contacting them directly. After a couple of phone calls and some pressing, I was able to secure a credit from the phone company for the additional charges.
Now, this week, I received a bill from HBC Connections for sixty dollars. $60!!! Well, of course I called them. The nice lady on the other end politely explained to me that when they say unlimited, they mean that, according to their studies, 1200 minutes is more than enough to cover them. So, they feel justified in telling me that they are offering me unlimited minutes. I “politely” explained that the English definition of the term is slightly different, hence my confusion in the contract I entered into with this fine, upstanding corporation. The lady explained to me that there was nothing she could do, so she would have her manager call me back in 24 to 48 hours.
Three days later, no call. So, I call them back. The lady I got this time explained that the salespeople were trained not to inform prosepective clients that the limit is 1200 minutes unless they question them on the meaning of the term “unlimited”. They freakin’ intentionally mislead people!! Jeeeeezuss! I informed her that I did indeed ask them to verify the term “unlimited”, so she said that they would have their QA people review the tapes. She then proceeded to tell me that there was nothing else she could do for me. I asked her to put me through to her manager, if he or she exists.
She told me that her manager would get back to me in 24 to 48 hours.
Needless to say, I highly recommend dealing with this company for your long distance services. NOT!
In their own words:
Hudson’s Bay Company (Hbc) fully intends to conduct its business in a socially responsible manner and we are determined to build our business with our business partners and their employees based on the highest ethical principles of trust, teamwork, honesty, and respect for the rights and dignity of others.
