Dec 01 2006
Unlimited Bullshit
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.
Welcome to my Web Blah... er, Blog.
December 1st, 2006 at 10:20 am
while your still pissed , put the bill in an envelope and send it directly to the attn of the precident of HBC with a copy of this blog. inform him of your millions of readers and how this little ruse thier pulling will be all over this media and others if it does not cease immediatly . i know i will be spreading the news at my end .
December 1st, 2006 at 11:44 am
I’m going to post about it, too. Look out HBC!
December 1st, 2006 at 2:51 pm
I canceled my service (went back to NBTel). I’m now reviewing the fine print and I found the following in FAQ:
Is there a fee to cancel my Home Phone service with Hbc Connections?
As with most Telecommunications providers in Canada, Hbc has a $55 activation fee which we waived for you as part of your sign up incentive. If your service has been with us for less than 12 months, we will charge that activation fee to your account as an early cancellation charge. This is stated in your Terms and Conditions listed in the Welcome Package you will receive from Hbc Connections.
If I’m charged another $55, I’ll freakin’ FREAK!
December 1st, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Go with Rogers. $5 for 1000 minutes. Canada or USA.
December 2nd, 2006 at 6:12 pm
1000 minutes for five bucks?!?!? WOW… That’s almost unlimited!
December 2nd, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Well, they didn’t advertise it as Unlimited. In fact, the advertisement was $.05 for 100 minutes. Next 900 are free!
Easier just to say $5 for 1000 minutes.
December 12th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Well… here it is, more than two weeks later, and no one has called me. I called today and they said that they had indeed reviewed the tapes and it is in the manager’s hands now. I asked when I’d hear from the manager, and yes, you guessed it, they said within 24 hours!
I’ll believe it when I see it.
December 12th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
This is cool: this post shows up on the first page of hits for HBC Connections at google. My site is on the 2nd page. Add “complaints” to the phrase and my post about it is the #2 hit!
December 13th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
good job. maybe between all us they will have to honor their promises
December 13th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
reverse the “all us” in my last comment
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
I’ve had a similar experience with a company called Inphonex, except that I asked them to define unlimited and they said “it is based on a proprietary average calculation, and is always changing, thus we cannot tell you. We don’t even know, only the system knows”. I asked them if it was legal for them to sell a service they can’t define, and they said oh yes! I bet if I asked my lawyer, he would have a different answer.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Indeed!