Videotron versus Bell (w/bundles)

[ocean]

Hi guys, I had a little problem, I noted that Bell ( who I subscribe DSL/home phone ) from were really over charging me so I did some X-Mas shopping shopped around a little and found out that with a contract I could get a lot more stuff from Videotron at the same rate I pay now, if I sign a year contract. Here are my questions:

1.Are there people here that have Videotron telephony vs. Bell telephone?
2.Is cable telephone reliable?
3.Are there problems calling 911 (with Videotron telephone).
4.Does Videotron jack rates once I finish my contract or are they good about
keeping prices steady.

Note: I am with videotron under 100 bucks/mo. being offered : basic TV/Cable internet/Cable telephone/1000 minutes to the US/Canada. I believe that is
a good deal, but again will my prices be jacked up after?

 

[wolfman]

Ive had videotron internet since 2002.......very happy with it compared to what I had with Bell......for the last three years Ive had cable internet and telephone with videotron and I have no complaints prices havent been jacked up....

 

[montreal_monk01]

had tried both. I personally found Videotron to sustain a more reliable data transfer speed.
With Bell, they kept throwing all kind of reasons from quality of the phone line in my neighborhood to whatever imaginary scenario in order to justify irregular data transfer speed.

 

[Tracy]

I have had both. I am now with Bell.

I was with Videotron and had very good service with Telephone, Internet, and TV. With the cell phone, the only issue I had was that they royally screwed up with the billing. Every month there was about 600$ that they could not explain, I went to detailed billing at an extra 3$ per month, and would receive every single phone call, text, what ever charge there was and still could not explain the hundreds of dollars of surcharges. I had issues with sending payments to them as well (I went to the bank and deposited 400$ to my bill and it was never applied)

With Bell, I have serious issues with the home phone, sometimes there is no dial tone at all, I can rarely receive calls (The phone rings then hangs up on its own) The internet is scetchy to say the least. It comes and goes. They say that it is the wiring in the building, but my neighbour upstairs has their services as well, and I do not think thatb she is having problems. The Satellite with Bell is fine. I have had no issues, I thought there would be problems during storms, but it works fine. I do not have a cell phone on contract anymore, so I have no clue how Bell is with that... After a 2500$ bill from Videotron, That could hardly be justified, I went to pay as you go.

For combo prices, I have found that Bell is better. You get more for less (Videotron was around 250$ per month, Bell I get 150$ per month... again I have no cell phone on this contract though.)

 

[YouVantOption]

1.Are there people here that have Videotron telephony vs. Bell telephone?
2.Is cable telephone reliable?
3.Are there problems calling 911 (with Videotron telephone).
4.Does Videotron jack rates once I finish my contract or are they good about
keeping prices steady.

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. Not as far as I know

Not asked but answered:

- cable modems can sustain much faster speeds than DSL, provided you aren't sharing the connection with many others. It depends upon how many people in your neighbourhood use Videotron. Bell's speed depends upon how far from their local central office you are.

- I had a problem with videotron wherein their local box went down on a weekend, so my phone, television and Internet were down. They had it fixed within 12 hours and they replaced the box entirely a day or two later. The problem was calling them to tell them about it, since my mobile was out of minutes, and this happened fairly late at night so the Dep was closed.

- If you take all 3 services, Videotron will sell you 1000 minutes long distance anywhere in the U.S. and Canada for $10 which is a pretty good deal.

 

[DUMPTHEPUCK]

1.Are there people here that have Videotron telephony vs. Bell telephone?
2.Is cable telephone reliable?
3.Are there problems calling 911 (with Videotron telephone).
4.Does Videotron jack rates once I finish my contract or are they good about
keeping prices steady.

it's been 2 years since i've changed from bell to videotron. let me tell you, it was the best move. the prices don't change because they know that you'll switch if people think there getting screwed. but once you change and your contract is over, call them up and they will give more channels if you have illco for free with the same charges. at work im with bell and it's a disaster, finally videotron has arrived and im in the process to change.

hope this will help you

dtp

 

[Jerking]

F--- Bell I am with Videotron with my home phone now paying less and am very happy with the service, will be switching internet soon, my cell is a company phone with Rogers.

I was screwed by Bell a few times and so were many people I know I will never deal with that company again.

 

[master_bates]

I have also been screwed by Bell Sympatico

In 2003 I had been a customer with them since 1999 all of a sudden 1 day

my internet goes down. I call them up and they run some tests on my line &

tell me that all of a sudden im too far from their guaranteed distance and

they cant guarantee me service. I chose to go with videotron instead and

found like others have said cable is faster than dsl.

I've had issues with videotrons long distance and switched back to bell as

my phone line. No problems there.

Everyone jacks rates but it shouldnt be by too much if it does happen.

 

[Jerking]

master_bates if your long distance is in the usa and Canada grab a magic jack.

 

[ocean]

I will admit videotron is trying to be competitive in the market, but I am a bit
scared about leaving bell telephone for basic phone service.

If there are a few more people out there with videotron phone service, it would make me feel a lot reassured about the quality of their service. (In the ice storm of 98, phone was never a problem, and having 911 know your addresse immediately was never a problem).

 

[leneo]

Videotron all the way .... f... Bell !!!!

 

[Dragon]

Videotron vs Bell -- no doubt Videotron

Hi Ocean,

I will add my vote to Videotron;
I've changed to Videotron about 2 years now and never had a problem.
Was with Bell for phone and internet, but had billing issues and when I moved I looked into bundles and Videotron was a better pick for me.
Home phone has never been an issue since then and service is good, basic internet is the same as basic sympatico. The cable with Videoway is more user friendly than with the satellite.
I've never called 911, so can't tell you if there's a problem or not with it
My rates has increased once since the switch but only by a couple of dollars so nothing extravagant

My 2 cents

Later
Dragon

 

[metoo4]

Bell is a big bunch of bullshitters. A year ago, I wanted to cancel all my business services with Bell, internet and business phone. I was told I needed a phone line AND an active phone account to get the ADSL internet and, surprise, I was on a "contract" for the internet anc couldn't cancel without penalities. It's for business so at the time, I had no choice, even if I don't use the phone so, about $70/mo for a phone I don't use and $80 for internet.
About 1 month ago, I call them for some billing issues (never had a single billing period without issues in 5 years...) and I ask again if I could cancel the phone. "Of course you can, we'll install a "dry" line, that's simple." Well well... You mean I paid phone service 1 year for nothing? I'm told there's a record of my conversation so I lodge a complaint. Surprise again! The record "vanished" and apparently, I never called them ever...

Soooo... Bell is no more for my phone and will be no more as soon as my internet contract is over, same as with my home phone and TV.

For internet and phone, there's a small Montréal company on Notre-Dame east who I deal with since over 10 years for private stuff. That's where my phone service will go, or only use my cell phone maybe, no more home phone.

Cheaper than Vidéotron or Bell and almost same performance as Vidéotron.

For tv, I'll go with either Starchoice or Vidéotron but, I have a little somthing against Vidéotron also... It's about the size of the Peladeau empire and how it's run...

 

[ocean]

What about power outages? willt eh videotron phone work?

 

[leneo]

What about power outages? willt eh videotron phone work?

yes there a battery for 6 hours !!!

 

[Kepler]

What about power outages? willt eh videotron phone work?

I'm a happy Videotron Internet and TV customer.

But in case of real emergency (eg: long power failure in winter, ice storm, etc.), only a real Bell landline will be safe. I know I'm paying a few bucks extra every month, but it's worth it to me to get that redundancy.

 

[ocean]

the wayI figure it, I have a fido phone, therefore, if i have a power outage longer than 8 hours in an ice storm, here is what I would do.

1. Keep a car charger for my phone, and keep it charged by powering it when I have to get gas and food.

2. Or if there is a serious power outage, then I should consider leaving for relatives homes like I did in 98.

3. If I have no electricity for 15 days, I cannot stay in the home either.

Man this can be confusing.

 

[jambon]

stop being affraid

You can get a "real" phone line, without buying it from Bell. There are alot of resellers and other providers. Rogers in Quebec sells home phone service (non cable based), others do too.

I get mine from a reseller in Ontario (I'm in Quebec) so there is no TVQ and it's cheaper too. And it's a real phone line.

 

[ocean]

Hi Jambon,

you are right, except that it does become a consideration, but as well its a consideration that if more than a day without heat in the winter ice storms I cannot stay in my home I have to evacuate, so I decided to go with Videotron phonev/Long distance/internet/basic TV service.

I have been with Sympatico DSL for 3.5 years, and I think that they are not respecting me as a customer. Think about it nearly
4 years later later and I am still "renting" the modem. As*holes!


Technically, I have been renting the modem from them for three years and when I said hey I paid 300 dollars for your modem, they said OK 10 dollars less for the modem but the price for service have gone up 10 dollars. So enough was enough 2009 is going to be the Videotron year, I do look forward to having 1000 minutes long distance per month, as well as basic no frills tv, not to shabby.

 

[peterman12]

You can get a "real" phone line, without buying it from Bell. There are alot of resellers and other providers. Rogers in Quebec sells home phone service (non cable based), others do too.

I get mine from a reseller in Ontario (I'm in Quebec) so there is no TVQ and it's cheaper too. And it's a real phone line.

Hi jambon. Who is your landline provider, if you do not mind my asking?

BR,
pm12