The CRTC has ordered mobile providers to stop charging for unlocking phones, and to only sell unlocked phones to customers as of December 1, 2017.
This year, the CRTC noted that Canadian telecoms that charged unlocking fees made $37.7 million last year alone. Rogers, Bell, and Telus, the big three as we call them, stand by their unlocking fees.
Carriers sell locked phones in order to keep customers from switching to competitors, and with many carriers charging hefty fees to close accounts and about $50 to unlock their phone for them, it tends to keep the customer from switching.
This change by the CRTC comes from a review of their Wireless Code, aimed at helping consumers with cellphone fees. They opened their review to the public, where many brought up unlocking fees, or what has become known as a "ransom fee" or "hostage fee".
The ransom fee has always been an unpopular thing with customers, and with this change, it will allow customers to have the flexibility of changing plans and carriers, which will hopefully create more competition in the market.
On top of ransom fees, huge monthly phone bills have been a concern. This comes from the practices of many carriers, who build up charges for roaming, data overage, and even allow customers to add more data to their plan each month by sending a simple text if they want to use more.
This caused one Bell customer to have a bill of more than $1,700 in a month. Her son hit the top of his data, and in order for Bell to provide him with more data that month, he simply had to respond "Yes" to a text that was sent to him by the provider. Her son was part of a family plan and is a minor.
This prompted the CRTC to also announce that from now on, only the account holder of a family plan is capable of consenting to data overages and additional charges. Other members will only be allowed to modify the account if the account holder grants them access and approval to do so.
Therefore, the Wireless Code mandates that there is a cap to international roaming charges of $100 a month and data overages of $50. The only way they are capable of charging more, is if the customer agrees to it.
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