The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Friday announced a simplified process for customers looking to switch cellular carriers. Going forward, customers should only have to make one phone call. Once proper consent is obtained, the new provider will make all arrangements on behalf of the customer. The transfer process must be completed within 2.5 hours (a similar process for television, home telephone and Internet services must be completed within two days).
Customers will still have the option of calling their current carrier to cancel the service themselves, giving them an opportunity to potentially negotiate new terms.
Dave Dobbin, Mobilicity’s president and CEO, likes the decision: “It’s a great decision for the consumer; it’s a win for the consumer. The CRTC doesn’t get a lot of high fives, but today every Canadian consumer should give them a high five.”
The CRTC has also asked for industry submissions on this new ruling to determine “whether these safeguards are still in the best interests of consumers and whether they limit a consumer’s ability to receive offers from a service provider.”