Roger, Roger do you hear MEEEEE!!!!

Right after my arrival to Montreal I wrote ‘very funny’ story about getting Canadian mobile phone in Montreal. My experience in Vancouver was excellent. That’s why I was very surprised it does not work in Quebec. OK it does not work with Rogers.

To refresh my story - I spend one hour in Rogers shop to fill in all forms to get Canadian SIM card for international phone calls. When everything done the shop girl told me I would only be able to make international call after three months. OK. We cancelled the contract.
End of act one.

The story goes further. Few days later I received an invoice per email. Yes, mistakes happen. I wrote back I am not Rogers customer and ask them to delete me immediately from all their databases.

End of act two.

Not the end. Last night I received email with another invoice. First thing in the morning I went to Rogers shop (the one from act one).

Angry!

After seven minutes (I did measure it as I assumed it will not go smoothly) I had the result.

Great!

Not really. Yes, Rogers returned all money,  EXCEPT of 1,43 CAD for TWO SMS and ONE international phone call (non of those was successful as the card was blocked for international calls/messaging). Actually only after those unsuccessful SMS/call the shop girl told me about the fact I would be able to make international phone calls only in April - two months after my departure from Canada. I am going to write a letter to CEO Mr. Alan D. Horn.

I am not angry any more. It is fun. New learning - wherever you are from do not believe ‘Western - developed - rich - educated’ countries have something special or better. It is everywhere the same.

The End?

... I am not alone ... thank you Internet for this picture ...

Dear O2, I apologize for all bad words I ever said about you. You are not perfect, nobody is. I am happy I am with you. And until I move to Vancouver I will dream about being WIND customer.

Todays French word:

Upset customer - please share this article with everybody.

Le client contrarié - S'il vous plaît partager cet article avec tous.

Phone call needed? Blow yourself to British Columbia!

Totally excited by the services of telephone company WIND who operates in number of Canadian cities (among them also Vancouver) I started to look for a phone company in Montreal. Unfortunately there is no WIND in Montreal. Bad, bad luck.

http://www.windmobile.ca/

I have very clear needs - Canada calling and SMS unlimited, International calls for very good price, SMS international unlimited and Internet connection is advantage not necessity.

First I went to TELUS. Ups! Unfriendly, bored girl made me incredible offer - it would be cheaper to keep calling with my Czech phone.  

http://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.portal

Next stop Rogers. Smooth start. The prices and conditions are a little higher than by WIND, but still very attractive. We started the contract procedure. It took quite a long time. Finally I have the SIM card, contract and can make phone calls. Very excited I tried to call myself (on my Czech number of course). Funny message in French?!? What? I tried again. Same result. The shop girl called me from her phone. The phone is ringing and she said with a smile: ‘no problem, it is working’. Suddenly terrified expression appears on her face. She starts carefully: ‘you know ... because ... you are new customer with no credit record ... you know ... aaaa ... you are allowed to make international phone calls only after three months. Which .... which is in ... from April 29^th’. Now, now I am terrified. We have spend almost an hour on all the administrative procedures to find out - there is no solution for me with Rogers. None! I go home.

You will not wonder - there is no third attempt to get a Canadian phone. I stick with my Czech phone and Internet. At least is free wi-fi available at most places I was in until now. BIG GRATITUDE!

Do not call me, stay in touch through Internet.

Todays French word:

phone - téléphone