Canadians Are Being Held Hostage By Cell Phone Providers

People are prisoners of their phones. That’s why they’re called cell phones.

SpiritScience

In Canada we unfortunately have almost no options when it comes to cell phone providers. If we want full coverage coast to coast then we have to use Bell, Rogers or Telus. All of the smaller players are at the mercy of the Big 3 (a cartel sanctioned and enabled by the CRTC) who grant them the minimum access allowed under the law. And you guessed it; the law is the CRTC. This explains why our cell phone bills are among the highest in the world.

I had a recent incident with my cell phone provider – one of the Big 3 – that had steam coming out of my ears! I’m on a two-year plan and it’s a loyalty plan. I’ve discovered that means I’m loyal to them; they’re not loyal to me. The cost of a plan during a contracted period is, or should be fixed. Much to my surprise last month my plan went up $5. I got my hostage taker on the phone and demanded to know why my plan had been hijacked while I’m on contract. They decided to raise one of my features (unlimited long distance to the U.S.) from $15 - $20 a month. At a time when long distance prices are coming down dramatically or disappearing with the ability to call over WiFi, it boggles the mind that not only did they tamper with my contract but they had the unmitigated gall to raise this option by $5. This is out and outright thievery!

In a less than congenial fashion I told them exactly what I thought of them and informed them that if they didn’t remove the charge immediately from this bill and from future bills that I was cancelling my plan and going to one of the other cartel members. Of course they credited my account immediately; but that really isn’t the point. The point is that they do anything they want and get away with it. And we have no options. In the U.S. almost every major cell phone provider offers WiFi calling which allows for FREE long distance as long as you make calls on WiFi. Here these Canadian bandits are raising cell phone long distance and do not offer WiFi calling North America wide. What recourse do we have? NONE! Canada, we are screwed when it comes to cell phone plans in general and cell phone long distance. If we want or need full coverage then we’re stuck with the cartel which makes us all hostages of a rigged system.

Today’s generation will never know the satisfaction of slamming down the phone during an angry hang up!

geezerplanet

Make someone smile today.

Geri

The Dirty Little Secret About Corporate Culture

The most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management.

 Scott Adams (Dilbert)

The two most overused words these days are corporate culture. Every second business article is about corporate culture. Some people have nothing else to do but make lists that rate companies according to their corporate culture. Head hunters use corporate culture as a selling feature to candidates. The dirty little secret is that corporate culture is all hype and smoke and mirrors; or in corporate speak – it’s all about the optics.

Do you really think that these major national or international companies care about you? All you are is a number that equates with a dollar value. If they need to reduce dollars you’ll be right-sized or down-sized (whatever is the politically correct term these days for getting laid off). And, more often than not, the decision on who gets let go is politically motivated. Very recently an acquaintance of mine, who is the top producer in her department (in addition to being well liked and well respected) was let go. She was in a state of shock because she foolishly believed that being the top producer year over year earned her a “get out of jail free card.” Sadly what she didn’t take into account was the political back biting that goes on with these types of decisions.

Corporations are bursting at the seams with layers of ineffective, incompetent (or worse) managers. Most of these people, who have risen to their own level of incompetence, will never be the ones let go because it would cost too much to get rid of them, they’re diversity hires or there is nepotism involved.

The reality is that the quality of your corporate experience has nothing what-so-ever to do with the corporate culture B-S that you’re being fed (and expected to buy into). It has everything to do with your manager. It’s simple:

Great Manager = Great Corporate Experience

Lousy Manager = Lousy Corporate Experience

If you’re interviewing for a job or looking to move up in your present company, research the manager. He/she will make or break your experience and have a significant impact on your career. I’ve had the best corporate experience and the worst corporate experience at the same company. And right now I’m happy to say that I have a great manager!

At work don’t say load of bullshit. Say amalgamation of bovine fecal matter. Big words will get you that promotion.

Someecards

Make someone smile today.

Geri