Bell, Telus facing possible lawsuits over text fees
Two of Canada's cellphone giants are facing possible class action lawsuits over their controversial plans to charge customers for incoming text messages.
One lawsuit request targetting Telus was filed by a Montreal-area woman two weeks ago. Now Bell is the focus of the second request, filed by a Beloeil man who asks why he should pay 15 cents per incoming text message especially if it's spam and has no control over it.
Lawyer Noel Saint Pierre.
"People are also even more fundamentally are a bit fed up with the unilateral modifications of the contract."'
Saint Pierre says the changes are illegal and abusive and is asking for 60 dollars in damages per customer. And with Bell and Telus having tens of thousands of cell phone customers, that could add up in the millions. But first the courts have to authorize the lawsuits and the legal process could take over a year. Eric Cormier says he just wants to send them a message.
"Stop trying to charge us because we're paying enough for each month."
The new fees kick in next month.
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