Telus Loses Class-Action Lawsuit – Must Pay Back $2.6M to Customers

Montreal, Quebec – Telecom giant Telus has lost their class action lawsuit filed on behalf of their 177,425 customers who claimed their texting fees increased without proper notice. At issue was the fact that Telus increased the fee for each incoming message to 15 cents. The result was higher than expected bills. In her ruling, Justice Marie-Anne Paquette of the Quebec Superior Court, stated that Canada mandates a very explicit process for notifying customers of rate changes. Unlike the Unite States, telecoms cannot play the “read the fine print” game.

Owing to the fact that the rate change was not made sufficiently clear, Telus has been ordered to pay $2.6 million to customers. Now, it is not sure if that is the amount going directly to the customers or if that first goes to the law firm to take a chunk of the loot first and let customers get what’s left. If all the money were to go back to the customers (as unlikely as that is) each would get a little more than $15 apiece.

Telus claims their customers are ninnies incapable of reading their plainly worded notifications. Well, that’s not quite how they phrased it, but that can be the only other explanation. Telus was adamant that they made the rate change clear to their customers and if that is the case all 177,425 of them goofed up. In addition, Telus says they offered their customers special rate plans to allow them to enjoy unlimited texting. That may be, but the price of those deals is cost prohibitive for many. The telecoms have resisted any real competition and in many places throughout Canada, the rate plans between the telecoms are nearly identical taking price away as a reason for switching. Telus hasn’t decided if they will appeal the ruling.

On The Web:
Quebec Superior Court Orders TELUS to Reimburse Customers $2.6 Million
http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/04/quebec-superior-court-orders-telus-reimburse-customers-2-6-million.html
Telus must reimburse $2.6M in texting fees, court rules
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/telus-must-reimburse-2-6m-in-texting-fees-court-rules-1.2607133