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Kevin, has Vista got your tongue?
August 19, 2008 on 10:12 pm | In Social & Political Issues | No CommentsKevin Crull has an important offer for me. It’s got to be important because he’s a vice president of Bell in charge of residential services.
Because, as Kevin writes in his letter of August 14, he’s so happy that I essentially haven’t switched to Rogers or some other giant soulless corporation with a licence to print money granted by the Canadian Radio-Television Commission for my home phone service, that Kevin is making me a very special offer.
For one thing, I can go to any Starbucks still operating in Canada (650, according to Kevin) and connect my laptop, tablet computer or whatever to their Wi-Fi Internet for free instead of $8 a day if only I pay him $18 a month. I didn’t want to break the news that I can already do that at St. Lawrence Market, C’est What restaurant and a dozen other non-Starbucks coffee shops within a short walk of the heart of Downtown.
He mentions right off the bat that as a home phone customer I will get a special offer on the new enhanced wireless high-speed Internet. And he gives me a number 1 877 512-6704, where I can find out what this is all about.
Of course I already have this wireless high-speed Internet from Bell, but maybe it’s something better. I put on my USB headset, key the number into Skype, and after three tries and being hung up on twice, including one message that the 877 number I’m calling doesn’t exist, the guy answering the 877 number I called immediately asks for my B1 number. So he knows I’ve already got high-speed Internet from Bell.
Now I’m really curious. It’s gotta be something truly great if I already have the high-speed wireless Internet and am being offered a special deal on what I figure has got to be an even faster, surer, unencumbered Internet. And the offer includes “BONUS: Wireless Home Networking included ($79.95 value) [subject to 'Additional equipment required, including cables and adapters'] Free installation.”
But the guy on the phone doesn’t know what Kevin’s talking about. I figure Kevin’s got to know what he’s talking about, since he’s the guy who wrote the letter and he’s a vice-president, etc. The guy on the phone agrees. So he give me what he claims is Kevin’s number. He remarks that Kevin is a “really busy guy, so it could take some time to get him on the line” at 1 866 927-3656. But I’ve got a headset on, I’m calling on Skype, so I’m not tying up a phone line, and I can wait.
I do wait. First a female voice answers and tells me that all the lines are busy as they are helping other customers. But she sincerely assures me that my call is important. I’m convinced she means it. She really does sound sincere so when the line almost immediately starts to ring, I’m doubly sure. It rings 22 times before becoming a busy signal. I call back. Same thing happens.
I’m stymied. I don’t know what Internet glories I can get for a mere $18 a month ($17.95, but who’s counting?) that gives me a BONUS of $79.95 worth of Internet value. I hope Kevin reads this and gets back to me. He can call 416.929. 0011 Ext. 3. I’m waiting.
Of course another thought has crossed my mind and that is, I notice that Bell’s Sympatico Internet service is now Sympatico MSN. That means Microsoft. Is the curse of the much-hated Windows Vista visiting Bell?
Frank Touby