CRTC says it's OK that Bell is f*cking with its customers, just read the fine print

A complaint to the CRTC over how Bell Canada is handling a rebate it must give to customers has been set aside by the government agency.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre, an Ottawa-based consumer protection group, had complained that Bell was using the rebate as a marketing tool to entice consumers to lock into new two-year contracts with the telecommunications company.

Bell was ordered to refund $250 million to consumers in August. The amount works out to $67.41 per qualifying customer. The rebate cheques will be mailed out in March 2011.

In a letter to consumers, however, Bell offered $100 toward some of its other services, in place of the rebate.

PIAC had asked the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to order Bell to end the offer. The agency ruled Wednesday that it could go ahead.

'I think they've left it to the individual consumer to make up their mind about the offer.'—Michael Janigan, Public Interest Advocacy Centre

"I think they've left it to the individual consumer to make up their mind about the offer," PIAC general counsel Michael Janigan told CBC News. "Of course, we've attempted to point out a number of things about it that might make it less attractive to individual customers to take up."

Read more here.