So, some 15 years with Virgin Mobile, pretty much like every relationship I've had the past 15 years proved a small masterpiece of gaslighting, manipulation and abuse.
Story as old as time.
So my phone's been paid off for a couple or three years, an S22 Ultra, it's still good although as of late I've broken the screen and will need to look at getting a replacement. But - it's served it's purpose.
Anyways, the past 3 years just paying for the plan, not the phone, $65.00 a month and unlimited text/call in Canada, 90 GB data. Rarely do I use that much data, but it's good to have just in case.
Last phone bill I wondered why it was so high. It's $85 a month, and when did the price go up $20 a month and why was I not informed?
I'm annoyed. I get online and search for better deals. And, let me tell you, there are better deals. Fizz, Public Mobile, there are others. I sign up for Public Mobile, which promises me unlimited text/call in Canada, 80 GB data that rolls over the unused data to the next month *(!!!!!) - meaning that for all intents and purposes I have unlimited data, and - all this for - ready? $35 a month. 35 fucking dollars. Virgin was charging me eighty-five.
Fuckers.
It's a no brainer, sign me up, deal with the hassle of call centres, CSR's with no training in remedial English and accents that are too thick to interpret, to the deadness of AI operators that route your call accordingly, to the looking up of old contract numbers and e-sim cards, etc, etc, but I get it done. And - to put the icing on the cake I call Virgin just to ensure they've cancelled my account.
Another thick accent, the CSR trying to persuade me that I'm on the BEST PLAN and I regretfully disagree and terminate the call.
So, on to Public Mobile.
I get a saves call yesterday from Virgin Mobile, they leave a message, loyalty, rewards, they can give me a new plan, the standard unlimited and 100 GB a month for $30....
This just angers me - it means I've been overpaying $35-$50 a month for years now.
I'm not switching. I have no illusions about Public Mobile, Telus (their carrier), they're BS as well, but - BS in a different pile and Virgin - well...they had their chance and they blew it...
They call back again. Then - today; 4 times. I imagine the saves team gets a pretty big commission from every customer they bring back to the fold.
I'm happy. This is a small victory, and a penny saved is a penny earned. And I have now a better bargaining chip when I go shopping for cell plans knowing what their margins are...
So - just a word to the wise out there - look at your phone plan, what you're paying, what you're getting, then shop around. You could be getting a much better deal...