Bell Canada1 just called me up (ostensibly to make sure I was getting the “best value for my money,” see the footnote below) to try and sell me satellite TV and DSL internet service. I was surprised that the sales woman, after I told her that no, I didn’t have cable but had rabbit ears, cautioned me that “if I didn’t get cable or satellite TV that I would no longer be able to watch TV in the future.” Luckily, I knew that her line was a bunch of bollocks.
True, on August 31, 2011, broadcasters in Canada will be required to switch to transmitting a digital rather than analog signal. With an old standard-definition TV, you won’t be able to watch these digital signals without purchasing a converter. With newer HD TVs with digital tuners built in, you can already watch high-quality HD programming over the air (OTA) without having to get cable or satellite TV.
It’s a bit smarmy and somewhat of a scam to call people (current customers, really) and tell them that they need a solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist. It just happens that I’m a bit literate in this field otherwise, I could have be sucked into purchasing a service that, at the end of the day, I don’t need. I wonder if Bell Canada is aware that SP Data is misinforming clients in this way?
Industry Canada has a bunch of information if you want to know more.
- Actually, the number that called was 866-507-8350 which, when I called it back says that it is a “customer contact centre” of a company called SP Data, calling me with information about “products and service offerings on behalf of Bell Canada.” It seems that they specialize in, among other things, what they term the “warm upsell” which is marketing bullshit for using a pre-existing sales relationship to try and sell you more stuff that you don’t require. [↩]
RE: SP Data
If anyone want the phone calls from SP Data to stop all you have to do is send an email to the Senior VP brian.cato@spdatallc.com. I sent an email to the HR@SPDATALLC.COM and explained that it was impossible to reach anyone and that they were calling me 10 times a day. They forwarded the email to Brian Cato the Senior VP and he responded with an hour of receiving my email. He took my information and assured me that the phone calls would stop. It has been days now and I have not received any calls from them.
Ya I am pretty stubborn and it took me days to do this so I hope this helps…. :)
last week I was called by someone and I asked for details ,said I would discuss this deal with the rest of the family therefore please call back in a few days–they have not, so I am trying to reach someone from SP data–I have left 4 messages at the 1-866 # and have not had a return call alll week—why?
The call will not be returned as per SP DATA it self doesnt sell anything at all, other than services for other companies. If you want to take advantage of the offer they mentioned to you, you will need to call your provider directly.
Within regards to the first comment I want to advice you that even tho, the rep that call you definitely misinfomed you, you should consider your words before accusing the whole company for something that just 1 SCR told you. SCRs do commit mistakes and some of them, like the one you mention, become greedy for sales and then they use “dirty” techniques to misinform customers.
To conclude just take into account that most of the people at SP Data do their work properly, and even tho there are always people screwing it up, Sp Data as a whole is one of the best outsourcing companies a Telecommunications provider can deal with.
@ANDREW
Thanks for the comment.
You’re right–one customer service rep isn’t the whole company. To say, however, that a customer service rep *does not* represent the company is ridiculous. This person is a employee of SP Data, doing a warm upsell– a job that Bell Canada is paying them for. SP Data is certainly responsible for what they say and how they make their sales–ethical or not.
As an ex-employee of SP Data on their Bell campaign, I can tell you that you are absolutely right.
I was given false information in order to sell products. When I found out that they were lying to me, I was quite disgusted with them. When I refused to push sales, I got in trouble.
That, combined with the fact that I got abused over the phone on a daily basis (this is not a career choice, it was a job to keep me going through university) made me quit.
Also, if you want the calls from SP Data to stop, tell the representative to put you on the Do Not Call list for the company. They will do that for you.
Hi
Does anyone have a number I can call to contact SPData. All numbers I have go to voice mail or are out of order.
Thanks
The number for spdata is 905-645-5610…one ext is 5615
Right now SPData is in control of Bell’s “Prime Queue” which is the default people to talk to when calling 310-BELL. I would certainly love to leave my name and an extension I can be reached at in the company but unfortunately that’s against policy. I can assure you that most of our team is very enthusiastic and will be willing to do whatever it takes to fix any problems or answer any questions you may have, assuming it’s related to a Bell product/service.
And Gavan; I do apologize for the misinformation by one of our agents and rest-assured that we constantly and randomly screen our agents calls for quality purposes, so as long as this wasn’t a one-time thing with the agent we’ll find out and make sure he/she is properly dealt with.
Receiving a call from 866-507-8357 so late into the night an after acceptable business hours shows the mismanagement & poor training of it telemarketers given by the company – As a established firm like Bell it shows poor judgement on who they choose when they subcontract . When Bell looks at the dollar no matter how fraudulent its collected an doesn’t cancel its contract with that company,, won’t that reflect directly upon them?. When asked to identify what company name was calling? –The account number ? it was refused – Again Bell sharing private information of my finical records –phone # etc -without my prior written consent with a company that has legitimate complaints filed against it to the Better Business Bureau of Canada for inappropriate customer relations.. I would predict that Bell will seek another contactor that can work within the limits and rules an not a fly-by night company that likely is facing litigation – bank closures an collections itself.
Sry for commenting OFF TOPIC but what WP template do you use? Looks cool.
It’s a modified version of the Freshy 2 theme.
I worked for them and they have very shady practices – I quit after 2 months of bull shit and minimum wage – totally sucks to be BELL right now. Everyone hates you!!!
gaven lets be more specific on this issue.
number 1- i have a hd tv quite new and currently with a cable company offering basic cable (anolgue) for 30.00 a month. The dtv package with box not including HD can be 50.00 or more . THEREFORE cable companies charging for dtv and hd will cost you.
When the conversion happens in aug 2011 what happens .
1) Do i get digital picture for free
2) Cable companies are billing you for dtv – in 2011 what happens , no more billing for digital tv which means loss of income for cable companies.
3) Will cable companies hike up the basic cable bill which in 2011 will be digital.
So do i need a box from the cable company to receive dtv or will they hike up the cost of cable tv to retain there revenue.
yes hd can be free ota , but in small towns you may not receive reception even with those hd attennas that are for sale currently in the market. thx please respond
Mike. I don’t work for a cable company, so I can’t answer your questions.