 Review by HiVolt 
UPDATED: 264 days ago
member for 7.6 years, 3869 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Toronto, ON
 $35 per month
 about 2 days
 Bell Canada
 "If you are in ADSL2+ area, you can get some nice speeds"
 "Caps, P2P throttling, invisible ceiling for remaining unlimited customers, dishonest support"
 "Its basically for lite users these days. If you are into multimedia, go elsewhere."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Update Dec9/2007
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Well, for a change Bell did something right. I cancelled my service on Nov9, and had to go thru the 30 days notice BS, so my account cancellation was supposed to be Dec9, today. And like clockwork, after midnight I was no longer able to retrieve my sympatico mail or use my b1 login. So it looks like the account was properly closed. At least I hope so, and I won't see any funny charges on my card.
So it ends here, I hope. I will update if there are any negative developments.
Update Nov 9/2007
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Goodbye Bell. I cancelled today. Reasons for doing so?
#1. They screwed me on the ADSL2+ upgrade in September
#2. Put me on a 60GB cap, despite the CSR saying I will stay unlimited
#3. Dishonest Business Office agents, on three ocassions said I had unlimited, yet I got charged for going over.
#4. Throttling P2P in peak hours
#5. Can be blacklisted for abuse and not be able to sign on with a 3rd party
I've been on Bell since July 2003, since they abolished the caps. I've had no service related issues, and I give Bell credit for that, if you read my updates below. But Bell's actions over the past two months have turned me from a happy customer to an ex-customer.
Update Oct 2/2007
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I tried to upgrade to Total Internet Performance (7meg), and i was told that I can easily get 7 or even the 16meg plan. Well the date came and went and all they did was switch my line port at the CO and slapped me on 1meg profile. I had that fixed soon, but no ADSL2+ for me. I'm pissed because they happily sold it to me, and if I ordered 16meg it would have been the same thing. I'm also pissed the ADSL2+ remote on the street has been installed for a YEAR now, and it's still not active. I've been a customer for nearly 5 years, but my patience is starting to wear thin...
Update Feb 7/2007
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Service is still solid, no performance or line problems. Helps to be a stone's throw away from the remote.  Bell has introduced a 30GB Cap for new customers, however existing customers have been left on unlimited for now. We'll see what happens in the coming months with the cap situation.
Update Oct 10/2006
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No issues, things are working fine here.
Update Jan 6/2005
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No problems, just motoring along.
Update Oct 13/2005
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Aside from the DNS server problems which have been plaguing Sympatico all year, everything has been ok otherwise with using alternative DNS servers. A 5056/800 upgrade was applied in August bumping the speeds a 100KB/sec to 525KB/sec. Not bad.
Update Mar 28/2005
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Still going strong with Sympatico, I've had no real issues, and still to this day have not called tech support. Thats pretty damn good given that its been 1-1/2 years now. But I also live about a minute away from the RemoteCO, so my line is as perfect as they get. Sympatico has to get their speeds back up, Ultra is $15 more than Rogers Extreme, and much slower.
Update Sept 17/2004
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Over a year's time with Sympatico, still haven't had to call tech support. And that's the way I like it! SpeedStream 6300 modem/wireless router is kickass (with the right firmware).
Update May 20/2004
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Still smooth sailing as far as the connection goes. I've recently upgraded to the new SpeedStream 6300 modem/wireless router, which has been great, extremely stable. Had a small billing snafu, but they corrected that in no time.
Update Mar 14/2004
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Well, I did get upgraded, but its a little disappointing. Bell's advertised upgrade from 3mbps to 4mbps is anything but. The old 3mbps was synching at 3488, so they were taking into account the overheads, and the speeds you got after were close to 3mbps. Now they just advertise the sync rate for the 4mbps plan, which is 4032. Real speeds are in the 3400kbps range, which is not a very good improvement, especially compared to regular HSE which got a bigger boost, not to mention the same upload speed as ultra. Hope Bell will upgrade us a bit more in the future.
Update Feb 4/2004
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Over 6 months with Sympatico now, no problems. Very happy. I'm just waiting for the 4meg upgrades due in Feb/March. Will post when upgraded.
Update Nov 26/2003
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Still a smooth ride, no connection or speed issues. The web based email has always been slow since I signed up, they seem to ignore it, despite of many people's concern. But it's not my primary email so its not that big of an issue...
Update Oct 3/2003
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I got a pleasant surprise a couple weeks ago, it seems my profile has been mistakenly upgraded to 3000/640, identical to HSE Ultra. I am getting 2975/675 speeds and its kicking butt. I hope they don't realize their mistake and my bill stays for regular HSE! Thanks Bell!
Update Aug 16/2003
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Been exactly a month. No real service interruptions, aside from a massive scheduled Cisco router firmware upgrade (exploit fix) only a couple days after I got the service. Other than that, service has been great, stable pings and speeds.
July 15/2003
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Just got sync today. I am on the new 1.5/320 profile, fastpath. So far so good, 1475/325 speed tests, good pings. Got a great deal from Bell. Will post updates in the future.
Followup comments:  edinburgh
join:2007-01-04
Stratford, ON
| Intermittent e-mail problem For over a month I have been having intermittent problems sending e-mail, at the moment I can send most of the day but by evening I get a Ox800CCC79 error which I gather thinks all my messages are spam. Next morning I can send again. If it's not antispam measures it may be modum which is old or server. When I was on to customer service the person said he couldn't log on with my password ID etc, and he noticed that I seemed to getting reduced power whatever that means. I am very pleased with my computer speed and only have this one issue, I have been considering putting the tower into the shop but I'm not sure that would help in this case. | |
| bohn
join:2006-05-30
Scarborough, ON | I don't sign contracts just autographs Was those comments part of your month to month contract? Did they make you do it? I see someone got a big boost in speed. Did you ask them about Aliant out east? | |
| newf
join:2007-09-11
Brampton, ON
 ·Bell Sympatico
| Patience said by HiVolt :
I tried to upgrade to Total Internet Performance (7meg), and i was told that I can easily get 7 or even the 16meg plan. Well the date came and went and all they did was switch my line port at the CO and slapped me on 1meg profile. I had that fixed soon, but no ADSL2+ for me. I'm pissed because they happily sold it to me, and if I ordered 16meg it would have been the same thing. I'm also pissed the ADSL2+ remote on the street has been installed for a YEAR now, and it's still not active. I've been a customer for nearly 5 years, but my patience is starting to wear thin...
Welcome to my world. I suspect BS knows that once your patience is exhausted you'll likely just move along and aren't too concerned. They may lose some customers by lying to them and jerking them around but a lot will just suck it up and, as P.T. Barnum is accused of having said: "there's a sucker born every minute". | |
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Bellunder
@bell.ca | Re: Patience I had my doubts if you worked for bell or not but gladly i see you don't. | |
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HiVolt
Premium
join:2000-12-28
Toronto, ON
clubs: | Re: Patience said by Bellunder :
I had my doubts if you worked for bell or not but gladly i see you don't.
Hehe.. No I have never worked for Bell, why did you think I did?
--
GO LEAFS GO! | |
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woweeee
@videotron.ca | I'm rather surprised, I truly am... wonder if cigar will follow as well. | |
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macedon
Jazz me baby
Premium
join:2006-02-12
Canada
clubs:
| Re: wow what a journey.. said by The Flash :I think I can sum up your experience...  ->  ->  ->  ->  ->  interesting that you kept updating your review, once a happy customer turns into a disappointed one. I smell Teksavvy for you next? lol that`s my trend line as well
I enjoyed reading your review HiVolt | |
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HiVolt
Premium
join:2000-12-28
Toronto, ON
clubs: | Re: wow what a journey.. Hehe, you smelled correctly. I signed up for Teksavvy to be activated on Dec.9th, when Bell is supposed to be cancelled. I hope Bell doesn't screw up the transition.
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GO LEAFS GO! | |
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