In a stunning example of corporate greed and arrogance, COGECO sent a technician to my home on May 31, 2007 to serve me with a ‘Partial Disconnection Notice.’ This was the first time I had been contacted by COGECO to tell me that I would be charged more money for the service I was receiving.

The company claims that I have been receiving certain Basic Cable channels as part “of a technical error.” Translated, that means that COGECO has made the changes to the policies first, then allows a month or two to pass, and then claims that you will no longer receive them at the current price. In other words, COGECO changes the rules and then informs you that you are not in compliance. It’s basically a price increase by default.
The technician/salesperson, sporting a fluorescent bib, leather gloves, a pouch of tools and dark sunglasses, politely informed me that some of the channels I was receiving under ‘Basic Cable’ would now become part of the ‘Variety Value Pack,’ and that all I had to do was authorize the extra charges, and he would go on his way. Otherwise, he would disconnect the channels that are no longer covered under ‘Basic Cable’ which include: channels 31, 32, 33, 39, 52, and perhaps some others I haven’t yet noticed.
Here’s the bad news. I currently pay $26.50 + taxes per month for ‘Basic Cable.’ Under the new system, I would now be charged $43.99 + taxes for the first 12 months. Folks, that’s an increase of $17.49 per month or an increase of 66%!
COGECO is the company that sent me an information package last month showing me ways in which I could save money by combining cable, phone and Internet services, proudly proclaiming that “Life’s Better with Cable.” Whose life, COGECO shareholders or mine?
The hypocrisy is beyond belief. This latest initiative is a disingenuous example of price gouging, taking advantage of the fact that cable services are basically a monopoly, and citizens can’t just pick up the phone and call another cable company.
Approaching people at their homes during the supper hour with tool kit in hand, threatening to immediately disconnect part of their cable service amounts to intimidation and disrespect. I had been watching a tournament on the Golf Channel, and when I declined this outrageous increase, I saw the technician on my lawn moments later, disconnecting the above mentioned channels, including the Golf Channel that reverted to a blank screen. This action illustrates the real corporate image that is behind COGECO and so many other companies.
Do they really have the customers’ interest and welfare at heart? Do they really want to ‘save’ customers money? I think the answer is obvious.
I don’t know about you, but I am unwilling to pay 66% more for my television cable service, and have refused the offer. If thousands of people did the same, maybe COGECO would have to get off its high horse.
We need the federal government to keep companies like COGECO in check, or they will continue to gouge us at every turn. COGECO acts as a monopoly and in these situations where there is no alternative cable service, the federal government and the CRTC must insist on reasonable increases in keeping with inflation.