TORONTO-Financially strapped Canadian wireless carrier Microcell Telecommunications said two of its rivals are poaching its customers and has asked Canada’s telephone regulator to order a cease and desist of the marketing practices.
A complaint filed with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission alleged that Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility began offering wireless-service promotions in July that are unfair and unjustly discriminate against Montreal-based Microcell.
The promotions, promising substantially reduced wireless service rates, specifically target Microcell customers, through a combination of mobile spam messages, telemarketing calls, print ads and flyers.
“These statements (by Rogers and Bell Mobility) have a potentially highly negative impact on Microcell’s sales and degrade Microcell’s corporate image in the minds of consumers,” said the carrier in its complaint.
Rogers and Bell Mobility have 30 days to respond. In addition to a cease-and-desist order, Microcell is asking any Fido customer lured into a long-term contract with its two rivals be allowed to move back to the Fido service without penalty.
