www.ccts-cprst.ca | [email protected] | 1-888-221-1687
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www.ccts-cprst.ca | [email protected] | 1-888-221-1687
www.ccts-cprst.ca | [email protected] | 1-888-221-1687 CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TableofContents TABLE OF CONTENTS one Message from the Chair of the Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 two Message from the Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 three Who We Are and What We Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 OurMandate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 OurComplaintsProcess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 four 2009–2010 Highlights – The Year in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 FinancialHighlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 five Participating Service Providers (as of 31 July 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 six Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 HowConsumersContactedUs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 AggregateData(August1,2009–July31,2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Contacts–ParticipatingServiceProviders–OutsideofMandate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Contacts–Non-ParticipatingServiceProviders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 NatureofComplaints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 ComplaintsbyTypeofService . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 SummaryofComplaintsbyServiceProvider(2009–2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 NatureofComplaintsbyServiceProvider(2009–2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 CCTSWebsiteTraffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 ComplaintsbyProvinceandTerritory(2009–2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 seven Topics and Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 UnderstandYourTelecomContract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 CaseStudy#1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 CaseStudy#2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 CaseStudy#3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 NumberPortability–SometimesNotasEasyasitLooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 CaseStudy#1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 CaseStudy#2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 NumberPortability–There’sACatch! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 PremiumTextMessages(ShortCodes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 eight Our Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 IndependentDirectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 IndustryDirectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 nine Director Biographies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 ten How to Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 2 CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 MessagefromtheChairoftheBoardofDirectors 3 ONE MESSAgE FROM THE CHAiR OF THE BOARD OF DiRECTORS, MARY M. gUSELLA On behalf of the Board of Directors, Iampleasedto presentthethirdannualreportofCCTS,anagencythat providesconsumersoftelecommunicationsservicesin Canadawithrecoursefortheindependentresolutionof theircomplaints .Thisreportcoversthesecondyearsince theappointmentofthepermanentBoardofDirectorsin June2008 . Asoutlinedinthisreport,thenumberofcommunications fromconsumershasrisen150%overthepastyear .The numberofcomplaintsreceivedandresolvedhasalso increasedsubstantially .Thepublicawarenesscampaign launchedincooperationwithparticipatingservice providersishelpingconsumerstolearnaboutCCTS andhowtocontactus,especiallywhentheydiscovera problemorconcern .Weintendtocontinueoureffortsto achievegreaterconsumerawarenessofourorganization . describestherightsandresponsibilitiesofprovidersand customersinrelationtodepositsanddisconnections . Despiteconsiderableworkandconsultationswith consumergroupsandindustryparticipants,itwas notpossibletoachieveagreementonsuchaCode . Nevertheless,theexerciseprovedavaluableonein assessingCCTS’scapacitytoundertakethisnewkind ofrole,inadditiontoitscentraldisputeresolutionrole . Finally,whenCCTSwascreatedbyCRTCDecisionin December2007,theCommissionpromiseda“three-year review,”whichisnowuponus .OnApril30,2010,the Commissioncommencedapublicproceedingtoreview allaspectsofCCTSoperations,includinganassessment oftheeffectivenessofCCTSandadeterminationof whethertocontinuetherequirementformandatory membershipofcertainserviceproviders .InJunea numberofinterestedpartiesprovidedwrittencomments, AttheoutsettheBoardrecognizedthattheProcedural includingprovidersandconsumergroups .Despitethe Coderequiredreforminordertopromotetimely, widelydivergentviewsamongstakeholdersaboutso effectiveresolutionofcomplaints, manytelecommunications andsolaunchedaBoard-led issues,wewerepleased reviewoftheCodetoidentify thatthecommentswere opportunitiesforstreamliningits weintendtocontinue supportiveoftheeffectiveness complainthandlingprocesses . ofCCTSinitsmainareaof oureffortstoachieve RevisionstotheProceduralCode operations:disputeresolution . greaterconsumer wereapprovedbytheBoardin Apublichearingwillbeheldin April2010andwentintoeffect awarenessofour November2010withadecision June1,2010 . expectedinlateDecember . organization. Thiswillbeaseminalmoment CCTSrepresentsanewdispute inourbriefhistory . resolutionmodelthatoperatesin thepublicinterestyetoutsidegovernmentprocessesand Weareproudofourachievementstodate,andwe withoutgovernmentfunding .Thegovernanceofsucha arealsomindfuloftheamountofworkthatliesahead . stakeholder-ledandindustry-fundedorganizationisvital Asnotedabove,theBoardofDirectorsapproveda toitssuccess .Accordingly,theCCTSBoardestablished formalexpressionofourMission,VisionandValues . aGovernanceCommitteethathasbeenworkingoverthe OurMissionistoprovideoutstandingdisputeresolution pastyeartoconstructitsgovernanceinfrastructure .The servicestoCanadianconsumersandtelecomproviders, BoardofDirectorsalsoconductedastrategicplanning andwehopetocontinuetopursuethisgoalwithvigour exerciseand,inDecember2009,confirmedCCTS’s andprofessionalism . Mission,VisionandValues . OtherhighlightsoftheyearincludetheBoard’s acceptanceinFebruary2010ofarequestfromthe CanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunications Commission(CRTC)toworkwithitsparticipatingservice providerstodevelopanindustryCodeofConductthat CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Messagefromthe Commissioner 4 TWO MESSAgE FROM THE COMMiSSiONER, HOWARD MAkER in the year just concluded,wefocusedontwospecific objectives:toimprovetheserviceweprovidetoconsumers andserviceproviders,andtobroadenconsumer awarenessabouttheavailabilityofourservice .We succeededthisyearonbothcounts .Itistemptingtosay thatwe“accomplished”theseobjectives .Butthesearenot objectivesthatcanbe“accomplished .”Thattermimplies agoalthatcanbecompletedandtickedoffthelist .These objectivesdonotfitthatcategory .Wecan(andshould) alwaysstrivetoimprovewhatwedoandhowwedoit . Likewise,organizationslikeoursfaceuniquechallenges inensuringthatconsumersknowaboutusandhowwe canhelpthem .ButIampleasedtosaythatwehavemade greatstridestowardsmeetingtheseobjectives . Inearly2010welaunchedournewwebsite,completewith ournewlogoandnewtagline,“Let’sTalkSolutions .”Our focusoncomplaintresolutionwheneverpossiblehasmet withaverypositiveresponsefrombothcustomersand serviceproviders .Ithasalsoallowedustoresolvemore complaints,andtodosomorequickly .In2009–2010we received3,747complaints(16%morethanlastyear)and processed3,522ofthem—anincreaseofover500from theyearbefore .Thismeansthatwecompleted94%of theworkthatcametous,anenviablerate .Ofthe3,522 fileswehandledtoconclusion,weachievedaresolution satisfactorytobothpartiesin84%ofcases,ofwhich roughly65%tookplacewithin30days . Weredesignedourwebsitetoallowconsumerstolearn moreaboutus .Werewroteallofthecontent,andadded newcontent,inanefforttoprovideconsumerswith relevantinformationaboutus .Wealsoimprovedouronline complaintform,tomakeiteveneasierforcustomerstofile theircomplaints . Ourparticipatingserviceprovidersarealsodoingtheirpart toraiseourpublicprofile .Themosteffectivemeasurehas beenthebiannualbillmessagesthattheprovidersare usingtoinformtheircustomersaboutCCTS .Largespikes inthenumberofcallsreceivedbyourcallcentrecoincided withtheissuanceofthesemessagesbythelarger providers .Althoughnotallofthesecallershadacomplaint tomake,ineverycasewetooktheopportunitytoinform themaboutourrole .Inadditiontothebillmessages,the providersagreedtomakeprescribedinformationaboutus, includingourcontactinformation,availabletocustomers ontheirwebsitesandintheir“whitepages”directories . InordertofurtherenhanceconsumeraccessibilitytoCCTS, effectiveJune1,2010ourBoardofDirectorsadoptedsome amendmentstoourProceduralCode,thedocumentthat describesourmandateandtheextentofourauthorityto resolvedisputes .Weclarifiedsomelanguageandmade somechangesdesignedtoenhancethereadabilityof theCode,itsinclusivenessanditstone .Inparticular,we amendedthestandardofreviewtoprovideCCTSwithsome additionaltoolstoassistusindealingwithcomplaints . Forthefirsttime,overhalfofthecomplaintsweaccepted dealtwithonelineofbusiness:wirelessservices .We receivedmorethantwiceasmanycomplaintsabout wirelessaswedidforanyotherlineofbusiness .This shouldnotreallybeasurprise .Thewirelessbusinesshas thehighestrateofgrowth,thegreatestpaceofchange,and thegreatestdegreeofcomplexity–atleastataretaillevel . Withtherecentlaunchofnewwirelessserviceproviders, andtheanticipatedentryofevenmorecarriersinthenear future,wecanexpectthistrendtocontinue . WeareheadingintoareviewbytheCanadianRadiotelevisionandTelecommunicationsCommission(CRTC) thisfall .WearehopefulthattheCRTCwillagreethatwe arefulfillingtheobjectivesdescribedfirstinthereport oftheTelecommunicationsPolicyReviewPanel,thenin anOrder-In-Council(P .C .2007-533),andfinallyintwo CRTCDecisions(2007-130and2008-46)–specifically tobringindependent,impartialandeffectivedispute resolutionservicestoconsumersintheunregulated telecommunicationssector . IoffermysincerethankstothemembersofourBoardof Directors,andinparticularourChair,MaryGusella,for theirconsistentandunwaveringsupport .AndIconclude withanoteaboutourstaff .Weinsistthatouremployees bringspecialattributestotheorganization—aninterestin telecom,adesiretoworkwithpeople,andapassionfor fairness .Icansaywithoutfearofcontradictionthatthe membersofourstaffhavedistinguishedthemselvesthis yearbyprovidingsuperbservicetoour customers .Itistheir efforts,aboveall,towhichthesuccessofCCTSthisyear shouldbecredited .Thankyouforallofyourworkonbehalf ofourcustomers . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 WhoWeAreandWhatWeDo 5 ThrEE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO CCTS is an independent organizationdedicatedtoworkingwithconsumerandsmallbusinesscustomersand participatingCanadiantelecommunicationserviceproviderstoresolvecomplaintsrelatingtomostderegulatedretail telecommunicationsservices .Westrivetoassistcustomersandserviceprovidersinanindependent,fair,effective andefficientmanner,afterdirectcommunicationbetweenacustomerandaserviceproviderhasprovenineffective . OUR MANDATE Weareabletoassistcustomerswithawiderangeofcomplaintsaboutproductsandservicesofferedinthe telecommunicationssectorincluding: Home Telephone Long Distance telephone services (including prepaid calling cards) Wired and wireless internet access services Wireless services (including voice, data, and text) White page directories, Directory assistance, and Operator services Weareabletoassistwithmosttypesofproblemsthatcanarisebetweenacustomerandhisorherserviceprovider, including: Compliance with contract terms and commitments – for example, complaints about whether there is a contract, what is included in a contract or how the contract should be interpreted, or whether the provider’s conduct meets its contractual obligations, or misunderstandings about the particulars of a contract or term; Billing disputes and errors – for example, complaints about customers having agreed to one price and subsequently being charged more, being overcharged due to either a billing system error or a price that is different than advertised, or being billed for per-use services that they claim they did not use; Service delivery – for example, complaints about the installation, repair or disconnection of service, including the quality of the service or unreasonable interruptions to service; Credit management – for example, complaints about security deposits, payment arrangements and collections treatment of customer accounts; and, Unauthorized transfer of service (“slamming”) – for example, complaints about a customer’s service being transferred from one provider to another without the customer’s consent. Afewservicesandissuesareexcludedfromourmandate . Pleaseseewww .ccts-cprst .ca/en/complaints/mandateforfulldetails . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 WhoWeAreandWhatWeDo 6 OUR COMPLAiNTS PROCESS wearealwaysexaminingourcomplainthandling processtoensurethatitisthorough,fairand efficient.ourprocessworkslikethis: 1 Assessment Whenwereceiveacomplaint,wereviewittodetermine whetheritfallswithinourmandate .Ifso,weforward acopytotheserviceprovider .Weaskittoattemptto resolvethematterwiththecustomerandreportbackto uswithin30days . Whentheserviceproviderresponds,weevaluatethe responseanddeterminewhetherthecomplainthasbeen resolvedtothesatisfactionofthecustomer .Thisisthe stageatwhichthemajorityofcomplaintsareresolved . Whenacomplaintremainsunresolvedwewillassessits complexity,theamountofadditionalinformationthatmay berequired,andthelikelihoodofsuccessfullyresolving thematterinformally . 2 resolution Complaintsthatappeartobeamenabletoinformal resolutionareassignedtoamemberofourstaffwhowill workwiththecustomerandtheserviceprovidertoarrive atapromptresolutionofthedispute .Wewillnormally requestadditionalinformationanddocumentationfrom bothpartiestoeffectively“mediate”aresolution .Manyof thesecomplaintsareresolvedtothesatisfactionofboth partiesatthisstage . 3 investigation Complaintsthatraiseparticularlychallengingissuesor areotherwiseespeciallycomplexwillbeinvestigated . Duringaninvestigation,wewillrequestadditional informationordocumentationfromoneorbothpartiesto helpdeterminewhethertheserviceproviderreasonably performeditsobligationspursuanttothetermsofthe contractbetweenitandthecustomer .Throughoutthe investigation,wemayalsoattempttoinformallymediate aresolutionofthedispute . Acomplaintcanberejectedordismissedatanystage oftheinvestigation/resolutionprocessshouldwe determinethattheprovideractedreasonablyinfulfilling itsobligationsunderthecontract,orthatithastaken reasonablestepstoresolvethecomplaint,evenifthis resolutionisnotacceptabletothecustomer . 4 recommendation Uponcompletinganinvestigation,wecanmakeawritten Recommendationfortheresolutionofthecomplaint, basedonouranalysisofitsmerits .Wemayrecommend thattheserviceprovidertakesomeactionorrefrainfrom takingsomeaction(forexample,correctionofabilling error,connectionordisconnectionofservice,waiver ofcharges,collectionsactivity) .Orperhapssomething simple,likeanapologyoranexplanation,mayprovide thenecessaryredress .Wemayalsorecommendthat theserviceprovidermakeapaymenttothecustomer ascompensationforanyloss,damageorinconvenience sufferedbythecustomerarisingdirectlyfromthefacts disclosedbythecomplaint(toamaximumof$5,000) . Ourprocessprovidesboththecustomerandtheservice providerwithsometimetoconsidertheRecommendation anddeterminewhethertoacceptorrejectit . 5 Decision Ifeitherthecustomerortheserviceproviderrejects theRecommendation,weaskthemtoexplainwhyso thatwecanreconsidertheRecommendationinlight oftheircontinuingconcerns .Wewillconsiderthe reasonsforrejectingtheRecommendation,andthen issueaDecision .IntheDecision,theCommissioner maymaintaintheRecommendation,ormaymodifyor changeitifheconcludesthatthereissubstantialdoubt astothecorrectnessoftheoriginalRecommendation . IftheDecisionisacceptedbythecustomer,it becomesbindingontheserviceproviderandmustbe implemented .However,thecustomerisentitledto rejecttheDecision .Ifthecustomerdoesso,theservice providerisnotrequiredtocarryitout,andthecustomer retainsalloftheusuallegalrightsandremediesandis freetopursuethem . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 WhoWeAreandWhatWeDo 7 COMPLAiNT PROCESS FLOW CHART Theflowchartbelowshowsthestagesofourcomplaint-handlingprocess . CustomersubmitsComplAint insufficient information Key information missing from complaint, file on hold until customer responds. Complaint Resolved Complaint resolved between customer and provider after CCTS involvement. Complaint Resolved CCTS successfully “mediates” an informal resolution. ASSESSMENT CCTS determines whether complaint is in mandate. Complaint Accepted Complaint forwarded to the provider which has 30 days to respond. RESOLUTiON Complaint remains unresolved. CCTS collects information from both parties and attempts informal resolution. iNVESTigATiON Complaint Resolved Analysis of evidence facilitates resolution of complaint. Complaint remains unresolved. CCTS analyzes evidence provided. Recommendation Accepted Both customer and service provider accept recommendation. Complaint cannot be resolved and no basis for closure. CCTS issues recommendation to parties proposing resolution. Decision accepted Customer accepts Decision and service provider is bound to implement its terms. Complaint Out of Scope Complaint outside of mandate and referred to appropriate organization where possible. Complaint Closed Service provider made a reasonable offer or clear that provider met its obligations to the customer. Complaint Closed Analysis of evidence demonstrates provider met its obligation or reasonable offer is made. RECOMMENDATiON DECiSiON One or both parties rejects the recommendation. CCTS issues a Decision. Decision rejected Customer rejects Decision and is free to pursue other remedies. Service provider released from Decision. CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 2009–2010Highlights–TheYearinReview 8 FOUr 2009–2010 HigHLigHTS – THE YEAR iN REViEW successfulimplementationofpublicawarenessplan, includingournewandimprovedwebsiteandonlinecomplainttool Thisyearweputintoplaceapublicawarenessprogram designedtoinformconsumersaboutCCTSandmake iteasiertocommunicatewithus .Tothatend,we completelyrebuiltourwebsite .Werewrotetheexisting contentandaddednewcontent,designedtooffer informationtoconsumersaboutallaspectsofCCTS . Weimprovedouronlinecomplaintformandprocess sothatcustomerscaneasilygettheircomplaintsand relateddocumentationtousquicklyandsecurely .And wecompletelyre-styledthesitetomakeitmorevisually appealinganduser-friendly . Wearealsoattemptingtoincreaseawarenessby providingCCTSinformationtootherpartiestowhich consumersmayturnwithtelecommunications complaints .Wecreatedabrochureanddelivereditboth electronicallyandinhardcopytoeverysittingmemberof federal,provincialandterritoriallegislatures,aswellas toServiceCanadaandtheOfficeofConsumerAffairs . Ourparticipatingserviceprovidershaveplaced prescribedinformationaboutCCTSintheir“whitepages” directories,biannuallyontheircustomerbills,andalso ontheirwebsites,describingtheavailabilityofCCTSand howwecanbereached .Theyhavealsoplacedontheir sitesthedetailsoftheirinternalcomplaint-handling processes,inorderthatcustomerscanfollowthe progressoftheircomplaintwithinthecompany . Raisingpublicawarenessisafull-timejob,and wearecommittedtocontinuingoureffortsinthis importantobjective . moreconsumerscanaccessCCtsservice—over90serviceprovidersand brandsnowparticipate ThisyearwehaveseenadditionalprovidersjoinCCTS . Welistonourwebsiteallofthenamesandbrands theyusetodeliverproductsandservicestoCanadians (www .ccts-cprst .ca/en/complaints/service-providers) . ThenumberofCanadianconsumerswhohaveaccessto ourservicescontinuestogrow . ourstatisticsdemonstratetheeffectivenessofourpublicawareness initiativesandtheefficiencyofourprocesses • Thenumberofpubliccontactswereceivedincreased byover150%—thisislargelyaresultoftheproviders’ billmessages,whichcausedadramaticincreaseinthe numberoftelephonecallsreceivedfromconsumers . • Thenumberofcomplaintsweacceptedincreased byover16%—wedidnotexpandourmandate,so thisrepresentsmorecustomersmakinguseof theprocess . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 2009–2010Highlights–TheYearinReview • Thenumberofcomplaintswehandledintheyear increasedbyover17% . • 94%ofcomplaintswereceivedwerefullyprocessedthis year .Improvementsintheefficiencyofourprocesses andtheadditionofstaffhaveallowedustohandlemore complaintsthanlastyearandtomorepromptlyprocess complaintsreceived . • Ofthe3,522complaintsprocessed,84%wereresolved betweenthepartiesafterthecomplaintcametoCCTS . Over65%wereresolvedpromptlyatthefirststage, usuallywithin30days . 9 • Ofthosecompletedlaterintheprocessatthe “Investigation”stage,over66%wereinformally resolvedtothesatisfactionofthecustomerand providerthroughtheeffortsofCCTSstaff . • Ofthe22formalRecommendationsweissued,18(82%) wereacceptedbybothparties .Wewererequiredto issueonly4Decisions .Thisrateofacceptanceofour Recommendationsshowsthatconsumersandproviders respectthefairnessandindependenceoftheprocess andtheoutcomes . CCtsstaffgrowsinordertoaccommodatetheincreasedvolumeofcallsand complaints–leasedadditionalofficespace Thisyearweadded4callcentreagentsandtwo ComplaintsResolutionOfficerstoourstaff .In mid-yearwewerepresentedwiththeopportunitytolease dditionalofficespacecontiguoustoourexistingspace, a andourBoardauthorizedtheexpenditure . AmendedproceduralCode OurProceduralCodegovernsthewayinwhichwedeal withcomplaints .EffectiveJune1,2010wemadea numberofchangestotheCodedesignedtomakeitmore inclusiveandaccessibletoconsumers,tomakeitmore balancedintoneandcontent,tosimplifycertaintimelines andtoclarifyanddefinethemeaningofcertainterms . Thisisaveryimportantaccomplishment . Amongthemostnoteworthychangesare: • TheamendmentsnowformallyreflectthatCCTS willuseinformalresolutionprocessestoaddress complaints,whileretainingthemoreformalprocedures forthoseexceptionalcasesthatrequirethem . • The“standardofreview”thatweapplywhen investigatingcomplaintsiswhethertheservice providerreasonablyperformeditsobligationsunder thecontractwiththecustomer .However,amendments havebeenmadetospecificallyauthorizeCCTSto considerwhethertheserviceproviderfollowed itsusualpoliciesandoperatingproceduresinits dealingswiththecustomer .Inaddition,incasesin whichwedeterminethatnocontractualagreement wasreached,orthecontractissilent,unclearor ambiguous,CCTSisnowspecificallyauthorizedto considergeneralprinciplesoflaw,goodindustry practice,relevantcodesofconductorpractice,and “whatisfairandreasonableinthecircumstancesof thecomplaint .” CustomizedADrtraining Weretainedawell-respectedfirmwithexpertisein alternativedisputeresolutiontocustomizeanddeliver atrainingprogramtoallCCTSstaff .Theobjectivewas toprovideourstaffwiththetoolsandresourcestodeal withtheircomplaint-handlinganddisputeresolution rolesmosteffectively,efficientlyandprofessionally .The programwasdeliveredover2daysinMay2010,andwas extremelywell-received . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 2009–2010Highlights–TheYearinReview 10 Casemanagementsystemupgrade Ourcurrentcasemanagementsystempreventsusfrom performingthekindofstatisticalanalysisthatwewould liketodo .Webelievethatoureffectivenesswouldbe enhancedbybeingabletoprovidemorespecificdata aboutthedifferentservices,andtheuniquecomplaint issuesthatarisewithrespecttoeachofthem,aswellas theonesthatarecommontoallofthem . WearecurrentlynegotiatingwithITvendorstoperform anupgradeofoursystemtoenhanceitscapacities .We arehopefulthatthiswillbecompletebythetimeofour nextAnnualReport . newfundingformula Startinginthethirdquarterof2009–2010,wemodified theformulabywhichtheparticipatingserviceproviders fundouroperations .Wehaveputinplaceanew“hybrid” formulathatincludesboth: a . afeebasedontherevenuesgeneratedbyeach providerfromderegulatedretailtelecommunications services(asaproportionoftherevenuesgeneratedby allparticipatingserviceproviders);and Themainobjectiveofthischangeistorequirethe providersthatgeneratemostofthecomplaintstofund mostoftheoperations .Wearehopefulthatthiswill havetheeffectofencouragingproviderstoresolvemore oftheircomplaints“inhouse”inhopesofavoidingthe additionalcostofhavingthemcometoCCTS . b . afeewhicheachproviderpaysbasedonthenumber ofcomplaintsCCTSreceivesfromitscustomers . FiNANCiAL HigHLigHTS TheCCTSbudgetfor2009–2010wasapproximately $2 .1million,comparedtothe$1 .9millioncollectedfrom participatingserviceprovidersin2008–2009 .Inadditionto ournormaloperatingandgovernanceexpenses,specific budgetaryallocationsweremadeforprojectsthatour BoardofDirectorsfelttobeofprimaryimportance: • ourpublicawarenessactivities,includingtheredesign ofourwebsiteandonlinecomplainttool,andthe widedistributionofourcommunicationsmaterials toindividualsandorganizationstowhomdissatisfied consumersmightreachout,includingelectedofficials andgovernment; • theexpansionofourofficespacetoaccommodatethe staffgrowthmadenecessarybytheincreasednumber ofcontactsandcomplaints; • customizedtrainingforourstaffintechniquesof alternativedisputeresolution;and • consultingfeesrelatedtotheformalizationofour humanresourcesinfrastructureandourfinance functions,andrelatedtooureffortstodevelopa CodeofConductfordepositsanddisconnections, asrequestedbytheCRTC . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 ParticipatingServiceProviders(asof31July2010) 11 FIVE PARTiCiPATiNg SERViCE PROViDERS (AS OF 31 JULY 2010) Belowisanalphabeticallistofourparticipatingserviceprovidersandthemanybrandnamesbywhichtheyareknown . Complaintsaboutservicesprovidedunderanyofthesenamesareeligibleforourcomplaintservice . 1010580 DeltaCable Phonetime 3Web Distributel PremiereConferencingCanada 450Tel DrydenMobility PremiereGlobalServices 768812OntarioInc . Eastlink Primus Àdimensionhumaine ENMAX QuinteLongDistance AccessCommunications Envision Rogers AllCommunicationsNetworkof Canada(ACNCanada) ExaTEL SaskTel Execulink SearsConnect AmericaTel Fido Shaw Amtelecom Galilée SimcoeCountyLongDistance AtriaNetworks GlobalCrossingTelecommunications Canada Sogetel BayCommunications BellAliant GlobaliveCommunications SpeakTelecom BellCanada Globalstar Startec BlinkCommunications GlobilityCommunications StraightofCansoCable BMIInternet GroupofGoldLine TataCommunications BraggCommunications HalifaxCablevision TBayTel BruceMunicipalTelephoneSystem K-RightCommunications Télébec BruceTelecom Koodo Telehop CablevisiondunordduQuébec Lepigeonvoyageur Telizon CallSelect LooneyCall TELUS CanadaDirect LuckyCall TeraGoNetworks CanadaPayphoneCorporation MCICanada Uniserve Canopco MountainCablevision VancouverTelephoneCompany Caztel MTSAllstream VerizonCanada CDTel NetReach VianetInternetSolutions Cheetah NorthernTel VideotronLtd . CityfoneTelecommunications Northwestel VirginMobileCanada CoastCable OneConnectServices VonageCanada Cogeco Ontera Win-tel CogecoDataServices OpcomHospitalitySolutions WINDMobile CogentCanada People’sTelGP YakCommunications CybersurfInternetAccess PersonaCommunications Solo CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 12 SIx STATiSTiCS We are pleased to present our statistics for 2009–2010,providedbelowonanaggregatebasisaswellasona provider-specificbasis . DEFiNiTiONS inordertofullyunderstandthedatabeingprovided,familiaritywiththeterminologythatweuseis essential.inparticular,itisimportanttounderstandhowwedefine“Contact,”“Complaint,”“resolved,” “Closed,”“recommendation,”and“Decision.”thesetermsarepresentedintheorderinwhichthey ariseduringourprocessandtheorderinwhichtheyappearinourstatistics. Contact AcontactisanycommunicationbyamemberofthepublicwithCCTSbyphone,fax,mail, emailorwebform,aslongasthecommunicationdoesnotrelatetoacomplaintthatwehave alreadyaccepted .Acontactthatescalatesintoacomplaintisstillconsideredacontact . Complaint Acomplaintthatwehavereceived,reviewedandfoundtobewithinourmandate . Resolved hecomplaintwasinformallyresolvedwiththeassistanceofaCCTSteammembertothe T satisfactionofboththecustomerandtheparticipatingserviceprovider . Closed hecomplaintwasfullyinvestigatedandsubsequentlyclosed .Acomplaintmaybeclosed T fordifferentreasons,including: • T heserviceproviderhascorrectedtheproblemand/orprovidedthecustomerwithsome formofredressorcompensation; • T heserviceproviderhasmadeanoffertoresolvethecomplaintthatwethinkisfairand reasonableinlightofthespecificcircumstancesofthecomplaint; • Thecomplaintwasfoundtobewithoutmerit;or • Thecomplaintshouldmoreproperlybebroughtbeforeanotheragency,tribunalorcourt . Recommendation Thecomplaintwasfullyinvestigated .Often,theserviceproviderhasnotmadeanofferto informallyresolvethecomplaint,ortheofferisnotfoundtobereasonableandfairinthe lightofthespecificcircumstancesofthecomplaint .Assuch,CCTSwillmakeawritten Recommendationthattheprovidertakespecificstepstoresolvethematter . Decision Decisionisissuedifeitherthecustomerortheserviceproviderrejectsthe A Recommendation .ThepartyrejectingtheRecommendationmustsetoutitsreasons andtheCommissionerwillreconsidertheRecommendationandissueaDecision . TheCommissionermayconfirmtheoriginalRecommendationor,iftheCommissioner concludesthatthereissubstantialdoubtastoitscorrectness,hemaymodifythe Recommendationasappropriate .ADecisionisbindingontheserviceprovider,butnot onthecustomer .Thecustomermayrejectitandpursueotherremedies . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 13 How ConSumeRS ConTACTed uS In2009–2010,customersoftenchosetocontactusby telephone(74.4%),frequentlytodiscussCCTS’smandate, toobtaininformationortodiscussapossiblecomplaint. Althoughmanycustomerscontactedusbytelephone, thevastmajorityofcomplaintswerereceivedinwriting. Wecantakecomplaintsbytelephone,inparticular fromcustomerswhorequirethisservice.However,it isgenerallymoreeffective,forallparties,tosubmita complaintinwritingasitensuresthatwecaptureallof therequiredinformation. 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 Webform 16.5% 1,000 0 9 .0 g Au t. p Se 09 t. Oc 9 09 .0 ov N 9 .0 c De n. Ja 10 0 .1 b Fe Phone 74.4% Mail 1.6% Fax 0.3% Email 7.1% 0 0 0 10 10 .1 .1 .1 e. ly. pr ar ay n u A M J M Ju TESTIMONIAL “Keepupthegoodwork.Weneedanorganizationlikeyoursespeciallyforanordinaryconsumerlikeme.” —R.P.,AlongdISTAnCeCuSTomeR CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics AggREgATE DATA 14 (AUgUST 1, 2009 – JUly 31, 2010) Thefollowingtableshowsthenumberofcontactswereceivedandthenumberofcomplaintsthatweaccepted,aswell asthenumberwedealtwithatthevariousstagesofourcomplaintprocess .Thetablealsobreaksdownthenumberof complaintshandledthisyear,thestageatwhichtheywerecompleted,andthenatureoftheirdisposition . 2008–2009 2009–2010 numberofnewContACts 17,407 43,609 3,214 3,747 1,968 2,297 239 225 1,004 1,151 ComplaintsresolvedatInvestigation 427 663 ComplaintsclosedatInvestigation 321 312 numberofComplAintsopeneD pre-investigAtionDispositions ComplaintsresolvedfollowingCCTSinvolvement Complaintsclosedbeforeinvestigationlevel investigAtions ComplaintsmovedtoInvestigation reCommenDAtions Recommendationsissued 48 25 Recommendationsaccepted 31 18 Recommendationsrejected 6 4 Decisionsissued 6 4 Decisionsaccepted 5 4 Decisionsrejected 1 0 DeCisions CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 15 CONTACTS – PArTICIPATINg SErVICE PrOVIDErS – OUTSIDE OF MANDATE Ofthe43,609contactswereceivedin2009–2010,9,320contactsaboutparticipatingserviceproviderswere determinedtobeoutsideofourmandatebecausethesubjectmatterofthecomplaintisexcludedbyourProcedural Code .Becausetheywereoutofmandate,theycouldnotbecomecomplaints .Theybreakdownasfollows: Customer service 610 Misleading advertisement 60 Outsourcing of calls 25 Pricing 382 Service out of scope (e.g. television) 828 Telemarketing 335 Service provider’s general policies 848 Other totAloutofmAnDAte 6,232 9,320 CONTACTS – NON-PArTICIPATINg SErVICE PrOVIDErS Ofthe43,609contactswereceivedin2009–2010,1,621contactswereaboutserviceprovidersthatdidnotparticipate inCCTS .Wetrackthesestatisticsinordertoprovidestakeholderswithasenseofthenumberofconsumerswecould notassistbecausetheirserviceproviderdoesnotparticipateinCCTS .Belowisasummaryoftheissuesraisedin thesecontacts . ContACts subjeCtmAtterwithinmAnDAte %oftotAl ContACts 177 10.9% Billing error 83 5.1% Contract dispute 30 1.9% Service delivery (installation, repair and maintenance) 34 2.1% 2 0.1% 28 1.7% subjeCtmAtteroutsiDeofmAnDAte 824 50.9% subjeCtmAtternotproviDeD 620 38.2% 1,621 100% Unauthorized transfer of service (slamming) Other: in scope totAl CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 16 NATURE OF COMPLAiNTS Almost80%ofthecomplaintsthatweacceptedin2009–2010wereeitheraboutacontractdisputeorabillingerror . The3,747complaintsthatweacceptedthisyearfallintothefollowingcategories: Billing error 44% Contract dispute 35% Service delivery (installation, repair and maintenance) 18% Unauthorized transfer of service (slamming) totAl 3% 100% natureofComplaints Unauthorized transfer of service (slamming) Billing error 44% 3% Service delivery (installation, repair and maintenance) 18% Contract dispute 35% testimoniAl“Thankyouverymuch .IdonotknowwhatIwouldhavedonewithoutyouthemediatorbecausenothingIdid myselfmadeanydifference .”—A .R .,ANINTERNETCUSTOMER CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 17 COMPLAiNTS BY TYPE OF SERViCE Thereweresignificantlymorecomplaintsregardingwirelessservicesthisyearthanin2008–2009 . serviCetype 2008–2009 2009–2010 Wireless services 38.01% 51.7% local exchange and VOIP 23.74% 23.7% Internet access 16.52% 15.2% long distance 16.38% 8.3% 5.35% 1.1% 100.00% 100.0% Other totAl Complaintsbytypeofservice Wireless services 51.7% Directory assistance 0.1% White page directories 0.2% Operator 0.8% long distance 8.3% Other 1.1% Internet access 15.2% local exchange and VOIP 23.7% testimoniAl“CCTSwasextremelyhelpful,andIamextremelygrateful .Ifitweren’tforCCTSthisproblemwouldstillbe ongoing .”—J .A .,AHOMEPHONECUSTOMER CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 18 SUMMARY OF COMPLAiNTS BY SERViCE PROViDER (2009–2010) preinvestigations provider investigations recommendations Decisions rejected Decisions Accepted Decisions Issued recommendations rejected recommendations Accepted recommendations Issued Closed resolved Moved to Investigation Closed resolved Complaints Accepted In2008–2009,wereportedcomplaintsbythe“TSP(TelecommunicationsServiceProvider)Member”towhichthey wereattributable .Manyserviceprovidersofferservicesundermultiplebrandnames .Thisyear,wehavechosento reportthenumberofcomplaintsthatwereceivedusingthecompanynameasselectedbythecustomer,andwehave expandedthelisttoincludeallofthebrandnamesunderwhichourparticipatingprovidersofferservices . Decisions 1010580 6 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Web 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 450Tel 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 768812 Ontario Inc. 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 À dimension humaine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Access Communications Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ACN Canada 56 15 1 24 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Americatel 6 1 0 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Amtelecom Telco gP Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Atria Networks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bay Communications Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bell Aliant regional Communications lP 46 23 1 18 8 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1,428 808 72 544 242 170 17 11 2 2 2 0 Blink Communications 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BMI Internet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bragg Communications Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bruce Municipal Telephone System 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bruce Telecom 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cablevision du nord du Québec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Call Select 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canada Direct 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canada Payphone Corporation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canopco 18 5 1 12 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Caztel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CD Tel 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cheetah 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cityfone 3 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bell Canada Coast Cable 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cogeco 20 14 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cogeco Data Services 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cogent Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cybersurf Internet Access 6 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 preinvestigations provider investigations Decisions Accepted Decisions Issued recommendations rejected recommendations Decisions rejected 19 recommendations Accepted recommendations Issued Closed resolved Moved to Investigation Closed resolved Statistics Complaints Accepted CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Decisions Delta Cable 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Distributel Communications 13 6 0 4 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dryden Mobility 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eastlink 6 2 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 ENMAx 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Envision 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ExaTEl Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Execulink 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fido 242 177 17 46 41 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 galilée 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 global Crossing Telecommunications Canada ltd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 globalive Communications Corp. 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 globalstar 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 globility Communications Corp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 group of gold line 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 halifax Cablevision ltd. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K-right Communications Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Koodo 59 43 1 19 6 4 1 0 1 1 1 0 le pigeon voyageur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 looneyCall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 luckyCall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MCI Canada 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mountain Cablevision limited 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MTS Allstream Inc. 28 16 1 4 5 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 Net reach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Northern Tel 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Northwestel 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OneConnect Services Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ontera 9 1 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Opcom hospitality Solutions Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 People’s Tel gP Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Persona Communications 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Phonetime 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Premiere Conferencing Canada ltd. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 174 183 8 32 69 16 2 2 0 0 0 0 Premiere global Services Primus Quinte long Distance rogers Communications Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 540 348 46 142 65 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 preinvestigations provider Sasktel 4 2 0 investigations 1 1 1 1 0 Decisions rejected Decisions Accepted Decisions Issued recommendations rejected recommendations 0 20 recommendations Accepted recommendations Issued Closed resolved Moved to Investigation Closed resolved Statistics Complaints Accepted CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Decisions 0 0 0 Sears Connect 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Shaw 23 10 2 9 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Simcoe County long Distance 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sogetel 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Solo 6 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Speak Telecom 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Startec 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Straight of Canso Cable T.V. ltd. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tata Communications 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TBayTel 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Télébec 8 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Telehop 4 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Telizon TElUS Communications Company 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 657 435 40 133 77 28 2 3 0 0 0 0 Terago Networks Inc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Uniserve 3 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vancouver Telephone Company 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Verizon 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vianet Internet Solutions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Videotron ltd. 88 56 4 33 15 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 Virgin Mobile Canada 227 119 14 65 39 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vonage Canada Corporation 17 8 2 9 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Win-tel 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wind Mobile 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yak Communications Corp. 23 7 2 23 36 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,747 2,297 225 1,151 663 312 25 18 4 4 4 0 TOTAL testimoniAl“ItwasnotuntilIfiledacomplaintwithCCTSthatIwasabletospeakwithsomeonewillingtoinvestigate ourissuethoroughly .Ihavenodoubtitwouldnothavebeenresolvedasquicklyorwithoutsignificantcost . Thankyou .”—A .H .,AHOMEPHONECUSTOMER CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 21 NATURE OF COMPLAiNTS BY SERViCE PROViDER (2009–2010) Billing error Contract dispute Service Delivery Slamming provider Complaints Accepted Thefollowingtableshowsthecategoriesofthecomplaintsacceptedin2009–2010,brokendownbyparticipating serviceprovider . 1010580 6 80.0% 0.0% 20.0% 0.0% 3Web 4 25.0% 50.0% 25.0% 0.0% 450Tel 1 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 768812 Ontario Inc. 1 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% A dimension humaine 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Access Communications Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% ACN Canada 56 41.8% 25.5% 25.5% 7.3% Americatel 6 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% 50.0% Amtelecom Telco gP Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Atria Networks 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Bay Communications Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Bell Aliant regional Communications lP 46 53.2% 31.9% 12.8% 2.1% Bell Canada 1,428 42.8% 38.6% 15.5% 3.1% Blink 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% BMI Internet 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Bragg Communications Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Bruce Municipal Telephone System 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Bruce Telecom 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cablevision du nord du Québec 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Call Select 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Canada Direct 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Canada Payphone Corporation 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Canopco 18 94.4% 0.0% 0.0% 5.6% Caztel 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% CD Tel 1 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cheetah 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cityfone 3 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Coast Cable 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cogeco 20 44.4% 5.6% 50.0% 0.0% Cogeco Data Services 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cogent Canada 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cybersurf Internet Access 6 66.7% 0.0% 33.3% 0.0% Delta Cable 2 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% Distributel Communications 13 33.3% 16.7% 50.0% 0.0% Dryden Mobility 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 22 Service Delivery Slamming Contract dispute Billing error Statistics provider Complaints Accepted CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Eastlink 6 33.3% 0.0% 66.7% 0.0% ENMAx 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Envision 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% ExaTEl Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Execulink 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Fido 242 56.3% 30.4% 11.6% 1.8% galilée 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% global Crossing Telecommunications Canada ltd 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% globalive Communications Corp. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% globalstar 1 0.0% 50.0% 50.0% 0.0% globility Communications Corp. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% group of gold line 1 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% halifax Cablevision ltd. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% K-right Communications Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Koodo 59 73.2% 12.5% 14.3% 0.0% le pigeon voyageur 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% looneyCall 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% luckyCall 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% MCI Canada 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Mountain Cablevision limited 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% MTS Allstream Inc. 28 29.6% 37.0% 29.6% 3.7% Net reach 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Northern Tel 2 50.0% 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% Northwestel 2 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% OneConnect Services Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Ontera 9 22.2% 66.7% 11.1% 0.0% Opcom hospitality Solutions Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% People’s Tel gP Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Persona Communications 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Phonetime 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Premiere Conferencing Canada ltd. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Premiere global Services Primus Quinte long Distance 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 174 43.2% 17.3% 28.1% 11.4% 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 540 39.5% 43.8% 15.3% 1.5% Sasktel 4 40.0% 20.0% 40.0% 0.0% Sears Connect 2 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% 50.0% Shaw 23 40.9% 9.1% 31.8% 18.2% Simcoe County long Distance 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Sogetel 1 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% rogers Communications Inc. 23 Service Delivery Slamming Contract dispute Billing error Statistics Complaints Accepted CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Solo 6 83.3% 0.0% 16.7% 0.0% Speak Telecom 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Startec 5 60.0% 20.0% 0.0% 20.0% Straight of Canso Cable T.V. ltd. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Tata Communications 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% TBayTel 1 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% Télébec 8 22.2% 66.7% 11.1% 0.0% Telehop 4 50.0% 16.7% 33.3% 0.0% Telizon 1 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.6% provider TElUS Communications Company 657 35.4% 39.1% 24.0% Terago Networks Inc. 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Uniserve 3 33.3% 0.0% 33.3% 33.3% Vancouver Telephone Company 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Verizon 1 50.0% 0.0% 50.0% 0.0% Vianet Internet Solutions 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Videotron ltd. 88 45.6% 36.7% 15.6% 2.2% Virgin Mobile Canada 227 57.3% 22.3% 20.4% 0.0% Vonage Canada Corporation 17 47.1% 5.9% 47.1% 0.0% Win-tel 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Wind Mobile 1 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% yak Communications Corp. 23 44.0% 28.0% 8.0% 20.0% 3,747 43.5% 35.0% 18.5% 3.0% AggREgATE testimoniAl“Itisparamountforsuchanorganizationtoexistandtohaveenoughauthority .Thankyouforyourhard work!”—J .D .,AWIRELESSCUSTOMER CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 24 CCTS WEBSiTE TRAFFiC (2009–2010) In2009–2010,weupgradedourwebsiteandonlinecomplaintform .ThiswascompletedinFebruary2010 .Afterthis date,thenumberofuniquevisitors*tooursiteincreasedby84%overthe2008–2009average . month August September October November December January February March April May June July uniquevisitors2008–2009 uniquevisitors2009–2010 Changefrompreviousyear 2,552 3,413 34% 3,056 3,681 20% 2,680 3,107 16% 2,463 3,348 36% 2,296 3,368 47% 2,787 3,140 13% 2,905 ** ** 3,302 5,692 72% 2,654 4,757 79% 2,553 4,527 77% 2,558 5,821 128% 2,916 4,318 48% Average unique visitors per month in 2008–2009: Average unique visitors per month after February 2010: 2,727 5,023 *“Uniquevisitors”isthenumberofpeoplewhovisitedwww .ccts-cprst .caoneormoretimes throughoutthemonth . **RedesignedwebsitewentliveonFebruary1,2010 .Duetoatechnicalerror,dataisunavailablefor themonthofFebruary2010 . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 Statistics 25 COMPLAiNTS BY PROViNCE AND TERRiTORY (2009–2010) Thefollowingtableshowsthegeographicoriginsofthecomplaintsweacceptedin2009-2010 . month Complaints population1 Alberta 306 8.2% 3,687.7 10.9% BritishColumbia 495 13.2% 4,455.2 13.2% Manitoba 79 2.1% 1,222.0 3.6% NewBrunswick 32 0.9% 749.5 2.2% Newfoundland 31 0.8% 508.9 1.5% NorthwestTerritories 3 0.1% 43.4 0.1% NovaScotia 70 1.9% 938.2 2.8% Nunavut 2 0.1% 32.2 0.1% Ontario 1,633 43.6% 13,069.2 38.7% 9 0.2% 141.0 0.4% 1,051 28.0% 7,828.9 23.2% 31 0.8% 1,030.1 3.1% PrinceEdwardIsland Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Total 5 3 5 0.1% 33.7 0.1% 3,747 100.0% 33,740.0 100.0% 2 31 495 306 31 1,051 79 32 1,633 anada,StatisticsCanada,Population by year, by province and territory(Ottawa,CANSIM,2009)at C http://www40 .statcan .gc .ca/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng .htm . 1 9 70 CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends 26 SEVEN TOPiCS AND TRENDS UNDERSTAND YOUR TELECOM CONTRACT Complaintsaboutcontract-relatedissuescontinueto increaseatasignificantrate .Inour2008–2009Annual Report,wenotedthat27%ofallcomplaintsacceptedthat yearwerecontract-related .Thisyear,35%ofaccepted complaintsfellintothiscategory .Becausecontractrelatedcomplaintsareontherise,wefeelthatit’s importanttorevisitthisissueandtodiscusssomeofthe complaintsthatweseeandhowwearehandlingthem . Aparticipatingserviceprovider’sTermsofService (Terms)setouttherightsandresponsibilitiesofeach partyrelatedtotheservicebeingprovided .TheTerms, togetherwithanyotherwrittendocumentthatsetsout thespecificsoftheproductsandservicesbeingprovided andtheircost,constitutetheservice“contract”(these specificscouldalsobethesubjectofanoralagreement) . Whenweinvestigatecomplaints,wereview,interpret andapplythecontractinordertodeterminewhether theprovider“reasonablyperformeditsobligations pursuanttotheapplicablecontractandfolloweditsusual policiesandoperatingproceduresinitsdealingswiththe Customer”(section4 .1ofourProceduralCode) .Whenwe concludethatthereisnocontractualagreementinplace, orwhenthecontractissilent,unclearorambiguous,we canalsoconsider: • generalprinciplesoflaw; • goodindustrypractice; • anyrelevantcodesofconductorpractice;and • whatisfairandreasonableinthecircumstancesofthe complaint(ProceduralCodesection4 .2) . Wecontinuetoreceivecomplaintsfromcustomerswho tellusthattheyhavenotbeenmadeawarebytheir provideroftheexistenceoftheTermsoracontract . Insomecases,theproviderisabletodemonstrateto usthatithadindeedinformedthecustomeraboutthe applicableTermsandthatthecustomeragreedtothem . Inothercases,itisunabletodoso .Wealsocontinue toreceivecomplaintsinwhichthecustomerandthe provideragreethatthereisacontractinplaceforthe deliveryofservice,butdisagreeaboutsomeaspectofthe detailsofthecontractorwhatshouldbedeliveredunder it .Thishappensmostfrequentlyinthecaseofcontracts agreedtoorally(usuallybyphone),butitcanalsoarise inthecaseofwrittenagreements .Sometimes,neither partyhasretainedacopyofthedocumentationspecifying thedetailsofthearrangement .Othertimes,whatthe contractsaysisclearbutthemeaningofaparticular provisionisambiguous . Inmostofthesecaseswewillbeabletoreviewthe provider’sTermsofService .Butmanyofthecomplaints turnonthespecificservicesbeingprovidedtothe customer,andtheconditionsunderwhichtheyarebeing provided .Thecasesinwhichthereisnoproofofthe agreementbetweentheserviceproviderandcustomer ontheseimportantdetailsareextremelydifficultfor us .These“hesaid/shesaid”casesrequireustomake inferencesbasedonothercircumstances,ortodetermine thecredibilityoftheparties .Ourpreference,ofcourse, istorelyonevidence .Thuswecontinuetostrongly encourageproviderstoensurethattheircustomers arefullyawareofallthedetailsofthecontractpriorto enteringintoanagreementormakingachangetotheir service .Wealsostrongly recommendthatproviders retainarecordthatcapturesthecustomer’sagreement toacontractortoanychangetotheirservice(suchas asignedagreement,arecordingofaphonecall,orany othermethodthatreasonablycapturesthecustomer’s agreement)foratleastaslongasthecustomer’sservice remainswiththeprovider .Providershavetoldusthatitis challengingforthemtodosogivenprivacylegislation,or becauseofthehighcostofrecordsstorage .Wefindthese argumentsunpersuasive .Providersthatfailtomaintain thismaterialruntheveryrealriskthatthesecomplaints maybedecidedagainstthem . Ofcourse,thisisnotaone-waystreet .Consumersshould makesurethattheprovidergivesthemthefulldetails ofthecontract(includingtheTerms) .Theyshouldreview thecontractanddotheirbesttounderstanditpriorto agreeingtoobtainservice .Iftheydonotagreewiththe CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends Terms,theyshouldnotagreetoobtaintheservice .In somecases,theymaybeabletoobtaintheserviceunder differenttermsfromadifferentprovider .Consumers shouldalsoretainrelevantdocumentationshoulditbe neededinfuture . Bothprovidersandcustomershaverightsand responsibilitiesunderthecontract .Consumersoften complaintousthattheTermsare“biased”orslantedin favouroftheprovider .Thethingswehearmostoftenare consumerfrustrationabouttherightthattheTermsoften giveproviderstoimposeadditionalfeesoncustomers whoterminateservicepriortotheendoftheircontract term .WealsohearfrustrationaboutTermsthatallowthe providertomakechangestotheTermsinthemiddleof acontract .Itisnotsurprisingthatabusinessthatdrafts thecontractwilldosoinamannerthatisfavourableto itself .AtCCTS,ourmandateistoapplythecontractthat isinplace,andtoprovideredressforconsumerswhen theproviderhasnotfollowedthecontract .Itisnotour roletodeterminewhetheritisfairforaprovidertobe abletodraftacontractthatfavoursitself .Thisisapolicy issue .Governmenttelecommunicationspolicyisthat inthederegulatedtelecommunicationsmarketplace, vigorouscompetitionshouldredresstheseinequities,i .e . providerswilldrafttheirTermstobemorecustomerfriendlyinordertowincustomers .Itisalsoexpected thatindustryCodesofConductwillbedevelopedto ensurefairnessoftreatmentforcustomers .Consumers dissatisfiedwiththisshouldrecognizethatitisapolicy issue,notadispute-resolutionissue,andshouldmake theirconcernsknowntotheirelectedrepresentatives . Thecasestudiesbelowfurtherdescribesomeofthe scenarioswesawthisyear,andthewaywedealtwith thosecomplaints . 1 Casestudy#1 Thecustomerhadpreviouslyagreedtoobtainwireless servicefromherproviderunderaone-yearcontract . Attheendofthatyear,shecalledtheproviderwith theintentionofcancellingherservice .However,inan attempttoretainherbusiness,theproviderofferedhera newplanthatwassimilartoheroldplanbutatalower monthlyprice .Sheagreedtoremainacustomerofthe providerandacceptthenewplan .Sometimelater,the customerdecidedtoterminateherserviceandwas chargedearlycancellationfees(ECF) .Thecustomer statesthatwhensheacceptedthenewplanshedid notagreetoanewcontractwithafixedend-date .She believedthatshewasobtainingserviceonamonth- 27 to-monthbasisandthatshewasofferedtherebateas ameanstoretainherbusiness .Shethereforedidnot believethatsheshouldhavetopaytheECF . Theproviderconfirmedthatitstelephoneagenthad offeredheranewplaninordertoretainherbusiness . However,itstatedthatthisofferwascontingentonthe customeragreeingtoanewtwo-yearcontract .Sincethe customerterminatedherservicepriortotheexpiryofthe contract,itbilledherECFinaccordancewithitsTerms ofService .Theproviderstatedthatitsentanemailtothe customeraftershehadagreedtothecontract,inorder toconfirmthedetails,butthatitcouldnotlocateacopy tosendtoCCTS .Thecustomerdidnothaveacopyofthe emailwhichtheproviderclaimedtohavesent . Wefoundthattheprovidercouldhaveavoidedany uncertaintybyspecificallydocumentingthearrangement betweenitanditscustomerbutthatitcouldnot demonstratethatithaddoneso .Therewasnoother evidenceonwhichwecouldconcludethattheoffertothe customerincludedatwo-yearterm .Sincetheprovider couldnotdemonstratethatthecustomeragreedto continuetoreceiveserviceunderanewcontract,wedid notbelievethatitshouldbeallowedtobillherECF . Message:InorderforaprovidertoenforceitsTerms, itmustdemonstratethatthecustomerwasprovided withthedetailsofthecontract,includingtheassociated Terms,andthat(s)heagreedtobeboundbythem . 2 Casestudy#2 ThecustomeragreedtoobtainInternetservicefromhis providerunderathree-yearcontract .Afterapproximately sixmonthsofusingtheservice,thecustomerreceiveda billthatwasmuchhigherthanexpected .Uponreviewing hisbill,hefoundthathewaschargedadditionalfeesfor “bandwidthconsumption .”HecalledhisInternetservice provider,whichinformedhimthathisInternetplan providedhimwithupto25GBofbandwidthusageper monthandthat,sincehehadexceededthisallotment,he wasbilledfortheadditionalusage .Thecustomerstated thathehadnotbeeninformedofthebandwidthlimitand thereforedidnotbelievethatheshouldhavetopaythe additionalfees .Healsostatedthathehadnoideawhata “GB”representsandthereforedidnotknowtheextentto whichhecouldmakeuseofhisservice . TheproviderreliedonitsTermsofServiceaswellas itsagreementwiththecustomerinordertobillhimthe additionalbandwidthusagecharges . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends Duringourinvestigation,theprovidersentusacopyof thecontractthatwassignedbythecustomerandthat clearlydemonstratedthathehadindeedagreedtoobtain Internetserviceandtobeboundbytheprovider’sTerms . Wealsofoundthatthecontractprovidedthecustomer withallofthedetailsrelatedtohisservice,includingthe 25GBbandwidthallotment,aswellasawebsitelinkto theprovider’sfullTerms . TheTermsstatedclearlythatanadditionalchargewould applyforbandwidthusagethatexceededthemonthly allotmentandthatitwasthecustomer’sresponsibility toverifyhisusageregularly .Awebsitelinktoatoolthat allowedhimtoviewhisusagewasalsoprovided . Wethereforefoundthatsincetheproviderclearly demonstratedthatthecustomeragreedtobeboundby theTerms,hewasresponsibleforpayingtheadditional bandwidthusagecharges . message:Itisimportantthatcustomersreadand understandtheTermsbeforeagreeingtobebound bythem .Ifwefindthatacustomerhasagreedtothe Terms,wewillapplythoseTermsinanefforttoresolve thecomplaint . 3 Casestudy#3 Thecustomerhadagreedtoobtainwirelessserviceon whathebelievedtobeamonth-to-monthbasis .After approximatelyayearandahalf,thecustomercalled theprovidertocanceltheservice,butwastoldthathe hadconsentedtoathree-yearcontract .Sincehewas terminatinghisservicepriortothecontract’sexpiry, hewouldbebilledanearlycancellationfee(ECF) .The customerconfirmedthathedidsignadocumentbut thattheagreementwastoobtainwirelessserviceona month-to-monthbasis,forafixedpricepermonth .He statedthathedidnotagreetokeeptheserviceforthree yearsandthereforedidnotbelievethatheshouldbe requiredtopaytheECF . Theprovidersentusacopyofthecontractthatthe customerhadsigned .Wefoundthatthecontract providedthedetailsofthecustomer’srateplanbutdid notstatethattheservicewastobeprovidedundera three-yearcontract .Rather,thedocumentcontained afootnote,insmallprint,thatindicatedgenerallythat acustomerwouldbesubjecttoECFifthecustomer cancelledhisservicepriortotheexpiryofhis12,24or 36monthagreement . 28 Theprovideralsosentuscopiesofthecustomer’s monthlyinvoiceswhich,itclaimed,clearlyinformedhim thathewasonathree-yearcontract .However,upon reviewoftheinvoices,wedidnotfindaclearstatement thattheservicewasbeingprovidedunderathree-year contract .Allwecouldfindwastheappearanceof“36M” nexttothenameofhiswirelessrateplan . Wevoicedourconcerntotheprovideraboutthe ambiguityofthecontractaswellasthelackof documentationtoconfirmthespecificsoftheduration ofthecontract,ifany,agreedtobythecustomer . Nonetheless,becausethecustomersignedthecontract, weconcludedthathehadindeedagreedtoaminimum contractperiod .Sincethefootnoteadvisedhimthat theminimumwouldbeeither12,24or36months,we foundthathehadtohaveagreedtoaminimumcontract periodofatleast12months .Wedidnotagreewiththe provider’scontentionthattheappearanceof“36M”on hisinvoice,withoutadditionalcontext,wasconclusive ofthecustomer’sagreementtoathree-yearterm .In theabsenceofotherinformation,wedidnotfindit reasonabletoassumethattheaveragecustomerwould understandthistobenoticethattheservicewasbeing deliveredunderathree-yearcommitment . Sincetheproviderisresponsibleforensuringthatits contractsareclearandnotambiguous,andsincethe customerhadalreadykepthiswirelessservicefor overoneyear,werecommendedthatthecustomerbe permittedtoterminatehisservicewithoutpayingtheECF . Bothpartiesacceptedthisrecommendation . Message:Aprovider’scontracttermsmustbeclear .If theyareambiguous,theywillbeinterpretedagainstthe provider .InordertoapplyitsTerms,aprovidermustbe abletoclearlydemonstratethatthecustomeragreedto beboundbythem .Avaguenoteonamonthlyinvoiceis notsufficienttodemonstrateacustomer’sagreementto acontract . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends 29 NUMBER PORTABiLiTY – SOMETiMES NOT AS EASY AS iT LOOkS Weoftenreceivecomplaintsfromcustomerswhohave askedto“port”theirtelephonenumbersfromoneservice providertoanotherandhavesubsequentlyencountered problemswithinaccuratebillingorwithdeliveryoftheir services .Thissurprisesconsumersconsideringthatthe industryheavilypromotestheabilitytochangeproviders butkeepyourphonenumber,andtheportrayalisoneof asimpleandsmoothprocess . Wehavegenerallyfoundthattheprocessusedby providerstoportlandlineandwirelessnumbersbetween providerscanbeconfusingandthaterrorsoftenensue . Forexample,wehaveseencasesinwhichproviders submittedthewrongcustomerinformationorthewrong datesontheportingorder .Somehavenotincludedall oftheservicesthatweresupposedtobeportedwhereas othershaveincludedservicesthatwerenotintendedto beported .Wehavefoundotherinstancesofproviders submittingportingorderstoprovidelandlineservice withoutactuallyhavingthenecessaryfacilitiesavailable todelivertheservicetothecustomer .Thesemistakes resultindelaysindeliveringtheserviceaswellasrelated billingerrors .Insomecases,thecustomerisbilledby bothprovidersforthesameservice .Whentheseerrors occur,customersareoftenconfusedanduncertainasto howitshouldberesolvedandwhichprovidertheyshould approach .Whenweinvestigatethesetypesofcomplaints, wewilloftenengagebothprovidersinvolvedinorderto sortoutthedetailsanddeterminehowandwherethe erroroccurred . Weunderstandthattherearecomplexitiesrelatedto numberportability .Nonetheless,regulatoryguidelines liketheCanadianLocalOrderingGuidelines(C-LOG) existtodetailhowtheprocessshouldwork .Wetherefore encourageproviderstoinvestthetimetofullyunderstand thosecomplexitiesandensurethattheiremployees areproperlytrainedinordertominimizetheoccurrence oferrors . 1 Casestudy#1 Thecustomerwasreceivinglandlinetelephoneservice fromaprovider .Sheapproachedanewserviceprovider (thenewprovider)andrequestedthatitporthernumber andthatitbeginprovidingherwithservice .However,on thedatetheservicewassupposedtohavebeenported tothenewprovider,thecustomerfoundherselfwithno serviceatall .Shethereforecalledhernewproviderand spentthenextfewdaystryingtosortouttheproblem . Thenewproviderofferedadifferentexplanationeach timetheyspoke:theoldproviderdidnotcompletethe orderproperly;repairworkwasrequired;and,ultimately, thatitwouldlookintothematterandcallherbackwithin 24hours .Whenthecustomerdidnotreceiveacallback, shecomplainedtoCCTS . Ourinvestigationrevealedthatthenewproviderleased itslinesfromanotherproviderinordertoofferserviceto thepublic .However,atthetimethatthenewprovider’s representativeagreedtoportthecustomer’snumber,the newproviderdidnothaveavailablefacilitiesinorderto delivertheservice .Ittherefore“held”theorderuntilsuch timeasithadavailablefacilities .Sincetheoldproviderhad alreadyterminatedthecustomer’sservice,andsincethe newproviderwasunabletoprovideservicerightaway,the customerwasleftin“limbo”betweenthetwoproviders, withoutanyserviceatall .Weworkedwiththenewprovider toresolvethesituationbyurgingtheexpeditedinstallation ofthenecessaryfacilities,therebyensuringthatthe customer’sservicewasreconnectedunderheroriginal numberandwiththeproviderofherchoice . Message: Serviceprovidersmustensurethatthey completeportingordersproperlyandthattheyinformthe customerofanydelayintheprovisionofservice . 2 Casestudy#2 Thecustomerapproachedanewwirelessserviceprovider (thenewprovider)torequestthatitporthisnumberand providehimwithservice .Theportingwascompleted ontherequestedduedateandthecustomerbegan usingandpayingfortheservice .Afewweekslater,the customerreceivedaninvoicefromhisoldwirelessservice provider(theoldprovider)forserviceallegedlyprovided aftertheportingwascomplete .Thecustomercalledthe oldproviderwhichinformedhimthatitssystemindicated thathisservicewascurrentlyactiveandassuch,itwas billinghimforthatservice .Sincethecustomerwas receivingservicefromthenewprovider,hedidnotbelieve thatheshouldhavetopaytheoldprovideraswell . Whenwereceivedthecomplaint,weworkedwithboth providersinordertodeterminethedatethattheservice wasportedtothenewprovider .Wefoundthattheold providerhadindeed“released”thecustomer’snumber tothenewprovider,ontherequestedduedate,butthatit hadnotcancelledthebillingoftheaccount,whichisdone throughaseparatesystem .Therefore,billswerestill CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends beingsenttothecustomer .Oncewediscoveredthis,the oldprovideragreedtowaiveallofthechargesbilledafter theservicewasportedtothenewprovider . 30 Message:Whencompletingrequeststoporttelephone numbers,serviceprovidershaveanobligationtoensure aseamlesstransitionandmustthereforeensurethatall relatedsystemsareaccurateanduptodate . NUMBER PORTABiLiTY – THERE’S A CATCH! Anotherfeatureofmanyoftheportingcomplaintsthat wereceivedin2009–2010iscustomerfrustrationabout being“doublebilled”bybothproviders .Unlikethose casesinwhichthedoublebillingresultedfromaporting error(asdescribedabove),thesecomplaintsinvolve customersbeingbilledbyboththe“new”providerand the“old”providerforservicesduringthesameperiod oftime . Theabilityofcustomerstotaketheirlandlineorwireless numberswiththemwhenchangingserviceproviders resultedfromvariousdecisionsissuedbytheCRTC . IntheCRTC’sDecember20th,2005newsrelease accompanyingTelecomDecision2005-72,formerCRTC ChairmanCharlesDalfenstatedthat“consumersshould begiventhewidestpossiblechoiceofserviceproviders andshouldbeabletoswitchtelephonecompanies withoutunwarrantedcostorinconvenience .”Theability toportanumbertoanotherproviderisseenasan importantbenefittoCanadianconsumers . Inpractice,however,consumersaregenerallyforcedto incurbothneedlesscostandinconvenienceinorderto portanumber . Customerswhowanttoswitchprovidersandtaketheir numberwiththemaretoldthatalltheyneedtodois providetheseinstructionstothenewprovider,whichwill makearrangementswiththeoldprovider .Butthingsare notalwaysassimpleastheyappear . Mostproviderscurrentlyrequirethatacustomerprovide 30days’noticepriortoterminatingservice,evenif theyareonafixedtermcontractthatisexpiring .So thecustomeralsohastolettheoldproviderknowthat theyareterminatingtheirservice .Iftheydon’t,theold providerwillbillthemforanadditional30daysfromthe timethatitwasinformedofthetermination . Theeasyanswerappearstobeforthecustomertogive 30days’noticetotheoldproviderandthenportthe numbertothenewprovider .However,inordertoporta numbertoanotherprovider,thenumbermustremain active .Sothecustomercannotcancelservicewiththe oldprovideruntilaftertheportingorderiscompleted .If (s)hedoes,theoldproviderwillcancelthenumberand thecustomerwillbeunabletoportit . Sothecustomerisforcedtocontactthenewprovider andrequestthatitportthenumber .Oncethisisdone, theoldproviderwillreleasethecustomer’snumberto thenewprovider .Butitwillcontinuetobillthecustomer foranother30daysofservicesince30days’noticewas notprovided .Thecustomerisalsobilledforserviceby thenewproviderwhoisnowdeliveringtheservice .Asa result,thecustomermustpaybothprovidersforservice foraperiodof30daysif(s)hewishestoportthenumber . Inourview,thispracticefailstoachievetheobjective ofallowingcustomerstoswitchtelephonecompanies without“unwarrantedcostorinconvenience .”Infact, itaccomplishestheopposite—customersareputto additionalinconvenienceandextracost .Thecurrent processisunfairtocustomers .Thereisnoreasonfora customertohavetomakemorethanonecall,ortopay twoprovidersforthesamemonth’sservice . Wethereforestrongly urgetheindustrytofinda solutionthatdoesnotrequireconsumerstopaytwo providersforthesameperiodwhenonlyoneisactually providingtheservice .Thiswouldachievetheobjectiveof allowingcustomerstoswitchserviceproviderswithout “unwarrantedcostorinconvenience .” Ourreviewofthesecomplaintsleadsustobelievethat thereareatleasttwopossibleindustrysolutionstothis problem .Oneoptionwouldbeforproviderstorevisit thepolicyofrequiring30days’noticeforterminationof servicewhenacustomerisportingtoanotherprovider . Asecondoptioninvolves“futuredating”ofaporting order .Wehavefoundduringthecourseofsome investigationsthatproviderscanfuturedateaporting orderbyupto30days .Sowhenthenewproviderreceives arequesttoportinacustomer’snumber,itcandate therequest30daysintothefuture .Theoldprovidercan CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends acceptthisasthecustomer’s30days’notice .During thisperiodtheoldprovidercontinuestoprovideservice andonlyitbillsthecustomer .Thirtydayslater,whenthe numberisported,thenewproviderbeginstoprovidethe serviceandonlyitbillsthecustomer .Onephonecall,one monthlyfee . 31 Untilsuchtimeastheindustryhascreatedanother solution,werecommendthatcustomersseekingtoport theirnumbertoanewproviderfirstverifywhetherthey arerequiredtoprovide30days’noticeoftermination totheircurrentprovider .Ifsuchnoticeisrequired,we recommendthatthecustomeraskthenewproviderto futuredatetheportingorderby30days . PREMiUM TExT MESSAgES (ShOrT CODES) Premiumtextmessagesaretextsthatyoureceiveonyour wirelessdeviceandthatarechargedata“premium”rate, i .e .,morethanyourprovider’snormaltextmessaging rate .Thetextsarenormallysentto/froma“shortcode” thatis5or6digitslong .Theyaremostoftenassociated withcontestsorlivetelevisionshowslikeCanadianIdol, orusedonasubscriptionbasistoreceiveautomatictexts withspecificcontentsuchassports,triviaorhoroscopes . Thecostforthesetextscanvarygreatlyandcanbe anywherefrom$0 .15to$10 .00pertext . thepricingandfrequencyofdeliveryofthemessages, contactinformationforthecontentprovider,anda descriptionofhowthecustomercanunsubscribe(usually bytexting“STOP”totheshortcode) . Thesetextmessagesdonotcomefromthewireless carrier .Theyaredelivered,andbilledfor,bythe carrieronbehalfofathird-partycontentprovider .This serviceisprovidedunderthetermsoftheshortcode programdevelopedandadministeredbythewireless carriers’industryassociation,theCanadianWireless TelecommunicationsAssociation(CWTA) .Thecontent providersaresubjecttoguidelinesrequiringthatthey followadetailedprocessforsigningcustomersup,and alsoforallowingcustomerstounsubscribe .Moredetail abouttheprogramisavailableatwww .txt .ca . • Beextremelycarefulaboutdisclosingyourwireless numberonline .Becautiouswhenusingonline applicationsthatrequestyourwirelessnumber,such asthoseofferedthroughFacebookandothersocial networkingsites . Amongthemaincustomercomplaintsarethatthey didnotsignup,orthattheydidnotknowthefrequency andcostofthemessages,orthattheyareunableto unsubscribe .GiventhattheShortCodesprogram guidelinesprescriberulesthatshouldpreventallof thesethingsfromhappening,thenumberofcomplaints issurprising .Inorderforacustomertosubscribe,the programrequiresa“doubleopt-in,”i .e .,aftersending aninitialtexttotheshortcode(orsigninguponline),the customershouldreceiveatextresponse .Thecustomer shouldthenbeaskedtoreplyagain,usuallywithaPIN, eitherbytextingoronline .Oncethis“doubleopt-in” processiscomplete,thecustomerissubscribedtoa premiumtextmessageservice .Therulesalsorequire thatthedoubleopt-inprocessincludeinformationabout Thegoodnewsisthatalmostallofthepremiumtext messagecomplaintsthatcometousgetresolvedtothe satisfactionoftheparties .However,inordertoavoidthe problem,ortodealwithitquicklyifitarises,weoffer someadvicetoconsumers: • Treatyourwirelessnumberlikeyouwouldanyother pieceofpersonalinformation .Discloseitonlywhen youbelievethatitissafetodoso . Ifyouarebilledforpremiumtextmessagesonyour wirelessbillandyoudonotbelievethatyouhavesigned upfortheservice,youshould: 1 . Immediatelytext“STOP”totheshortcodethatsent youthetext(thisshouldappearonyourbilland,ifyou haven’tdeletedit,onyourhandset); 2 . Checkyourpreviousbillsasthismaynotbethefirst timethatyouhavereceivedandbeenchargedfor premiumtextmessages; 3 . Callyourwirelesscarrierand/orthecompanythat sentyouthepremiumtextmessagetomakea complaint .Explainthecircumstancesandaskthemto removethecharges; 4 . Ifyoucannotresolvethedisputedirectlywithyour wirelesscarrier,contactus;and CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 TopicsandTrends 5 . TheCWTAisresponsiblefortheprogramandwants toensurethatthecontentprovidersarefollowingthe rules .Ifyoubelievethatyoudidnotsubscribetothe serviceand/orifyouhavetexted“STOP”butcontinue toreceivethetexts,contacttheCWTA(website: www .cwta .ca;email:info@cwta .ca)andletitknow aboutthecontentprovidersothatitcantakestepsto monitorthecompliancebytheproviderwiththerules . Wirelessprovidersarepaidforbillingandcollectingfrom theircustomersonbehalfofthecompaniesthatsend customersthepremiumtextmessages(thecontent providers) .Whenwereceiveacomplaintfromacustomer 32 aboutapremiumtextmessage,weexpectthewireless providertohavelookedintothecustomer’sallegationand obtainedevidencefromthecontentprovidersufficientto supporttheaccuracyofthecharges .Whenweinvestigate suchacomplaint,wewillexpectthewirelessproviderto providetoustheevidenceuponwhichitreliedtosupport theaccuracyofthecharges,includingthecontent provider’scompliancewiththeShortCodeprogram guidelines .Inanycaseinwhichthewirelessprovideris unabletodemonstratethatthechargesareproper,we willrecommendthattheproviderwaivethem . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 OurBoardofDirectors 33 EIghT OUR BOARD OF DiRECTORS OurBoardisstructuredtoprovidefortheparticipationofallstakeholderswhileremainingindependentfromthe telecommunicationsindustry .Itconsistsofeightdirectors,sevenofwhomarevotingdirectors: • fourIndependentDirectors,twoofwhomarenomineesofconsumergroups; • threeIndustryDirectors,oneeachtorepresenttheIncumbentLocalExchangeCarrier(ILEC)Members,theCable CompanyMembers(Cablecos),andtheOtherParticipatingServiceProviderMembers;and • theCommissioner,whoisanon-votingDirector,andisindependentofthetelecommunicationsindustry . iNDEPENDENT DiRECTORS TheIndependentDirectorsareintendedtorepresentadiversityofexperienceandinterests,beingindividualsknown andrespectedonaregionalandnationalbasisandrepresentativeoftheCanadianpopulation,includinggender, linguistic,minorityandgeographicrepresentation . iNDUSTRY DiRECTORS TheIndustryDirectorsrepresenteachoftheILEC,CablecoandOtherParticipatingServiceProviderMember categories .ThecurrentappointedIndustryDirectorsareJonathanDaniels(ILEC),DennisBéland(Cableco)and JillSchatz(Other) . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 DirectorBiographies 34 NINE DiRECTOR BiOgRAPHiES MARY M. gUSELLA (ChAIr) Aftera36-yearcareerinthefederalpublicservice, Maryretiredin2006fromthepositionofChief CommissioneroftheCanadianHumanRights Commissionwheresheledthetransformationof theorganization,eliminatingachronicbacklog, drasticallyreducingwaittimes,developingnewtools andpartnershipsforhumanrightsprevention,and maximizingtheuseofconflictresolutiontechniquesto resolvecomplaintsinatimelyandeffectivemanner . Alawyerbytraining,MarywasawardedthePrime Minister’sOutstandingAchievementAward,thePublic Service’shighestaward,forher“Outstandingcontribution tothePublicServiceofCanada .”Shereceivedthe Queen’sJubileeMedalandhasbeeninductedintothe HonourSocietyoftheUniversityofOttawaLawSchool . MARiE BERNARD-MEUNiER Acareerdiplomat,MarieservedinOttawaasAssistant DeputyMinisterforGlobalIssuesandabroadasCanada’s AmbassadortoUNESCO,totheNetherlandsandto Germany .ShelefttheForeignServicein2005andhas sincepublishedextensivelyonvariouspublicpolicy issues .ShecurrentlyservesontheBoardsofmany publicinstitutions,includingthePublicPolicyForumand theAuditCommitteeoftheCanadianSpaceAgency .She holdsaMaster’sDegreeinPoliticalSciencefromthe UniversitédeMontréal . DiCk gATHERCOLE DickisalawyerandformerExecutiveDirectoroftheBC PublicInterestAdvocacyCentre .InhisvariedcareerDick hasbeentheChairandCEOoftheBCEnergyCouncil,a memberoftheUniversityofTorontoFacultyofLaw,and counselwithOntario’sMinistryoftheAttorneyGeneral . JEAN SéBASTiEN Mr .SébastienhasaPh .D .inComparativeLiterature andisprofessorofmediaandliteratureatCollege deMaisonneuveinMontreal .Jeanhasalsoserved asapolicyanalystonmattersofbroadcasting, telecommunications,andinformationtechnologyfor L’Uniondesconsommateursandwasamemberofthe BoardofDirectorsoftheCanadianInternetRegistration Authority(CIRA) .Priortothis,Mr .Sébastienspentsome 15yearsworkinginvariouscapacitiesinthemedia . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 DirectorBiographies 35 DENNiS BéLAND DennisistheSeniorDirector,RegulatoryAffairs, Telecommunications,QuebecorMediaInc .Dennishas aBachelor’sDegreeinEngineeringandManagement andaMaster’sDegreeinPublicPolicyfromtheJohnF . KennedySchoolofGovernmentatHarvardUniversity .He isaMemberoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheCanadian LNPConsortiumInc .,theCanadianNumbering AdministrationConsortiumInc .andaformerMember oftheBoardofDirectorsoftheCanadianWireless TelecommunicationsAssociation . JONATHAN DANiELS B .A .(McGill)1990,J .D .(Toronto)1994,isVicePresident RegulatoryLawatBellCanada .Priortojoining Bell,Mr .Danielshasservedinvariouspositionsat Cable&WirelessbasedintheCaymanIslands,C1 Communications,CovadCommunications,Sprint CanadaandasanassociatewiththelawfirmStikeman, Elliott .Mr .Danielsteachestelecommunicationslawat theUniversityofTorontoFacultyofLaw;hehasalso taughttelecommunicationsmarketdynamicsatRyerson Universityandhaspublishedanumberofarticlesinthe telecommunicationsandbroadcastingfields . JiLL SCHATz JilljoinedPrimusCanadain2008asGeneralCounsel andVPLawandhasoverallresponsibilityforthelegal requirementsofthecompany .Jillhasextensivein-house experienceinvariouspublicandprivatecorporationsand hasheldseniorlegal,corporatesecretarialandexecutive rolesintheITandTelecommunicationsindustriessince 2000withMomentumAdvancedSolutionsInc .(formerly OnXEnterpriseSolutionsInc .)andCybersurfCorp .Prior to2000sheheldin-housepositionswithICICanadaInc . (formerlyC-I-LInc .)andTransCanadaPipeLinesLimited . Jillisactiveinthecorporatecounselcommunityandis apast-President,Vice-PresidentandTreasurerofthe CanadianCorporateCounselAssociation(CCCA) .She servesontheExecutivesoftheITandE-Commerce SectionoftheOntarioBarAssociationandtheToronto ChapteroftheCCCA .JillholdsaJurisDoctorate(J .D .) andMBA(FinanceMajor),bothfromtheUniversity ofTorontoaswellasaMastersinLaw(International Trade&CompetitionLaw)fromOsgoodeHall LawSchool . CCTS Annual Report 2009–2010 HowtoContactUs TEN HOW TO CONTACT US By Email response@ccts-cprst .ca By Telephone TollFree:1-888-221-1687 TTY:1-877-782-2384 By Fax TollFree:1-877-782-2924 By Mail P .O .Box81088 Ottawa,ONK1P1B1 36