Bell ExpressVu automatic payment

We have a Bell ExpressVu subscription which we have been paying by automatic bank payment.

I used this payment method for several years for a number of services. It has worked well for us as the company sends a statement indicating the amount to be deducted from our account on a specific date.

Last week I downloaded bank account info and could not match a Bell ExpressVu payment with our books.

The last statement indicated an amount to be withdrawn on the 5th of the month, the bank showed almost twice as much taken from our account on the 1st of the month.

This seemed like a simple computer glitch that a quick call to Bell would solve.

NOT SO! After about 2 hours on the phone all I had was the information that I had given Bell the authority to take whatever they determined from my account even if it was not on the statement. At one point I was told by the phone operator that he they had authorization to take this extra off. When I asked who had given the authorization he said it was just a number. I then asked for the authorization number and where it had come from and he said it was a reference number. BIG DEAL what is a reference number worth.

Since this was not my understanding of how it worked I asked to be taken off automatic payment and they told me I had to go to my bank to be removed.

By this time I was getting angry and said that is NOT the way it is done, their computer asks my banks computer to withdraw the funds so they should tell their computer to stop.

Eventually he decided to transfer me to someone that might be able to stop their computer.

And eventually (after he had told his story I presume) I was connected to a lady who told me the same I had to go to my bank to stop the automatic payments. When I insisted that is not the way it works she finally consented to change the payment system but it would take up to 8 weeks.

I told her that they were not offering service to their customers and they had no right to take money without informing and left at that.

I then tried emailing my complaint and got similar results. Nothing can be done, they are just following policy of deducting whatever is owing on the 20th of the month even though the statement is totalled dated and printed on the 11th.

I tried to explain that no one can do books with statements not agreeing with deductions but all ignored those arguments (must be Enron book keepers).

They also sent me a form to enroll for automatic payment although I was asking to be taken off.

On the form I notice it says and I quote "I hereby authorize Bell ExpressVu to withdraw, from my financial institution, the amount due on my Bell ExpressVu Statement". The way I read that does not indicate what might be due on the 20th of the month as they are trying to foist on my.

The form also states the payment option can be changed with 14 days notice.

Also that I will be responsible for all fees as well as an late payment fees if there is insufficient funds in my account. Now I ask how would you ever know if you had enough money in the account if you do not know how much they are going to take out.

Obviously Bell can not be trusted to have the priviledge of accessing my account and I am reassing all automatic payment agreements that I have with other businesses.

It is worth noting that I have discussed this with several other people to get their opinion and they all have related similar experiences dealing with Bell with comments like "they are arrogant" "you can not win against them they just will not listen" "only way to stop service was to quit paying the bill"

One person claimed to have stopped all business with Bell except a cell phone which he is waiting until he can keep the number then will cancell.

Suggest you be very carefull dealing with this company as they have no resoect for the customer.

Bill A

St Marys Ont