As of December 2, 2013, changes will apply to your mobile phone and Internet services. Charges for mobile data use that goes beyond the data allowance included in your mobile plan or data add-ons will be subject to certain caps.
Why is Videotron setting limits on mobile data overage charges?
The CRTC has published a new, mandatory Wireless Code to set certain standards for wireless service providers (WSPs). The Code will take effect on December 2, 2013 and requires among other things that data overage charges be capped at:
- $50 on the WSP’s network within a single monthly billing cycle,
- $100 while roaming in the rest of Canada and abroad within a single monthly billing cycle.
How do I know when I’ve reached my data overage limits?
Videotron offers you several ways to monitor your data usage.
Text message alerts
You’ll receive three kinds of text messages to keep you updated on how much data you’ve used:
- The first text message tells you that you’re about to reach the data allowance included in your monthly plan
- The second tells you that you’ve exceeded your allowance and that pay-per-use rates will now apply.
- The third informs you that you’re about to reach the cap set for data overage charges:
- You’ll be sent a text message when you’ve accumulated $40 in overage charges on the Videotron or partner network: you’ll still have $10 of data use left before you reach the cap.
- You’ll also get a text once you’ve accumulated $80 in data roaming charges in the rest of Canada and abroad: you’ll still have $20 of data use left before you reach the cap.
Customer Centre
You can check your mobile data use in near-real time via our Customer Centre. Log in to your account using your username and password and visit the Internet Usage section for the service or option you’re subscribed to:
- Mobile data add-on
- Mobile record of use
- Mobile Internet
Haven’t set up a Customer Centre account yet? Sign up now!
How are these caps applied?
There are two different kinds of data overage caps:
The data overage charges that are applied to you are calculated on a pay-per-use basis, after you’ve exceeded the data allowance included in your monthly plan and add-ons.
When do these caps come into effect?
These caps come into effect for new customers as of December 2, 2013.
For existing customers, the new caps will be implemented as of the first monthly billing cycle following December 2, 2013.
E.g. If your monthly billing cycle begins on the 13th of each month, the new caps will apply as of the billing cycle beginning on December 13, 2013.
What if I choose to opt out of these caps?
First, it is important to know that you have flexibility when it comes to opting out of these caps: you can opt out of just one, or both, depending on your needs. Once you’ve opted out of a cap, you’ll be able to exceed your data allowance without limit and you’ll be charged for any overage on a per-use basis.
To help you better manage your data use, Videotron will send you a text alert:
- when you reach $40 in data overage charges on the Videotron or partner network,
- when you reach $80 in data usage while roaming in the rest of Canada and abroad.
How do I reactivate caps on my data overage charges?
If you’d like to reactivate caps that you’ve opted out of, please contact Customer Service at 1 800 561-4248
1. These caps will come into effect as of December 2, 2013, according to your billing date.