YELLOWKNIFE – Bell Mobility has been named in a class action lawsuit launched by two Yellowknife men who say the mobile carrier charges for locally non-existent 911 service.
Justice Ronald Veale certified the lawsuit as a class action for customers living in the Northwest Territories. James and Samuel Anderson are suing Bell Mobility for charging 75 cents a month in 911 emergency access fees, even though 911 service is not available in the in the territory.
According to a CBC report, a cellphone user who dials 911 in Yellowknife receives an automated message saying "There are no 911 services in this area. Please hang up and dial the emergency number for your area, or hang up and dial 0 to reach an operator." Nunavut and most of Yukon also do not have access to 911 service.
