OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the Consumers Association of Canada Tuesday published an open letter to CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais decrying the Commission’s decision to call carriers in for a meeting on paper billing practices instead of allowing for a public process.
Both PIAC and the CAC had submitted a formal application to the CRTC, asking it to prohibit charging Canadians an extra fee to receive a paper bill.
The CRTC issued a press release last week noting it has called the industry in to explain itself. "We are concerned that not all Canadians have a reasonable choice when it comes to paper bill fees for communications services”, said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais, in the statement last week.
A closed process that sets aside PIAC’s and CAC’s complaints is contrary to the “consumer-first” ethos chairman Blais has espoused since his appointment, says the letter. “A private, behind-closed-doors meeting with only the industry to determine whether and what Canadians will pay for a simple paper copy of their communication bills – that they then have the joy of paying – says quite clearly that the CRTC puts Canadians outside in the cold,” the groups wrote.
“In addition, dismissing our formal complaint without any notice nor opportunity to defend its requests takes a powerful advocate away from the average Canadian, and in particular vulnerable Canadians. We have no confidence that the formal requests in our complaint will be raised by the Commission in the closed-door meeting nor that the arguments we made and would have made about the cost of this practice to consumers will be seriously addressed,” it continues.
PIAC claims Canadians pay $600 million a year for paper bills, “(a)nd if the ‘agreement’ reached at this private meeting blesses the practice, those companies that presently do not charge may begin charging – so even if the amount per bill is lowered, this tab could actually go up,” adds the letter. In an e-mailed response to a Cartt.ca request, PIAC said the report which deduces the $600 million figure is not yet fully complete and will be released in approximately two weeks.
“Finally, we deplore the basic unfairness of the communications companies involved effectively penalizing Canadians for not taking internet access (which they sell) when customers may only have, and only want, for example, wireline telephone or cable TV service.
“Silencing public advocates and holding private meetings to dispose of real consumer problems is not what you promised the Commission would do. We ask that you set this right or explain to Canadians how the Commission is putting them at the centre of their communications system.”
On Wednesday, the Commission responded to PIAC and the CAC with its own letter from chief consumer officer Barbara Motzney. “I acknowledge your disappointment that your application is not going forward. I also acknowledge and appreciate that your organizations brought an important issue to the attention of the Commission, one that is being acted on,” she wrote.
“You and all Canadians can be assured that acting in the public interest is paramount for Tom Pentefountas, vice-chair broadcasting, and Peter Menzies, vice-chair telecommunications, as they enter into discussions with the companies. In fact, we expect the companies to step up on August 28 and come up with clear and predictable approach to paper bill fees, if any, as well as exemptions for any such fees. The Commission is prepared to explore regulatory options if the industry fails to find an appropriate approach.”
