From Shaw to Rogers Internet: How I Keep Paying The Same Low Wifi Bill

On the day my Internet contract with Shaw was about to expire, I was able to score a good deal.

I’m not sure whether I should give myself a pat on the back or berate for waiting till the last minute. I did both.

Why did I put it on the calendar a week before to simply ignore it?

If it’s not on my Notes and definitely on my Calendar. For now, Reminder app is unnecessary.

Old Internet Plan: Shaw Fibre+ 75

Instead of paying the full price ($95), I was paying $63 a month for having a two-year contract.

I don’t like being stuck in a contract but it wasn’t a bad deal either.

And the best part is I get to pay anything on my mobile phone. How did that happen?

Long story short, I bought an iPhone in cash and switched to Shaw Mobile.

I didn’t get any plan. By having Shaw wifi, I get to have talk and text for free. I paid by The Gig, that is, 1 GB of data valid for three months.

This tremendously helps me to avoid doomscrolling while saving on my phone bill every month.

Now back to Shaw wifi. We all know by now that Shaw was acquired by Rogers so my home Internet and phone data is under the mercy of Rogers. Will they increase everything?

I’ll likely pay higher both for my home wifi and phone data. Fortunately, I didn’t.

Related Post: Give Back Through Kiva

New Internet Plan: Rogers Ignite Internet 300

I received an email from Rogers (farewell Shaw) offering me Ignite Internet 500 costing me $80 per month (2-year ValuePlan). After the contract, it will cost me $115/mo for the same plan.

Did I fall for this seemingly sweet offer? No, hence the procrastination till the last day.

In the same email, I click the offer and didn’t proceed.

As a true-blue introvert, I chose to chat with an agent instead of calling. It was more complicated than I thought but still doable .

The moment of truth: I requested to get the same rate as what I am currently paying.

With the power invested in me by my touch typing skill (help! I’m stuck with 45 wpm), I was courageous enough to ASK. Yes to the power of asking.

I did it. The agent gave me the same rate. Out of excitement, I didn’t care what plan it was.

Then I have to type YES and input a code and wait. I thought I was going to be late for work. Perfect timing.

In the end, everything went well. I received another email confirming my new Rogers Internet plan and off I ate for lunch and rushed to get ready for work. And no, I wasn’t late. Almost.

Note: I didn’t sign up for Disney+ because I found out that I will have to call if I want to cancel the service after six months of free access. As a result I’ve been getting emails reminding me to sign up and not miss out the deal.

NO, thanks. I managed to get a new Internet service provider without calling so why will I have to make a phone call to cancel something on which I’ll probably be encouraged to start paying a subscription for a low price.

Returning the Ignite Entertainment Box

Because I decided not to sign up for Disney+ and not buy a TV (I haven’t own one since I was in college), I had to return the Ignite Entertainment Box. Again, I used the chat box on the website.

1. I was given a Canada Post Return ID Policy Number.
2. I packed the box and drop it off at a Canada Post.
3. I gave the Canada Post Return ID Policy Number and the staff put a label on the box.
4. I was given a receipt with tracking number. Done. Fast and easy.

The receipt and tracking number will serve as a proof that the box was returned in case it shows up on the bill as unreturned equipment charge.

Internet Service Provider Alternatives

After signing up to Rogers and occasionally browsing on Facebook (I have 15-minute limit a day), I found other Internet service providers offering probably better deal than what Rogers gave me. (Did I just have a buyer’s remorse?)

• Lightspeed (lots of affordable choices)
• Moby ($45/month is the cheapest plan)
• Oxio (information is required to view the internet plan, why?)
• TekSavvy ($57.95 is the cheapest plan)

For my next Internet contract renewal, I will choose a provider without a contract if possible; otherwise, I’ll check the options I listed above several months before my current contract expiration.

I’ll probably find other providers because I’ll make sure to do my research and remind myself to update this post.

Final Thoughts: Keep Asking

I am still waiting for my first wifi bill for the new plan.

And waiting for my phone to be transferred to Rogers as well. The staff at Rogers said I will get something in the mail or it will be automatically transferred with my same phone number. I hope so.

The lesson of the post is to simply ask be it via chat (I am forever grateful to this) or call.

Ask. It wouldn’t hurt to ask. (But I was anxious.)

Why is it so hard to ask? If I make it a habit to ask within reason, then maybe, it will become a second nature.

Rejection might sting but approval is such a sweet win.

Also you may have notice (or not) that I haven’t written in a long time, but I am back now. I missed writing, venting, and researching so I’ll write and turn my oodles of draft into published posts in the following days.

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