Porting from Rogers with contract

[boon]

I'm planning to port my existing phone # from Rogers Home Phone to FPL. The problem is that I've contract with them until Sep 20, 2011.
I wonder when is the best time to send the request thru FPL? Do I need to provide 30 days notice to Rogers or wait until the contract end date to submit my porting order to FPL?

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

[bridonca]

Since I do not know Rogers policy for this week, you are best to call Rogers on guidance.

This is what I would do if I valued the number. On the 15th, call Rogers and strip down all the features you can to the bare minimum to get the cost as low as possible, Say something about going away for a few months.

I would begin the porting process with Freephoneline on August 16th, and if Rogers obeys the law, you should have your number ported by the 19th. When ported, call Rogers and give your 1 month notice. You will still be on the hook with Rogers for that last month even if you are not using it. But at least you will be paying the stripped down price.

There is a chance Rogers would be more reasonable, but who are we kidding?

[Jake]

I think no matter how you do it you will be stuck with paying for a months notice with them, which as Bridonca says will be as low as possible.

The way I would try and look at it is -
You will paying for something you are not using for a month - BUT - you will also be using something that you are not paying for during that month. So it evens itself out and it is just like you stayed with them for one more month.

Then the next month you will forget all about it, because you won't be paying them anymore!

I would suggest the route above also, it is probably the safest and cheapest way to move to FPL with your number intact.

[boon]

To be on the safe side, I think I'll start initiate the porting process after the contract date (about 1 month from now). Technically, if I initiate the porting process now, it's considered cancelling my current service with Rogers immediately (correct me if I'm wrong) and which is still within the contract period. And I cannot call Rogers for cancellation by providing 30 days notice again (which this service is already terminated during porting process?)

I've read somewhere from other forums that Rogers can be nasty and will charge back all the "discounts" given for the contract period.

[bridonca]

No, you will get charged twice the longer you wait. You are on the tail end of the contract, so there is nothing Rogers can charge other than what you agreed upon on the contract. port now, and then cancel when you get your number ported. you wait a month, you have to pay an extra month you are not obligated to pay.

[boon]

I still have to pay for the Early Cancellation Fee (ECF) to Rogers (which is $20 for remaining 1 month) + 1 month notice if I cancel it now. If I follow my earlier plan, I've to pay $23 monthly fee + 1 month notice.

I'll still save $3 if I do it early.

Below are part Terms and Conditions from Roger's website
"EARLY CANCELLATION FEE (applicable to term commitment customers only)

Cable (TV, Internet or Home Phone): An Early Cancellation Fee (ECF) applies if, for any reason, your Service is terminated prior to the end of the term of your Service Agreement (Service Agreement Term). Unless otherwise indicated, the ECF is $20 per month remaining in the Service Agreement Term, to a maximum of $200 (plus applicable taxes) for a 1-year term commitment, a maximum of $400 (plus applicable taxes) for a 2-year term commitment, or a maximum of $600 (plus applicable taxes) for a 3-year term commitment, and applies to each Service that is terminated. Rogers may allow for the cancellation of your Service without any ECF if cancellation is requested within 30 days from date of activation"

[bridonca]

But you are not canceling early. You are giving your notice. You are still going to pay for the last month. It is just that you will not use it. If you wait a month, you will pay an extra month, and will still not be paying for service you cannot use during the last month.

[boon]

I think I'm confuse here.

Timelines (contract end date) = Sep 20, 2011

Scenario1 - Cancelling "Within" the contract period
1) Eg Call Rogers to cancel on Oct 24, 2011 (assuming I submit porting request to FPL on Oct 19)
- Pay cancellation fee + 1 month notice (officially the phone service end 30 days from the cancel date?)
- Payment wise = $20 + $23(or whatever billing end date)

Scenario2 - Cancelling "After" the contract period
1) Eg Call Rogers to cancel after Sep 24, 2011
- Pay current usage + 1 month notice
- Payment wise = $23 + $23(or whatever billing end date)

For both cases, I'll still unable to use the Rogers phone services for 1 month (final month) which is fine with me.

I suppose if I triggerred the porting / giving notice to Rogers, termination/cancelling will take place automatically?

[bridonca]

Don't expect anything to be automatic.

If you give your notice August 20th, as per the contract, you still have to pay for the period from August 20th to September 20th. After that, you are free and clear. If you give your notice September 20th, you will also have to pay for the period of September 20th to October 20th, so there is a monthly fee pissed away.

You could do a port request with FPL around September 15th, but Rogers will have your nuts in a sling, and still could drag their ass until the next billing period. Or they could "lose" the number. They are that filthy.

For your sanity, just Call Rogers on the 19th, and tell them you are giving them your 1 month's notice as per the contract. On the 21st, start the porting process with FreePhoneLine. You will pay rogers for the month and not have service, but you will assure your number is ported, and won't pay more than you have to to. Don't drag this on.




After that, you are not longer tied to Rogers, and I hope you learned from your mistake when it comes to contracts. Y

[boon]

Thanks for your explanation bridonca.

I thing I'm confuse here. Once I call Rogers (say on 19th) and then on 21st start the porting process with FreePhoneLine, don't Rogers "refuse to let the phone# being ported"? I read somewhere from other forums saying not to inform "your current provider" first before doing the porting. Is that true? I worried that I might lose my phone#. Thanks.

[bridonca]

Thanks for your explanation bridonca.

I thing I'm confuse here. Once I call Rogers (say on 19th) and then on 21st start the porting process with FreePhoneLine, don't Rogers "refuse to let the phone# being ported"? I read somewhere from other forums saying not to inform "your current provider" first before doing the porting. Is that true? I worried that I might lose my phone#. Thanks.

These are 2 separate issues though. You have to give Rogers a month's notice to terminate service, contract or no contract. That should be illegal, but it is not. Go through the motions, and let that be a reminder to never go on a contract. Ever.

Your other issue is porting. You have to have service active with Rogers to be able to successfully port. In your situation, you are giving Freephoneline 30 days to port that Rogers number over, which should be plenty of time. If Rogers was a decent carrier, there would be an agreement between Freephoneline and Rogers to set the porting date for September 20th. I would not trust Rogers in doing that, better to get the port as soon as possible, and guarantee you do not lose the number.