Quebecers Try to Sue BCE/Telus over TXT Charges

Two crazy Quebecers are fighting the power named BCE and Telus, over the plans for two of the three telecom oligopoly participants to charge 15 cents per incoming text message.

Bell Mobility subscriber Eric Cormier and Telus subscriber Natalie Martin initiated the suits and say both companies are acting illegally by unilaterally changing the terms of cellular contracts with their clients.

Neither class action suit has been approved by a judge. The cases are to be presented in September and lawyers say the legal process could take more than a year if approved.

"What we're trying to get the court to say is that for the duration of a contract . . . the telephone company should not be able to unilaterally modify the conditions of the contract," said lawyer Noel Saint-Pierre.