CRTC prohibits television providers from requiring 30-day notice for service cancellation

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced today that Canadians will no longer be required to give advanced notice when cancelling their television service. Typically Canadian television providers require 30-days notice for service cancellation.

The decision comes as a result of the CRTC’s Let’s Talk TV hearings in September. The CRTC cited expressed desire from consumer groups and individual Canadians during the hearing as motivation for the change. The decision also extends to Internet and telephone service providers.

Here’s what the CRTC had to say about the decision:

“We understand the frustration many Canadians feel about having to give 30-days notice, even at the end of a contract term, to change their television, Internet and telephone service providers. Some consumers end up paying two companies for the same service as they transition from one provider to another. In a dynamic marketplace, it should be easy for Canadians to switch providers given that service plans and offers are constantly changing. Today’s decision ensures that this is a reality for television, Internet, and telephone, as well as wireless services.”

The change follows a similar decision in 2011 to make it easy for Canadians to switch telephone providers while retaining their phone number, and more recently, the Wireless Code of Conduct implemented in December of last year, which allows customers to terminate a wireless contract without 30-days notice. The CRTC’s decision also comes at a time when the major cable providers are gearing up to compete with streaming video services; if you’re not a Rogers customer and want access to Shomi, now may be the perfect time to switch.

[source]CRTC[/source]