The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has given Bell and Telus until June 17 to respond to its requests for information regarding the carriers’ recently added replacement activation fees.
Ahead of new CRTC rules that prohibit certain types of fees, like activation fees, both Bell and Telus replaced their connection fees with other charges. Bell started applying a $40 handling charge to device purchases, while Telus expanded when and where it charges $15 for a SIM card.
The commission sent letters to both carriers saying the new fees may also violate the rules, and suggested they remove the new fees before the CRTC pursues regulatory action.
Now the CRTC has sent follow-up letters to both providers seeking information about the new fees.
For Bell, the carrier actually replied to the CRTC’s initial letter on June 10 with another letter arguing that its new device handling fee doesn’t violate the rules.
Despite Bell’s arguments, the CRTC asked the carrier to “confirm whether Bell has nonetheless ceased its practice of charging a device handling charge to customers opting to purchase a device along with their wireless service plan” by June 17, 2026.
In its letter to Telus, the commission used similar wording, asking Telus whether it has “ceased its new practice of charging its customers a SIM purchase fee.” If not, the CRTC wants Telus to explain why it thinks the SIM fee complies with the new fee ban, again by June 17.
Moreover, the CRTC reaffirmed in both letters that it hopes the fee issues “could be resolved before the Commission takes more formal regulatory action now that the prohibition has come into effect.”
While it remains to be seen what will happen with the fees, as of June 16, Bell still charged its $40 device handling fee, and Telus still charged its $15 SIM fee. Moreover, Rogers just joined them with its own new $40 device setup charge.
Ultimately, I expect at least one carrier, if not all three, will push this fight further. It remains to be seen whether the CRTC will follow through with regulatory action, or if that action will have any teeth.
