Wireless Services / International Data Roaming
This class action seeks to compensate customers who paid roaming fees when using the Internet on their wireless devices (cell phones and tablets) outside Canada. Roger, Bell and Telus are being sued for charging abusive fees.
Latest news
In the summer of 2022, the defendants asked the Court to order that some of the documents the plaintiff intends to file with the Court be filed under seal, so that they would not be accessible to the public. A hearing is scheduled in November 2023 to rule on this issue.
Expert reports also need to be filed by each party.
Once those steps will have been completed, trials date will be requested from the Court.
Conditions to be part of this class action
You are part of the class action if you meet all of the following criteria:
1- you paid roaming charges of more than $5.00 per megabyte (MB);
2- you paid these charges after January 8, 2010;
3- you were a customer of one of the following companies :
Rogers Wireless, Fido Solutions, Chatr Wireless;
Bell Mobility, Virgin Mobile Canada and Solo Mobile;
Telus Mobility and Koodo Mobile.
The Case
In January 2013, Inga Sibiga filed a class action against wireless service providers who charged consumers abusive international roaming fees for using the Internet on a wireless device while outside Canada.
Until the filing of the action, the defendants were charging from $5 to $31 per megabyte for international data roaming. These rates are exaggerated and greatly exceed their fair market value.
Authorization of the class action was initially refused by the Quebec Superior Court. However, TJL appealed this decision and won.
On August 10, 2016, the Quebec Court of Appeal authorized the class action and appointed Inga Sibiga as representative for the following persons:
All consumers residing in Quebec who were charged data roaming fees by the respondents at a rate higher than $5.00 per megabyte after January 8, 2010.
The action seeks a reduction in the price paid, as well as punitive damages.
Justice Judith Harvie, j.s.c., has been appointed to hear all proceedings in the case.