After a major network outage, Rogers is the subject of an application for authorization of class action in Quebec.
The firm LCP Avocat filed its request at the Montreal courthouse on Monday. The request concerns customers of Rogers, Fido and Chatr, who did not receive service during the July 8 and 9 outage, as well as customers who were unable to complete a banking transaction.
LCP Avocat alleges, among other things, that Rogers misrepresented itself by claiming that its network was “the most reliable in Canada”.
The request comes after a major Rogers network outage on Friday and Saturday. Millions of Canadians have lost access to their cell phone service, including 911 dialing, and their Internet access. The outage also caused problems for the police, courts, Service Canada, broadcasters and Interac technology, among others.
Rogers said on Twitter that it will proactively credit all customers affected by the outage and will have more information to share about compensation soon.
Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said he plans to meet with Rogers President and CEO Tony Staffieri and other telecommunications leaders.
Losses for SMEs
The blackout has also caused inconvenience to many small businesses, denounces the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
The group’s president and CEO representing small businesses, Dan Kelly, says some small businesses lost thousands of dollars in the outage.
The outage was a source of frustration for small business owners who were unable to process online orders, use food delivery apps and even process debit or credit card transactions.
Kelly believes business owners should get a free month of service from Rogers to make up for losses that have occurred just as businesses try to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.
The owner of Morning Parade Coffee Bar in Toronto, Elektra Simms, says she lost a few hundred dollars because many customers left to find another place to work because the establishment’s Wi-Fi network failed. was not functional.
Since debit payment services were also down, Ms Simms told many regulars who couldn’t pay that they could cover their purchase on their next visit.