Shaw Rates Increasing & Speeds Decreasing

[KTrain]

http://www.shaw.ca/Customer-Bulletin...te-Adjustment/

Effective January 1, 2015, Shaw is increasing regular monthly rates on all Internet plans to support continued investment in building and supporting the Internet experience you need now and in the future.

Canadians use the Internet more than anyone else in the world. We are doing more than just browsing the web and checking email – we’re conducting business, watching videos and movies, streaming TV shows and talking to our loved ones with video chat. Today the average home has 10 WiFi devices with modern appliances, tablets, phones, and home security all increasing traffic on the network. By 2018, Internet traffic is estimated to triple*.

We’re committed to delivering you the best Internet experience as we grow our hybrid fibre-optic network, in and out of the home, to keep up with your online activities. At Shaw, we love the Internet as much as you do and we know the best is yet to come.

No official announcement on the speed changes but this is what I saw on Reddit:
http://www.reddit.com/r/shaw/comment...te_adjustment/

Effective Jan 6th (One day after the price increase):
Shaw 100mbps becomes Shaw 60mbps
Shaw 50mbps becomes Shaw 30mbps
Shaw 25mbps becomes Shaw 15mbps
Shaw 10mbps becomes Shaw 5mbps

[Ozy_Flame]

They've already started charging me the increased fee for a billing cycle that starts and ends on the 9th of every month. Couldn't wait to ding me the full increased cost for nine days of January rather than a pro-rated rate.

Shaw is losing me as a customer - Optik TV is so much better IMO.

[calgarygeologist]

This is brutal if true. I was considering make a switch to Telus because of this recent price increase and if the broadband packages are decreasing that will push me over the edge. I'll have to visit a Telus store in the next few days to get things figured out (their website was useless in helping me determine if I can get service and what sort of bundles they offer.)

[InglewoodFan]

I guess I'll just bend over and take it, still no Optik available in my neighborhood. Has anyone ever come across any information on Telus' roll out plan for the rest of the city?

[photon]

Are current speeds grandfathered in?

[burn_this_city]

The Shaw boys must need another ivory back scratcher.

[Erick Estrada]

I posted this a few weeks ago. Sooner or later we would be paying for the people cutting the cord.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by photon

Are current speeds grandfathered in?

There doesn't appear to be a conclusive response to that based on the Reddit discussion.

[REDVAN]

Most users won't really notice a difference unless they are on the lower two tiers.

I have "free" Shaw in my new community for the first year... of which I upgraded from 10 to 25... so I guess I'm now down to 15...

I'm planning on going to Telus after the first free year is up anyway- I had Telus for 6 years prior at my old house.

[PsYcNeT]

#shawsucks @shawhelp @shawinfo

[btimbit]

Was planning on switching to Telus anyway in the new year since my promotional pricing with Shaw ends. Now there's another reason

[Azure]

So is there an actual reason they would be doing this other than screwing over the customers?

[MarchHare]

If this turns out to be true, I'll be switching to Telus out of spite. Reduce the quality of service while at the same time increasing prices? That's a 100% guaranteed way to lose my business.

[RW99]

Get a contract with Telus as I wont be suprised if they adjust their rates and speeds as well.

[Bob]

Dropping speed = 100% loss of customer, and I've had Shaw for nearly 10 years.

Apparently people are calling in and getting different answers. Some are being told existing customers will retain their speeds, while others are saying everyone will drop.

[Ragz]

Looks like my Broadband 50 went from $80/month to $85. That is fine, prices increase, but if my 50mbps service becomes Shaw 30mbps, I am 100% dropping Shaw.

[Caged Great]

Well that's just great. Unfortunately, there are no other options in this area. Where's google Fiber when you need them.

[Ozy_Flame]

Teck Savvy might be an option?

[Bob]

I care mostly about uplink since I do a lot of remote-access. Given that I can get 50/10 with Telus vs. 50/3 with Shaw I don't even know why I'm considering staying with Shaw other than the hassle of switching. I'd like Telus 100, but that doesn't seem to be available where I live.

However, if it's just a $5/mo increase I can stomach that for now I guess.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Teck Savvy might be an option?

Who/what are they?