TORONTO, June 11, 2026 – New rules from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on cellphone and internet plan fees will take effect on June 12. The rules remove certain extra charges related to activating, changing or cancelling plans. For newcomer families, international students, seniors and small businesses that often compare cellphone plans or are preparing to switch internet providers, bills and contract details should be reviewed carefully before signing, renewing or cancelling service.
Cellphone and internet costs are fixed expenses for most households. In the past, some consumers may have hesitated to switch to a cheaper plan because of activation fees, plan change fees, cancellation fees or other administrative charges. For low-income families, households with multiple phone lines, newcomers who recently arrived in Canada and seniors with limited English, telecom contracts can be complicated, and there can be gaps between customer service explanations, promotional prices and final bills.
The CRTC said the new rules are intended to reduce fees that discourage consumers from switching services and to give users more choice in cellphone and internet services. This means residents comparing plans from different providers should not look only at the monthly price. They should also confirm whether there are still device balances, rented equipment, installation services, optional services or other one-time charges. Some fees may not fall under the banned categories, so consumers still need to check each item carefully.
It is especially important to understand that removing extra fees does not mean every contract can be cancelled at no cost. If a cellphone contract includes a device subsidy, installment payment or rented equipment, consumers may still need to pay the remaining device balance. Home internet service may also involve routers, modems, in-home installation or other equipment fees. Before switching providers, residents should ask their current service provider for a written list of charges, rather than relying only on information given by phone.
For newcomers and international students, common risks include focusing only on promotional prices when signing up, not understanding the contract term, failing to keep chat records or order confirmations, overlooking after-tax prices, or not knowing when a promotional period ends. If seniors have children helping manage cellphone or internet plans, they should also confirm whether the account holder, authorized contact and payment account are consistent, to avoid identity verification issues when cancelling or transferring service.
Consumers preparing to change cellphone plans, cancel home internet or sign up for new service should carefully check their bills after June 12 to confirm whether they are still being charged fees related to activating, changing or cancelling plans. If they believe a fee is unreasonable, they should first ask the service provider for an explanation and keep bills, contracts, customer service records and ticket numbers. If the issue cannot be resolved, they can then use telecom complaint channels for further follow-up. After the new rules take effect, checking bills proactively will be more important than trying to recover fees later.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
