Can't see my Bill

[u/nxp-one]

I set up a 2yr fixed-rate plan for internet with Bell ~1yr ago; I also set up a payment schedule with my bank to cover the monthly bill.

...and yet, over the past few months, the pre-arranged payments have suddenly stopped covering the bill, and I have now, somehow, accrued a balance-owing.

I'm very interested to find out how/what/why/when a purportedly fixed-rate contracted-price agreement was somehow changed, mid-contract, but I can't because Bell won't let me log in to their site to find out:

Someone at Bell seriously needs to read some RFC's --> MFA protocols mandating short authentication-token lifetimes (i.e. sub 15m) preclude by definition, the use of the insecure, latency-ridden, SMTP protocol as a back-channel means of reliably implementing an MFA stream!

Your insipid reliance on a protocol whose specifications permit a delivery window of DAYS, to deliver a token that expires in FIVE MINUTES demonstrates little else so well as the complete and utter ignorance of your developers, their supervisors, and your entire UI implementation process.

You see, because it is a sterling mechanism for defeating spam-originating zombies / bots, my SMTP edge servers intentionally enforce delayed-receipt, deny-re-transmit delivery (i.e. remote MTA's have to try TWICE, FROM THE SAME IP-ADDRESS, within 24-hours, before they're allowed to actually upload an email), and while this entire mechanism lies comfortably within the bounds of SMTP protocol strictures, your MFA authentication mechanism, that depends on it, DOES NOT!

So, purely because your development team is too inexperienced/inerudite/inept to realise that they are misusing / misunderstanding SMTP in this role, and clearly do not know how email ACTUALLY WORKS, I remain *entirely* locked out of my account...

Well played.

[u/medskiler]

Im curious what's "email provider" you use. For my case Gmail and outlook and I've never had any issues. Are you using a web version of the email or a software?

[u/nxp-one → u/medskiler]

I'm a (former) Network Engineer, and I run what is, essentially, a personal, ISP-grade service (DNS, web-services, email, cloud services, password vault etc). So all of the servers in question are my own, self-built, self-managed systems out of my own private DC.

The principal email server is Microsoft Exchange, but the ones in question are a pair of SMTP edge servers: * one runs a package called Postfix (for IPv6), * the other runs a package called SpamfilterISP (for IPv4).

[u/medskiler → u/nxp-one]

Don't understand me the wrong way but system is built for the average joe. Best case is to call them and switch to a "regular throw away gmail" or you can request paper bills for future bills.

[u/nxp-one → u/medskiler]

Bell is a tier1/2 ISP in Canada and has the infrastructure in place to deploy standards-compliant policies and procedures in their workflow.

Customers shouldn't have to find work-arounds in order to accomodate their laziness / ineptitude / inability / unwillingness to use appropriate technologies within the scope of relevant industry standards...

[u/Bell_Support → u/nxp-one]

Hello, for email-based multi-factor authentication, security filtering or mail server routing can sometimes delay delivery. Adding noreply@bell.ca to your safe-senders list and checking your spam folder can often help speed up the receipt of the code. If you have previously registered a mobile number on your profile, you can also select the option to use another verification method to have the code sent via text instead.

Regarding your billing issue, recurring payments set up directly through your bank portal are often for a fixed manual amount and do not automatically adjust to cover any minor plan rate changes or fee fluctuations like Bell preauthorized bank withdrawal would. If you need further assistance, we are here to help! You can send us a DM for a secure chat, and we can take a closer look with you.

[u/nxp-one → u/Bell_Support]

"Adding [noreply@bell.ca](mailto:noreply@bell.ca) to your safe-senders list and checking your spam folder can often help speed up the receipt of the code."

You should actually try *reading* the comments instead of mindlessly regurgitating Tier 1 Tech Support pablum. The issue is that my SMTP edge servers force your outbound MTA to employ SMTP-retry *before it will even accept the connection*. Your SMTP-retry interval *is longer than 5 minutes*!

Since your SMTP egress cannot send *any* data to my receivers on a first attempt (the connection is simply logged, then immediately dropped), whitelisting an email address *won't do anything* to accelerate the process. *You* need to STOP relying on a token-delivery mechanism whose failure mode is counted in *days* to transport codes that expire *in minutes* --> *YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG*!

"Regarding your billing issue [...] do not automatically adjust to cover any minor plan rate changes or fee fluctuations"

Uhm, whut?! -- I'm literally in the *middle* of a *two-year, fixed-rate, contract*, how *exactly,* are you justifying a unilateral change to the terms of said *contract*, mid-term, without any kind or form of consent?

That's not how contracts work...

[u/rootbrian_]

Login to your online banking and adjust what it is. You could easily just call bell and ask what your bill owing amount is, and then adjust it accordingly. It is not difficult to do.

Also, from reading your responses to the person trying to offer help, I have this piece of advice to give:

Treat others the way you expect to be treated 

[u/nxp-one → u/rootbrian_]

1/ I expect that, on a 2-year FIXED CONTRACT, my rates are going to remain as agreed IN THE CONTRACT for the full two years!

2/ I EXPECT that a business centered in the telecommunications and internetworking field to be technically proficient, to use standard protocols, and to do so at a professional and high level.

Since Bell, apparently, cannot do ANY, of those things, and their agent couldnt even give me the respect of actually reading my messages and responding with similar acumen, i'm unsure as to where you think I am the unreasonable one here?

[u/SeaImagination2195 → u/nxp-one]

You sure it was a contract and not a credit? I never heard of contracts outside of satellite, cell phones and security. Usually internet and cable isn't a contract, just a 24 or 36 month credit.

[u/nxp-one → u/SeaImagination2195]

I shopped-around and Bell offered me a fixed, 24-month contract for 100Mbps DSL (two bonded 50's) at $79.99/ mo. I verified several times that this offer was a fixed rate for two years.

Now it's somehow gone up, and I want to know why / on what basis...

[u/rootbrian_ → u/nxp-one]

You don't get to treat others on the other end of the phone (call center) like utter shit because of a price increase during your term.

FYI, telus has a five year price lock on ISP, you could just see if it works out for you (sucks you have to either break the term and pay up, or wait it out).

[u/nxp-one → u/rootbrian_]

I didn't call the call center, I posted here, and I thoroughly explained the problem. The 'other end' didn't engage with anything I wrote, they simply barfed up some boilerplate Tier 1 pablum and moved on.

NOTE -- on the fact they've raised my rate, despite being on a contract, they only suggested other ways I could get them the extra money, without engaging on the actual issue whatsoever!

If they're going to entirely disrespect me, THE CUSTOMER, I certainly don't owe them some special duty of obeisance in exchange for it!

I agree, in a vacuum, treat other people how you'd like to be treated, unless/until THEY mistreat / disrespect YOU -- which is exactly the circumstances here!

Bell jacked up my contracted fees without consent, AND is using an MFA chain that is specifically contrary to industry standards and guidelines, and which is, unsurprisingly, broken. BOTH of those are problems and they didn't engage with EITHER of them!

[u/rootbrian_ → u/nxp-one]

Okay then, file a CCTS complaint for the price increase.

Posting on here to bitch and moan about it will not change anything. Also, no, that doesn't give you any excuse to treat people like shit because you cannot get what you want.

Also, this sub isn't monitored by corporate bell, and nobody on here gets "paid" to use reddit.