What should have been resolved in a phone call turned into a series of canceled appointments. The owner of LaCole Marina was “cheated” by Bell engineers, so he had to manage his business without an internet connection for seven months.
“It will never, ever, ever improve,” exclaims Paul Picard of Marina Rose des Vents in southern Monterrey.
A Bell technician visited his company on Nov. 3, located near the Richelieu River and the U.S. border.
The appointment for internet connectivity comes after Drango announced that its service in the region will be discontinued in the spring of 2023.
On that day, the telecom company employee Mr. Couldn’t connect to Picard’s Marina, but got fiber optics.
This is because the marina is located between the river and the railway line. The marina reception is the only building on this side of the rail.
“The technician needed a nacelle to cross the wire over the railroad, but he didn’t have one,” says Paul Pickard.
“No practice”
As the sea season has started, there is still no internet connection in the marina. The owner must unplug the computer to bring it home every two days.
In this way, he can send payroll data and accounting data for his three employees to his Saint-Eustache office.
His business’s payment terminal works on a cellular chip. “Let’s just say it’s not practical,” the man ruminates.
Many calls
Following a missed appointment in November, Paul Pickard stepped up with Bell to get his contact in time for the season.
A new technician appeared in early May, but, again, he had no basket.
“We need to talk to Bell engineers, but not even customer service or tech support agents can reach them,” said Mr. Picard notes.
Anticipating Bell’s response, the marina’s telephone line – connected by Bell – crosses the railway line at the same point where the Hydro-Québec wires already are.
For its part, Bell says it encountered “engineering issues” near 204 McGee Road in LaCole, where the marina is located.
The intervention of CN and Hydro-Québec is essential.
“Our teams and our partners are working together to get the job done as quickly as possible,” a spokesperson said.
At Rose des Vents Marina, the next visit by a Bell technician is now scheduled for October.
“We’ll see if they come,” quips Paul Pickard.
“Travel aficionado. Incurable bacon specialist. Tv evangelist. Wannabe internet enthusiast. Typical creator.”