What was supposed to be clarified by phone led to a number of canceled appointments. The owner of a Lacolle marina is so “fooled” by Bell engineers that he has to run his business without an internet connection for seven months.
“There’s never any progress,” exclaims Paul Picard from the Marina Rose des Vents in southern Montérégie.
His company, near the Richelieu River and the American border, was visited by a Bell technician on November 3rd.
The date for an internet connection was agreed after the company Trango announced that it would end its service in the region in spring 2023.
That day, the telecoms giant’s employee was unable to connect Mr Picard’s marina, even though fiber optics were available.
This is because the marina is between the river and the railway. The Marina Reception is the only building located this side of the tracks.
“The engineer needed a gondola to run the wire across the railroad track, but he didn’t have one,” says Paul Picard.
” Not practical “
The marina still has no internet connection today as the sea season has started. The owner has to unplug his computer every two days to bring it home.
In this way, he can send the payroll data of his three employees, as well as the accounting data, to his office in Saint-Eustache.
His company’s payment terminal works with a mobile phone chip. “Let’s say it’s impractical,” the man muses.
Multiple calls
After missing November’s appointment, Paul Picard multiplied steps with Bell to get his connection in time for the season.
At the beginning of May, a new technician appeared, but he too had no basket.
“We need to speak to the Bell engineers, but even customer service or technical support can’t get through to them,” notes Mr. Picard.
Pending Bell’s reply, he adds that the marina’s telephone line – connected by… Bell – already runs over the railroad track, at the same point as the Hydro-Québec lines.
Bell says it encountered “technical problems” near 204 McGee Road in Lacolle, where the marina is located.
Intervention by CN and Hydro-Québec would be necessary.
“Our teams and those of our partners are working together to get the job done as quickly as possible,” a spokesman said.
At Rose des Vents Marina, the next visit from a Bell technician is now scheduled for October.
“We’ll see if they show up,” jokes Paul Picard.