This Image Proves Just How Much Phone Companies Are Screwing Canadians

When choice isn't really choice.

Every Canadian has been there before. You're shopping around for a new cellphone plan and everything you look at seems suspiciously similar.

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Almost as if the plans are literally the same.

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It's not just you. It's no accident that the big three — Rogers, Telus, and Bell — offer monthly plans that are identical. The same goes for smaller companies like Virgin, Fido (owned by Rogers), and Koodo (owned by Telus).

We're not saying it's price fixing because that would be illegal, but every company certainly seems to be looking to their competition when setting prices.

And never has that been more apparent than in this graphic made by Reddit user ReAn1985 comparing various plans offered in Alberta.

ReAn1985 / Via reddit.com

As you can see, the "bring your own phone" data/minutes/texting plans from Fido, Virgin, and Koodo are identical at every price point. They range from $35 a month for 200 minutes, unlimited messaging, and 100MB of data to $95 for unlimited minutes and messages as well as 5GB of data.

The Bell, Rogers, and Telus plans are also identical in their offerings.

It's worth noting, however, that prices may vary by province or if a particular carrier is having a promotion. Some provinces may also have access to other providers, like SaskTel in Saskatchewan.

And even though Canadians knows in their blood that the country's competing telcos aren't terribly competitive with their pricing, seeing it laid out still stings. And it stings even worse to hear what people in other countries pay for their plans.

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$32!!!

😩😩😩

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Basically:

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It's the Canadian way.