Understanding cell phone tab plans in Canada

Once Rogers abandoned their contract model for the “Tab” plans it was clear as day from my perspective that “Tabs” were nothing more than cell phone contracts in disguise. The only difference with tabs is that in most cases they don’t require a person to have good or any credit. The cell phones collateral is over priced cell phone they’ll give in order to trap you into staying with them.

I’m sure teens and young adults reading this could care less but to you parents out there I think it’s a bad idea to start your kids off by getting them used to getting in debt at such early stages in their lives. Personally I don’t purchase of phone I can’t afford and one of the funniest things I observe as a person that owns my cell phone is how many promotions are thrown my way for me to sign her for benefits I get without signing anything.

I purchase my cell phones for cash from suckers trapped in “tabs” or contracts who have to upgrade their phones anytime a new one comes out. Often I’ll get a cell phone for 1/3 of it’s retail worth sometimes for even less if it’s scratched. Getting a used phone to look like new now a days isn’t hard and finding a desperate sucker who wants to get a new cell phone is pretty easy.

The tab model keeps poor kids looking cool around their friends which is okay but don’t be fooled a tab is nothing more than a contract and if you don’t believe try breaking your tab plan early and see what happens. There is no such thing as a free phone and tabs are one of the factors contributing to Canadians being some of the largest debtors in the world right now. Be careful and remember that the tab is just a fancy word for a contract.