Overview
- Bell and Virgin removed the $80 connection fee after the CRTC banned activation and modification charges for phone and internet plans.
- Bell added a one‑time $40 device handling charge that appears on the next bill and applies to device orders placed by phone, in stores, and online.
- Bell says the fee covers the labor and logistics of fulfilling a device order, does not apply to bring‑your‑own‑phone customers, and excludes smartwatches.
- For customers, the charge is harder to avoid because it also applies to online orders, so the clearest way to skip it is to buy a phone elsewhere and choose a BYOP plan.
- The CRTC’s March ruling takes effect June 12, 2026 and allows recovery of reasonable hardware‑fulfillment costs, a gap critics say could let carriers shift revenue from banned fees.