Favourite Cell Phone Providers

Love your cell phone but hate the dropped calls? You're not alone. But where could you get better service and value?

Everyone has an opinion about their cell phone company -- and while a Consumer Reports survey of 18,000 Canadian subscribers shows two-thirds of us are satisfied -- that leaves a large number who are not.

"You just can't find a cell phone provider that has service that is reliable and consistent," complains cell phone user Chris Carlin.

In the week the survey was conducted, 37 per cent of those surveyed reported dropped calls

"I'd be calling him if he's away and then all of a sudden wait a sec where did he go," noted another cell phone user.

In the survey 26 per cent said they'd had a service failure, Ten per cent said they encountered overloaded circuits, Thirty-four per cent experienced static and the number one complaint? The cost.

"When you compare with friends from the U.S., Canada's rates are a lot higher," noted Carlin.

So who is the best cell phone company according to the survey?

It wasn't Telus or Fido. It wasn't Rogers or Bell

It was Virgin Mobile.

Launched in 2005, billionaire Richard Branson used a monster truck to crush cars representing hidden fees. Virgin does not charge a monthly system access fee and it also has flexible plans that users can switch between without penalty.

"We're going to come and shake up the mobile phone business in Canada and free everybody from the horrible contracts they have from other mobile phone companies," said Branson back in 2005.

The other remaining service providers: Fido, Telus, Rogers and Bell all rated about the same.

Telus got a better score for resolving customer issues. Bell had the highest number of subscribers considering switching to another company -- 43 per cent.

But for one disgruntled cell phone user there was one issue missed by the survey: the added cost of paying for incoming text messages.

"Fifteen cents a text adds up really quickly," he griped.

With more competition coming in the cell phone business in Canada it will be interesting to see how that affects service.

Fitness clubs facts

Many of us start the New Year trying to shape up. Unfortunately statistics show many people don't stick with the program. In fact, 30 per cent of us quit in the first three months. Something to keep in mind before you sign a lengthy contract.

When choosing a fitness club, think location, location, location. If it's not nearby you won't use it. Your local community centre might be an affordable option. Tour and inspect the facility, ensure the instructors are qualified. Talk to current members about the club and find out how long it's been in business. Know what matters to you.

And think outside the box -- getting in shape doesn't necessarily mean pumping iron or running endlessly on a treadmill. But now there are many options including boxing. Dance classes, racket sports, yoga and Pilates. Pick something you like -- you're more likely to stick with it.

If so many people drop out in the first three months -- you should probably think twice about buying a membership right away.

Consider paying month to month instead of signing up for a year or longer. Or get a punch card to use as you go. Check if there are added fees for classes. While it's usually cheaper to sign up for longer -- if you quit -- or the club goes out of business -- you'll lose your money.

Under BC law there is a cooling off period when joining a fitness program. If for any reason you change your mind - you have 10 full days to cancel the contract. Same thing applies if you sign up with one of those diet companies.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen.