Telus apologizes to defecting customers over price on carbon support
After sending out a tweet in support of the federal government's proposed carbon pricing plan, Telus has issued an apology to angry customers threatening to take their business elsewhere.
As a founding member of <a href="https://twitter.com/smartprosperity">@smartprosperity</a>, we support <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/cathmckenna">@cathmckenna</a> in putting a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PriceOnCarbon?src=hash">#PriceOnCarbon</a> <a href="https://t.co/sUfpxqEmJq">https://t.co/sUfpxqEmJq</a> <a href="https://t.co/XCvKUvoYbP">pic.twitter.com/XCvKUvoYbP</a>
—@TELUS
The telecom giant said the tweet was not meant to be partisan or political, and apologized for it in another tweet sent today.
Our carbon pricing tweet late yesterday was not meant to be partisan or political, but we know it appeared that way, and we’re sorry.
—@TELUS
We take your input very seriously and your feedback will inform our sustainability policies and initiatives going forward.
—@TELUS
Within hours on Tuesday night, Telus's offending social media high five to carbon pricing had sparked multiple responses from disgruntled people identifying themselves as customers.
- Trudeau sets 'floor' carbon price of $10 a tonne by 2018, $50 by 2022
- How a carbon price will affect your pocketbook
Kevin Lacey, Atlantic director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, called Telus "an embarrassment" in his own tweet. He added he was a longtime customer who wanted a good phone service, not an advocate for higher taxes.
Many other individuals tweeted they would be leaving Telus and seeking wireless plans from alternative providers.
Customer service representatives for rivals Shaw, Rogers and Bell also tweeted at Telus customers offering their services and detailing their wireless packages.