What happens if you're over Rogers' new prepaid limit?

Rogers will be changing the cap on its prepaid wireless accounts to $150 — a change announced to existing Pay-As-You-Go customers via text message.

In a statement sent to Yahoo Canada Finance, a Rogers spokesperson issued the following statement:

“We’re updating our pre-paid services by introducing a $150 balance cap at the end of 2018 to help customers use our service in a better way. The cap will give customers plenty of room to use their phone as they like, without carrying or building a large balance. Over the next year, we will be in touch with impacted customers to help them use any balance that’s above the cap in a way that’s right for them.”

The text sent to customers contained the same messaging.

Customers reported the change to The Toronto Star because they were carrying balances well in excess of $150, and were concerned what was going to happen to the remaining balance if they weren’t able to use it up.

Any customer who will be impacted by the change will be contacted directly from Rogers or Fido, depending on the banner they have services under. Customers are required to top up the phones with at least $100 each year. The change, announced Dec. 27, 2017, was made to prevent customers from carrying over a large balance from year to year.

Rogers is working with customers to find ways to use up those balances, although details of the cap, change or options if a customer is carrying a balance are not immediately available on the Pay-As-You-Go information site.

Customers will have several options if they are contacted by Rogers about a surplus balance. They may get a balance extension, a hardware upgrade, or have the opportunity to buy certain devices or exclusive postpaid phone plans.

The change won’t come into effect until the end of 2018, so customers have time to make changes.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.