‘We don’t speak Canadian’: Calgary truck owners frustrated with dealer, app company

A Calgary couple who recently purchased a new pickup truck have found themselves in a bind, at odds with the dealership who sold them the vehicle and the accompanying app.

When they tried to end the service with a U.S. company, the pair says they were met with anti-Canadian rhetoric.

Jay and Renee Harris purchased their Ram truck three months ago at Tower Chrysler and were offered a three month trial for a feature within the Ram app called ‘valet mode’.

“It stops people from stealing your car… If a valet would take your car for a joyride or whatever, it diminishes the horsepower and turns off a lot of the features,” Jay explained.

After the trial period, the Harris’s asked the app company, Connective Services, to have the feature removed.

But, according to Jay, the US-based company asked for a credit card to cancel the app. This confused the owners as they weren’t buying the service, so they said no.

“They were terrible.  I actually told them we were in Canada and was going to make a complaint to Chrysler Canada and they were like ‘Sure, we don’t even speak Canadian,'” Jay said. “They’re extorting us to get money out of us to be able to use our vehicle.”

Tensions between the Canada and U.S. have flared since the possibility of sweeping tariffs was presented by President Donald Trump.

His proposal to place a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods and a 10 per cent tariff on oil and natural gas was paused until at least next month.

However, the very threat has sparked a sense of unity among Canadians –encouraging the purchase of Canadian-made products at the grocery store, puling U.S. made booze off the shelves, the cancellation of trips to the U.S., and the booing of the American national anthem at sports events.

CityNews went with Jay to the dealership to talk with the general manager to get the app removed. After 10 minutes in the office, the two of them emerged with Jay satisfied that the problem would be resolved.

“They’re going to be calling somebody, not sure who, somebody from Chrysler I’m assuming [on my behalf],” he said.

In a statement from the dealership, agent Ryan Murdoch Phelps said a solution has been found.

“I believe the situation has been rectified and it was probably blown out of proportion,” he said.

CityNews has reached out to Connective Services for comment.

The experience has left a bad taste in Jay and Renee’s mouth, they say all Canadians need to work together.