they are full of crap, Bell uses CDMA, just pick a plan that they have and thats it. there is CDMA and GSM(rogers and fido) this phone is a CDMA phone. All they need to do is enter in your phone number,SID into your phone and the ESN into their system. Thats it. Don't let them try that one on ya. Go to a different store and see what they say. Ask them to activate it, make sure you have the unlock code sheet that tigerdirect provides.