Mobile phones in Canada
Jul 14th 2006, 4:30 am
#16
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Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Edmonton,AB
Posts: 32
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
I bought my Motorola phone here last time and it was awful it had to be plugged in constantly but would never reach a full charge
im looking for a phone here and some kindof deal im thinking of virgin too but im not sure
i still cant get my head around the fact that here your charged for incoming calls too
im looking for a phone here and some kindof deal im thinking of virgin too but im not sure
i still cant get my head around the fact that here your charged for incoming calls too
Jul 14th 2006, 4:39 am
#17
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Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Sherwood Park
Posts: 1,709
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
We just ended up buying a virgin pay as you go $69 from Zellars, this includes $10 card.
Everyone wanted $200 (per phone) bonds if we wanted a contract.
Linda P
Everyone wanted $200 (per phone) bonds if we wanted a contract.
Linda P
Jul 14th 2006, 4:48 am
#18
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Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Edmonton,AB
Posts: 32
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Originally Posted by Linda P
We just ended up buying a virgin pay as you go $69 from Zellars, this includes $10 card.
Everyone wanted $200 (per phone) bonds if we wanted a contract.
Linda P
Everyone wanted $200 (per phone) bonds if we wanted a contract.
Linda P
do you get free evening and w'end calls?
Clare
Jul 14th 2006, 5:49 am
#19
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Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Originally Posted by ClareEdm
That sounds like an ok deal i never had a contract in the UK either so i was looking for a pay as u go
do you get free evening and w'end calls?
Clare
do you get free evening and w'end calls?
Clare
Not that I know of...... terrible isn't it, I really don't know, I only have it for emergencies in case the school needs to contact me.
Linda P
Jul 14th 2006, 5:59 am
#20
The Seldom Seen Kid
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Thanks for the warning. I think I know what you mean, though - when I did my landing trip I was sat in TD Canada Trust almost in tears at the banking products on offer. I think I need to be prepared to pay at least $50 a month for a phone - I currently pay next to nothing as I have PAYG and top it up maybe twice a year. Not grumbling though - I chose to emigrate and at least I have some idea of the costs involved :scared:
Suze[/QUOTE]
The Virgin that iaink mentions is about the best deal goin, though all the PAYG phones are pretty grim. I had a Nokia from Presidents Choice $10min per month Credit went in no time. You pay to receive too and its extra to make a non local call.
Phones are just one of those things that simply arent as good here.
If you need them for emergencies only you'd be better off bringing your UK phone with PAYG SIN in it.
Most UK phones can be topped up via the web so it doesnt matter your over here. However, check can receive and MAKE calls with it from Canada.
My T Mobile would receive though I couldnt make outgoing calls.
I think with O2 for example you only have to make a call every 6 months to keep the number active.
PM me if you have any more queries.
Suze[/QUOTE]
The Virgin that iaink mentions is about the best deal goin, though all the PAYG phones are pretty grim. I had a Nokia from Presidents Choice $10min per month Credit went in no time. You pay to receive too and its extra to make a non local call.
Phones are just one of those things that simply arent as good here.
If you need them for emergencies only you'd be better off bringing your UK phone with PAYG SIN in it.
Most UK phones can be topped up via the web so it doesnt matter your over here. However, check can receive and MAKE calls with it from Canada.
My T Mobile would receive though I couldnt make outgoing calls.
I think with O2 for example you only have to make a call every 6 months to keep the number active.
PM me if you have any more queries.
Jul 14th 2006, 6:31 am
#21
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Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,219
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Isn't it only classed as long distance when you have to dial the 1?
over here in montreal we have the 514/438 overlay, and the 514 to 450 in Laval and Montenegrie is definitely not charged as long-distance.
Yeah the Virgin mobile network seems to be as good as any. One thing i think is a major rip off is when you set up the phone you have to choose an area to get the phone number with the area code. The trouble is if you work outside the area code you are charged long distnace calling which sucks. Also the reciever of the call also gets stung to recieve the call.
over here in montreal we have the 514/438 overlay, and the 514 to 450 in Laval and Montenegrie is definitely not charged as long-distance.
Originally Posted by dobbing
Yeah the Virgin mobile network seems to be as good as any. One thing i think is a major rip off is when you set up the phone you have to choose an area to get the phone number with the area code. The trouble is if you work outside the area code you are charged long distnace calling which sucks. Also the reciever of the call also gets stung to recieve the call.
Jul 14th 2006, 8:27 am
#22
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Location: United Kingdom
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Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Thanks for the info. I've looked at the Virgin site but can't see how the topups are valid for before they expire. Is it a month?
One of the reasons I was thinking of getting a contract was that I'd just have a mobile and no landline and maybe buy a package deal from Rogers to include TV, Internet and mobile... I'm still in the early stages of research though.
Suze
One of the reasons I was thinking of getting a contract was that I'd just have a mobile and no landline and maybe buy a package deal from Rogers to include TV, Internet and mobile... I'm still in the early stages of research though.
Suze
Originally Posted by iaink
Are you sure it wasnt a musk rat?
Anyway...
Phones. If you dont do much calling and just want one for emergencies and shopping lists on the way home (thats what mines for) Then virgin is the best canadian deal. PAYG, you can get a functional not too big Nokia for 60 or 70 bucks, then $100 will last you a year, with calls costing 25 -30 c / min, and roll over on the balance if you top up before it expires.
Top ups can be automated by credit card when your balance is down to a certain level, so credit is carried over that way. As preciusly stated it uses the Bell network, but miraculously is far cheaper to run as PAYG goes. It includes voicemail, text messaging etc etc. No downside that Ive found yet, the phone even has quite stellar reception, which counts for a lot where I live!
If you talk a lot, then a contract is a better bet. Outside the bigger cities you might want to talk to people with experience of which provider has the best rural coverage and reception. Round here its Bell. Fido was a non starter, but recently I think it joined with Rogers in some way, so is probably better now.
Anyway...
Phones. If you dont do much calling and just want one for emergencies and shopping lists on the way home (thats what mines for) Then virgin is the best canadian deal. PAYG, you can get a functional not too big Nokia for 60 or 70 bucks, then $100 will last you a year, with calls costing 25 -30 c / min, and roll over on the balance if you top up before it expires.
Top ups can be automated by credit card when your balance is down to a certain level, so credit is carried over that way. As preciusly stated it uses the Bell network, but miraculously is far cheaper to run as PAYG goes. It includes voicemail, text messaging etc etc. No downside that Ive found yet, the phone even has quite stellar reception, which counts for a lot where I live!
If you talk a lot, then a contract is a better bet. Outside the bigger cities you might want to talk to people with experience of which provider has the best rural coverage and reception. Round here its Bell. Fido was a non starter, but recently I think it joined with Rogers in some way, so is probably better now.
Jul 14th 2006, 8:31 am
#23
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Joined: Oct 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 288
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Ah, that explains it - I hadn't appreciated that there was a difference between pay monthly and a contract!!! LOL...
Not sure if I can even get a credit card when I first get there, so this is going to be fun...
Push-to-talk sounds a bit crazy! I'll be moving on my own, so I'll have nobody to walkie talkie with, but thanks for the explanation. I'll have to bear that in mind...
Thanks for the info!
Suze
Not sure if I can even get a credit card when I first get there, so this is going to be fun...
Push-to-talk sounds a bit crazy! I'll be moving on my own, so I'll have nobody to walkie talkie with, but thanks for the explanation. I'll have to bear that in mind...
Thanks for the info!
Suze
Originally Posted by kt0157
An activation kit is $25, if I recall correctly. Pay monthly has an "activation charge" too (there are charges EVERYWHERE in cellphone land in Canada).
Just a point: the dealer claimed that pay monthly didn't need a contract. I think it just got charged to a credit card, so there was no minimum sign-up (warning: in Canada, minimum sign-ups are typically 18 months, often 36 months!).
Push-to-talk is like a walkie-talkie: you push a button and talk, and it comes out of the other end without ringing, just the voice. Great for wandering through supermarkets and saying "where the Hell are you?" without ringing phones, pay-per-minute (note: per-second billing is not common in Canada, yet another crappy-American-screw-the-customer manifestation; Canada is just way too close to the Excited States for its own good). Push-to-talk works Canada-wide and can include groups. Great for nearly-hands-free operation too.
Yep. It's all the fault of the Americans: they get away with ripping off customers in a way that would make a big UK corporation salivate. Canadian corporations (the few not owned by the Excited States) just copy them.
K.
Just a point: the dealer claimed that pay monthly didn't need a contract. I think it just got charged to a credit card, so there was no minimum sign-up (warning: in Canada, minimum sign-ups are typically 18 months, often 36 months!).
Push-to-talk is like a walkie-talkie: you push a button and talk, and it comes out of the other end without ringing, just the voice. Great for wandering through supermarkets and saying "where the Hell are you?" without ringing phones, pay-per-minute (note: per-second billing is not common in Canada, yet another crappy-American-screw-the-customer manifestation; Canada is just way too close to the Excited States for its own good). Push-to-talk works Canada-wide and can include groups. Great for nearly-hands-free operation too.
Yep. It's all the fault of the Americans: they get away with ripping off customers in a way that would make a big UK corporation salivate. Canadian corporations (the few not owned by the Excited States) just copy them.
K.
Jul 14th 2006, 8:32 am
#24
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Joined: Oct 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 288
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Hi
Yeah, it was the topup thing that put me off the PAYG. I figured I might as well just pay monthly and be done with it. I'll have to look into it some more...
I'm trying to work out ways of getting a credit history there too - it will help no end. I tend to take it for granted a bit here as I never had to put in any effort to build it up (got offered first credit card when I became a student).
Suze
Yeah, it was the topup thing that put me off the PAYG. I figured I might as well just pay monthly and be done with it. I'll have to look into it some more...
I'm trying to work out ways of getting a credit history there too - it will help no end. I tend to take it for granted a bit here as I never had to put in any effort to build it up (got offered first credit card when I became a student).
Suze
Originally Posted by Andy_Jen
Pleasure. There are PAYG plans that will roll-over your minutes as long as you top up before they expire. It is all really complicated as K. says. Mobile phone plans generally seem to be lagging behind compared to the UK...but wait until you look at banking fees!! 
A contract may be cost effective, but I'm not sure how easy it is to do without a credit-history or job. In the UK when I first arrived 10 years ago it took me several years to get approval for a mobile phone....rebuilding credit sucks but I'm trying to look at it as an opportunity (not that I had bad credit in the UK - just trying to be positive).
We've been in Ottawa a week and are really enjoying it. We went today for a walk along the riverside and down to a beach (trans-canada trail). Absolutely beautiful and we even saw a beaver.
Hope it all goes well for you,
Jen
A contract may be cost effective, but I'm not sure how easy it is to do without a credit-history or job. In the UK when I first arrived 10 years ago it took me several years to get approval for a mobile phone....rebuilding credit sucks but I'm trying to look at it as an opportunity (not that I had bad credit in the UK - just trying to be positive).
We've been in Ottawa a week and are really enjoying it. We went today for a walk along the riverside and down to a beach (trans-canada trail). Absolutely beautiful and we even saw a beaver.
Hope it all goes well for you,
Jen
Jul 14th 2006, 8:40 am
#25
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Posts: 288
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Hi
Yeah, I've checked out the Virgin handsets and the one I have now is a lot nicer! So I'll have to decide if I want access to cheap mobile telephony or to keep my handset.
Unfortunately my Orange PAYG phone doesn't work in Canada at all. I'm going to have to bite the bullet...
Suze
Yeah, I've checked out the Virgin handsets and the one I have now is a lot nicer! So I'll have to decide if I want access to cheap mobile telephony or to keep my handset.
Unfortunately my Orange PAYG phone doesn't work in Canada at all. I'm going to have to bite the bullet...
Suze
Originally Posted by Buchan6
The Virgin that iaink mentions is about the best deal goin, though all the PAYG phones are pretty grim. I had a Nokia from Presidents Choice $10min per month Credit went in no time. You pay to receive too and its extra to make a non local call.
Phones are just one of those things that simply arent as good here.
If you need them for emergencies only you'd be better off bringing your UK phone with PAYG SIN in it.
Most UK phones can be topped up via the web so it doesnt matter your over here. However, check can receive and MAKE calls with it from Canada.
My T Mobile would receive though I couldnt make outgoing calls.
I think with O2 for example you only have to make a call every 6 months to keep the number active.
PM me if you have any more queries.
Phones are just one of those things that simply arent as good here.
If you need them for emergencies only you'd be better off bringing your UK phone with PAYG SIN in it.
Most UK phones can be topped up via the web so it doesnt matter your over here. However, check can receive and MAKE calls with it from Canada.
My T Mobile would receive though I couldnt make outgoing calls.
I think with O2 for example you only have to make a call every 6 months to keep the number active.
PM me if you have any more queries.
Jul 14th 2006, 1:03 pm
#26
The Seldom Seen Kid
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Originally Posted by Suzey
Hi
Yeah, I've checked out the Virgin handsets and the one I have now is a lot nicer! So I'll have to decide if I want access to cheap mobile telephony or to keep my handset.
Unfortunately my Orange PAYG phone doesn't work in Canada at all. I'm going to have to bite the bullet...
Suze
Yeah, I've checked out the Virgin handsets and the one I have now is a lot nicer! So I'll have to decide if I want access to cheap mobile telephony or to keep my handset.
Unfortunately my Orange PAYG phone doesn't work in Canada at all. I'm going to have to bite the bullet...
Suze
Hi Suze
cheap mobile telephony doesnt exist here !
What you can get that are good are cheap international calling cards You dial a local number then your overseas on prompt $10 gets you over 4 hours to UK. All you pay for on the cell is the first couple of minutes to bill on your cell.
Virgin top ups last 90 days
All others Ive seen last 30.
You can prabably unlock your Orange phone and get a UK PAYG that does work. I used a guy off ebay cost a couple of quid. PM me if you want the details.
Woekmate of mine has just applied and received a credit card from Canadian Tire, Been here a nd working for a couple of months. Even your own bank is likely to want say $10K dowm for $5K limit....crazy eh !!!
Jul 14th 2006, 10:41 pm
#27
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Re: Mobile phones in Canada
OK, I meant *relatively* cheap 
I don't think I'll be needing to call abroad much, or if I do I'll use Skype or something like that.
Currently I top my Orange phone up once every few months as the credit doesn't expire.
When I went to TD Canada Trust she said I could have a credit card if I gave them $1k to secure it. She said "it's not fair for us to keep your money and not give anything back, so we keep it in a savings account for you until you get an unsecured card". The interest on the savings? 1%. The length of time I'd have to secure my card? Three years. No way am I doing that...
Suze
I don't think I'll be needing to call abroad much, or if I do I'll use Skype or something like that.
Currently I top my Orange phone up once every few months as the credit doesn't expire.
When I went to TD Canada Trust she said I could have a credit card if I gave them $1k to secure it. She said "it's not fair for us to keep your money and not give anything back, so we keep it in a savings account for you until you get an unsecured card". The interest on the savings? 1%. The length of time I'd have to secure my card? Three years. No way am I doing that...
Suze
Originally Posted by Buchan6
Hi Suze
cheap mobile telephony doesnt exist here !
What you can get that are good are cheap international calling cards You dial a local number then your overseas on prompt $10 gets you over 4 hours to UK. All you pay for on the cell is the first couple of minutes to bill on your cell.
Virgin top ups last 90 days
All others Ive seen last 30.
You can prabably unlock your Orange phone and get a UK PAYG that does work. I used a guy off ebay cost a couple of quid. PM me if you want the details.
Woekmate of mine has just applied and received a credit card from Canadian Tire, Been here a nd working for a couple of months. Even your own bank is likely to want say $10K dowm for $5K limit....crazy eh !!!
cheap mobile telephony doesnt exist here !
What you can get that are good are cheap international calling cards You dial a local number then your overseas on prompt $10 gets you over 4 hours to UK. All you pay for on the cell is the first couple of minutes to bill on your cell.
Virgin top ups last 90 days
All others Ive seen last 30.
You can prabably unlock your Orange phone and get a UK PAYG that does work. I used a guy off ebay cost a couple of quid. PM me if you want the details.
Woekmate of mine has just applied and received a credit card from Canadian Tire, Been here a nd working for a couple of months. Even your own bank is likely to want say $10K dowm for $5K limit....crazy eh !!!
Jul 15th 2006, 2:23 am
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 45
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Originally Posted by neill
Isn't it only classed as long distance when you have to dial the 1?
over here in montreal we have the 514/438 overlay, and the 514 to 450 in Laval and Montenegrie is definitely not charged as long-distance.
over here in montreal we have the 514/438 overlay, and the 514 to 450 in Laval and Montenegrie is definitely not charged as long-distance.
Jul 15th 2006, 12:37 pm
#29
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
simple nbut important check for bring a UK GSM phone..
Check the GSM coverage for the are you're planning on moving to
the GTA and lower BC have great coverage... But significant parts of Canada are still analog and you're phone won't work at all..
Thats why a Canadain tri band phone is GSM, other, and analog
Check the GSM coverage for the are you're planning on moving to
the GTA and lower BC have great coverage... But significant parts of Canada are still analog and you're phone won't work at all..
Thats why a Canadain tri band phone is GSM, other, and analog
Jul 15th 2006, 3:32 pm
#30
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,771
Re: Mobile phones in Canada
Expirey of Virgin top up is dependent on how much you $ you put in. I think (and this is my memory, so dont trust it) at $10 its a month, at $25 it lasts 3 months, and at $100 its a year. Its on the site somewhere, but its not the easiest site to get past the bullshit and find what you are actually looking for. in the FAQs maybe? Just call em up when you are in Canada on the 800 line and ask them.
Deals on phones in Canada are not as great as the UK, but what can you do. When in Rome and all that.
Deals on phones in Canada are not as great as the UK, but what can you do. When in Rome and all that.
