Dialing Toll Free numbers from Canada

Calgary · Post by **Calgary** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:57 pm

Good Day!

My apologies in advance if this question has previously been asked/answered. I was unable to find a suitable current solution.

I am attempting to call an 800 or 866 (both toll free numbers) from my new MJ located in Canada with a 403 area code.

No matter what toll free number I call, I get the same reply being "you have dialed a number which is not available from your calling area"

I tried putting and asterisk in the second position (something I read on this forum) with the same results.) I contacted the online help for MJ and they advised that 'our technicians are working to solve this problem'.

Would anyone be aware of a 'workaround' which may solve this issue ?

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 6:01 pm

I have had this happen a few times since I got my MJ in Aug 2008, just 2 weeks ago in fact. It seems to clear up on it's own after a few days. I always chalk this up to MJ server problems. I would suggest IF after the weekend you are still having problems, bite the bullet, and contact MJ online support.

Joe Sica

tony · Post by **tony** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:51 pm

Calgary wrote:I am attempting to call an 800 or 866 (both toll free numbers) from my new MJ located in Canada with a 403 area code.

Would these 1-800 numbers happen to be located in the USA? Some US vendor's 800 numbers only work in the USA even though they will sell and ship to Canada and accept Canadian credit cards. When I call those 800 numbers from my landline and I get the "...not available from your calling area", I then use my US based MJ phone and it works. But because your MJ has an Alberta number, those 800 numbers will not accept your call.

If this is the case, there is no work-around using your MJ, it's how those US based 800 numbers are set up--to only accept calls from US based numbers. You can make a long distance toll call to their non-800 number. You pay the long distance cost.

Nobody beats the Whiz! · Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:20 am

tony wrote:You pay the long distance cost.

In this case, since he's using a MJ, the call would still be free for him.

(I'm pretty sure you meant to say that.)

tony · Post by **tony** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:32 pm

Nobody beats the Whiz! wrote:In this case, since he's using a MJ, the call would still be free for him. (I'm pretty sure you meant to say that.)

Yeah, you're right. it would be toll free for him/her to call the company or organization's non-toll-free number using their MJ.

I had a slightly different situation. I had used my landline to call a US company using their toll free number. They wouldn't accept a call from Canada so I used my MJ with a US based number to call their 1-800 number and they accepted the call (and made a sale).

When the original poster provides more info we'll have a better idea of what's going on. S/he may be trying to call a Canadian 1-800 number after all. More info would help (general hint to all people posting).

Calgary · Post by **Calgary** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:16 pm

Thanks for your replies.

To clarify, the toll free numbers I have been attempting to dial are all located within Canada. (as am I)

I tried various different toll free numbers (ie. government numbers, businesses, etc.) just to see if any would work, however none will go through and I still get the same message being "you have dialed a number which is not available from your calling area."

These numbers are working as I have called using a regular phone.

It was the MJ Live Agent help who had said that their technicians were working on this issue. But they were unable to offer a workaround.

tony · Post by **tony** » Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:29 am

Thanks for the added details. That's a weird one, not sure why it won't work. My MJ has a US based number so that won't help as a test. Keep trying with your MJ. Anyways have fun with your MJ.

somemikeguy · Post by **somemikeguy** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:43 pm

I FIGURED IT OUT!!

YOU **CAN** DO IT.

read "yes you CAN indeed" post in this forum.

seomontreal · Post by **seomontreal** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:52 am

somemikeguy wrote:I FIGURED IT OUT!!

YOU **CAN** DO IT.

read "yes you CAN indeed" post in this forum.

Do you have the link to that post? I can't find it and I'm having the same toll free issues.

Matt9876 · Post by **Matt9876** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:33 am

Repost from thread "yes you CAN indeed"

I FIGURED IT OUT!! YOU **CAN** DO IT. And here is how.

Of course, it'll cost ya a few bucks, under 6 bucks after tax.

And a quick disclaimer:: I am not associated with anyone who works for Cici, nor do I myself, I simply know they work. I insulate homes for a living, and happen to use Cici cards to avoid paying insane Long Distance rates to my cell phone provider.

I tried this just out of curiosity the other day- I have tried 3 different Canadian toll free numbers, and they all worked flawlessly, I've no reason to believe that any Canadian toll frees wouldn't with this workaround.

Buy a $5 Cici Long Distance card. You get 200 minutes.
Dial your local access number, 1 for english, your pin, the toll free #.

In reality, you will likely hit the 6 month expiration of the card before you use 200 minutes on toll free numbers. Unless you dial insane amounts of toll free, but who does, really, when *if* a non-toll free number is available, its free to dial from MJ.

Of course, some government services, etc, there is only toll free numbers, so at times you DO need to dial them, period. And now we can.

So, given your MJ costs ya twenty bones a year, your total home phone service costs ya $30, when ya factor in two $5 Cicis a year.

I am not sure if other LD cards would work for toll frees, simply certain that Cici's DO WORK. And hey, they've been around for years, no monthly BS maintenance costs or nothing with them, I've always found you get the most for the best price with them.

So, it sucks, I know, you have to fork out a few bucks to dial toll free Canadian numbers.

On the bright side, if there are any US toll frees that you wanted to dial in the past, and always got the standard "the number you have dialed is not available from your calling area", well, MJ lets ya dial all the American toll frees you like.

In any case, even if it means you fork out $32 a year (when ya include a few five buck Cici cards) for unlimited LD home phone service, that's still less a year than Ma Bell or any cable companies offer for a single month.

stewgm · Post by **stewgm** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:22 pm

Hi, I think that using a calling card is kinda defying the purpose here. However, you could always use PINGO (CAD 0.047 per min for toll free calls). Again, a lot of numbers to dial.

I would really appreciate any insights on how to call these toll-free numbers (one of them is my bank!). I also cannot call my husband's cell. This is because he is using a specific area code that Telus has just started to use in our area. I contacted MJ 2 months ago and again today. They tell me they are working on it and to be patient. I also tried, when calling my husband, the *674*38-xxx-xxxx suggestion listed on another site. This got me to a quick voice message that said that I had reached a specific MJ number that indicated the connection to MJ was good. ALL help would be appreciated!

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:34 pm

tony wrote:
Calgary wrote: it's how those US based 800 numbers are set up--to only accept calls from US based numbers. You can make a long distance toll call to their non-800 number. You pay the long distance cost.
What long distance cost???? Calls from MJ to US and Canada do not incur any other charges beyond the initial purchase price and annual renewal. Think before you hit enter....

stewgm · Post by **stewgm** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:20 am

Perhaps YOU should READ before you hit enter!! Yes calls through MJ are free BUT if you use a calling card or PINGO those companies will charge you for the time spent on their servers. This is simply a work around to be able to call numbers - such as area code 438 in Montreal and some toll free numbers beginning with 888 and 877 - that I cannot reach directly through MJ (a recorded message comes on indicating the number dialed is outside of my calling area).

Bill in Toronto · Post by **Bill in Toronto** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:11 am

The real issue here is dialing a Canadian 800 number from a MJ with a Canadian dialing area number (eg. 416). (Purchased at $10 extra) I've posted elsewhere that I get an error message when I call Canadian Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-5525. After waiting several days for whatever info is need for the servers to be populated with correct instructions, the female error message continues to say: The number you have dialed is not available from your calling area, error 0032.

Bill in Toronto

Kaveh · Post by **Kaveh** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:41 pm

I've had the same experience but with a different twist. I'm unable to get through to several 866 numbers in Canada. I have no issues dialling US 866 numbers. What happens when I dial the Canadian 866 and some 800 numbers, after a few seconds I get three buzzes then silence. I contacted tech support today (Oct 24, 2010) and was told that they're aware of the problem and a solution will soon be available but they couldn't guarantee a timeframe. I put my name down on the interested-parties and they said that whenever the solution is available the interested parties (and I get a feeling that there're lots of them) will be notified by email. Meanwhile, I switch to my landline to call these numbers.

KH.

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