Can't call 800 numbers in Canada

[billm]

I recently purchased a MagicJack with a Candian 604 number (Vancouver, BC). When I try calling Canadian 800 numbers I get the message "You have dialed a number that is not available in your calling area 0032". I called MagicJack tech support and they said the engineers are aware of the issue, were working on it, but could give no date when it would be resolved. I then had the following uninspiring chat with their tech support folks:

Bill: Is there information in your knowledge base regarding this. I searched and couldn't find anything. What is the article name?

Fiona: Unfortunately no, it has not yet been posted as of the moment, our website manager is still working on it.

Bill: How can I place an article in your knowledge base?

Fiona: I must inform you that it is not yet possible as of now.

So now I am a member of the "Unofficial magicJack forum" and curious as to how widespread this issue is. Can any magicJack users call 800 numbers or is the problem restricted to callers with Canadian area codes or 800 numbers that are Canada based? I haven't tried calling US 800 numbers to see if they work.

The number that fails for me is: 800-959-5525 (GST automated info line).


Bill

[Kenny2469]

Same thing with me, I am in Vancouver, but cannot call any canadian 800 numbers, but free reign to call any of the US 800 numbers that I could have never called from my landline... Probably cuz it all goes through their main hub somewhere in the US and technically considers all MJ phones to be based out of the US...

[carllykos]

Same here in Markham, can't call 1-866....

[sabresfan]

It all depends on who your calling and how they receive calls. The business that owns the 800 number pays for every call that comes to them and they may block U.S. or even certain Canadian exchanges from calling them. This may explain it better then I can http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toll-free_telephone_number but it gives the basic info on how 800 numbers work. Under the North American section it gives some details on this.

[billm]

To clarify: The problem is that 800 numbers that should be reachable from my calling area (604) are not reachable from my MagicJack 604 number. The number I posted should be reachable from 604 and is reachable from my landline and cell phone 604 numbers but not MagicJack. The 800 routing service does not see these calls as coming from area code 604 but probably an American area code which is not allowed access.

[Insteadof]

I think this issue is either back or growing. The issue for me started last week. Worked fine before this. I "chatted" with the help line today and at first they made it sound like it was a problem with the line I was calling. Then they asked for 5 numbers that failed. I gave them Sun Life, Shaw, Manulife, Rogers, Labatts. Then they started looking. I was told that they sent a note their engineers. There is what appears to be an error message on the screen but is flashes by too fast to read. Something about 100......

[mtmouse]

This is from my 'chat' today.

Hazel: mj cannot call canada toll free numbers for now
Hazel: mj can call 911 and usa toll free number for now
Hazel: for canada it is still on working procress

[magicsux]

I called MagicJack tech support

Bill

How did you call when they got no Contact number???

[fir2]

Neither Air Canada not Air China's Canadian 800 numbers are working for me. My mj no. is a 647 (toronto) number but I'm currently living in northern BC.

I went to the US air china website and the 800 number is the same for the US. I tried it. Not working. I get a recording to call my system administrator.

OK, air canada, now. Truns out it's the same 888# in the US. Same problem. But, no recording, only a busy signal.

All this went on for days. I tried on my cell phone and both calls went right through. But, my cell phone is expensive and, in part, why I have magic jack!

SO, they do have a problem with toll-free numbers called from Canada.

[Kenny2469]

At this time I can not call ANY toll free numbers... They all sit for about 10 seconds, followed by fast busy...

[nailgunner]

The number that fails for me is: 800-959-5525 (GST automated info line).


Bill

I have a US number and it works for me. So must be a Canadian issue.

[lon1977]

I was having the same problem dialing toll free numbers with magicjack which I always need to dial to get hold of work my area code is 226 (London Ontario). In order to dial toll free numbers I created a free skype account (which only needs to be used to dial toll free numbers) Once the skype account is created you can download an application called sky jack from http://www.pcphonesoft.com/. In order for it to work within skype you will need to go to tools--->options---->advanced then click on manage other programs then click on change next to sky jack then click on ok.

Once that is all done use your magicjack as per normal however if you need to dial any toll free numbers such as your bank or Rogers cable or anything like that just dial * and the number. Example would be *18887643771 which is Rogers Cable. I just tried the GST automated line and it works by doing this.

[Insteadof]

Good work. A lot of effort for something that used to work and has stopped without any notice. MJ needs to change the home page to "make free calls, except to toll free numbers"

[vj244]

This is from my 'chat' today.

Hazel: mj cannot call canada toll free numbers for now
Hazel: mj can call 911 and usa toll free number for now
Hazel: for canada it is still on working procress

Can you call 911, and ask them to transfer you to the toll free number? (And just tell them it is an emergency?)

[Nobody beats the Whiz!]

I hope that is a joke, because that's a really bad idea.

If there was a contest for bad ideas, that one would be a contender for the grand prize.

[Luxfestinus]

1.) Create a google voice account

2.) Enter (register) your magicjack number into your google voice account.

3.) At https://www.google.com/voice/#inbox Enter the Canadian number to call into upper left hand box in the "Place a call" menu.

4.) Your magicjack phone should ring so answer it. You should hear it ringing on the other end to the Canadian number.


Magic Jack should only see the U.S. google voice number and as it is also an incoming call so all should be well. Reply if it works. Thanks.

It has been brought to my attention that you will need a U.S. IP address to create a Google Voice account. Use http://download.cnet.com/hotspot-shield/ or http://openvpn.net/ to possibly get a US ip address. With openvpn.net you may need to disconnect and reconnect until a US IP address pops up.

[cbcal]

I recently bought a magic jack. works great, except most of the time I cannot call 1866 and 1800 numbers.

I work for a Canadian company, with significant US operations. I have a Canadian magicjack number, and use the MJ to call conference lines in both the US and Canada, for which the conference organizer gives me a toll free number and a pincode for when they organize conference calls.

Neither the US (mostly Verizon) or Canadian (mostly Bell Canada) 1866 numbers work.

I get a (poorly recorded) message saying "No Routes Found" followed by a short fast busy signal, then it disconnects.

A few times I've got it to connect by eliminating the "1" and just dialing 866, but that hasn't worked lately.

I reported to the MajicJack online support, but I dont have much confidence.

[srgts2pid]

An easy way to call toll free numbers is to insert * in 2nd digit position.
Like when I call Sears Canada 800-267-3277, I dial 8*00-267-3277 and it works!

saw this somewhere here but can't find it!

[gashliquor]

I hope that is a joke, because that's a really bad idea.

If there was a contest for bad ideas, that one would be a contender for the grand prize.

That won a grand prize, Look at his location!

[Kenny2469]

It apears they have tweaked the system, Im in Vancouver (604) and can now dial local canadian toll free numbers....

[cbcal]

I never heard back from support after I gave them a sample of 5 or more toll free numbers that didnt work several weeks ago.

I have a Canadian 647 number.

Good news, as of Saturday 1/22/2011, I noticed I'm now able to successfully call US Verizon toll free conference calls, and Bell Canada toll free conference calls - none of these have worked for me from MagicJack in several weeks.

Seems they fixed whatever it was...