FL Cell Phone Rates ... Just a Heads Up!

[disneymath]

A while ago, people were asking about Canadian cell service in WDW and the topic of charges came up. We will be going down in a few days, so I called my cell service (Northerntel Mobility - part of the Bell Wireless Alliance) for their rates ...

Turns out that roaming charges in Florida are $0.99/min on top of long distance rates of $0.20/min (plus if I go over my monthly airtime, there would be another $0.20/min). So, local calls in FL would cost either $0.99/min or $1.19/min and a call home would cost me at least $1.19/min and possibly $1.39/min.

Now there is a Connect Florida add-on which costs $20 per month and gives you 100 mins (separate from your regular airtime) that are good for statewide calls or Canadian long distance ones (incoming or outgoing) - which seems more reasonable except that you have to sign up for a minimum of 2 months!

Seems pretty steep to me ... and I would imagine other providers have similar rates. If I could I would just leave the cell at home!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Took our cell with us last October (our service is through Telus Mobility here in Alberta) and calls home cost us a fortune. With our regular monthly charges the bill was over $120 most of which was long distance (we were gone for 15 days though). I've heard others say to buy a pre-paid LD card from one of your local Superstores/President's Choice where the LD charges are about 4.5 cents a minute ...

Not sure what we're going to do for our upcoming trip yet. Probably take the cell for local calls and LD cards for calling home.

 

[tricia]

Disneymath, where are you from? I never expected to see NorthernTel Mobility mentionned on the DIS. I am from Timmins. I have had connect Florida on my phone for the past 2 years, and they let me cancel after only a month both times. I hope things haven't changed. I can probably give you the name of someone to talk to there.

 

[OnMedic]

Same here... Bell Mobility let us add USA COnnect and FL Connect our last two trips this year for only one month each.

 

[disneymath]

Hey Tricia ... well you've found another Timmins person on these boards! Unfortunately, it appears Connect Florida really now is a two month minimum, we called just the other day!

 

[U2FanHfx]

We bring my Fido Hiptop2 and have free access to the web and email via the Hiptop in USA. Most don't need to hear your voice, just know you are OK. One more reason why I love my Hiptop2!

If you want a calling card, get the ATT ones at Wal-mart! They last forever and are well worth the cash.

Regs,

CJM

 

[pxlbarrel]

Same here... Bell Mobility let us add USA COnnect and FL Connect our last two trips this year for only one month each.

Me too. I just got them to add USA Connect yesterday for one month...it'll automatically drop off on Sept 11.

One thing though....I went into a Bell World to ask them to do it and they said there wasn't any plan...no way of doing what I wanted. I said, "are you sure???", knowing that this wasn't the case (thanks DISers!!). She said, "well, you can call customer service and ask them"...<sigh> So I used their courtesy phone and called customer service, waiting about 15 minutes on hold, and then finally talked to a very cheerful fellow who not only told me he could do it but also wished me a very safe and fun trip and not to get too hot in California. LOL

So, the moral of the story is...the people at the mall may not know about USA Connect or Florida Connect so don't take "no" for an answer.

 

[TimNDansMom]

Just curious, does anyone know if Rogers has Florida Connect?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Anything similar with Telus Mobility???

 

[Tabetha]

Give Telus a call. I'm currently on a Talk North America plan, being that I'm living and working in the US (among other places) for four months.
If I wasn't on the plan, any calls that I make would incur 95 cents per minute roaming, plus 95 cents per minute long distance (unless I was calling my own area code).

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Thanks Tabetha! I called Telus and am able to switch to the Talk North America plan for the month of October and when we return home to Canada, I can switch back to my old plan.

Bonny

 

[Tabetha]

Sounds like a perfect solution, Bonny!

 

[Mickey1Fan]

As an aside to anyone reading who plans on using their Bell Canada calling card from a pay phone.

You must dial 1-800-555-1111 from the U.S. (or anywhere in Canada) and then follow the prompts.

I dialled '0' and was billed by another carrier company for long distance.

I have unlimited text messaging with Bell Mobility and used it to keep in touch with those at home.

I used a land line for voice calls.