Verizon cell plan and leaving the US question. Can you help?

[N.Bailey]

My husband is going on a business trip to Canada (Ontario, so just basically over the border) for the 1st time since we took a cell phone plan out with Verizon. I know you can call anyone free (Verizon to Verizon - we now have 3 phones on our family plan) within the US, but does anyone know how it works outside the US?

 

[Lanshark]

If he goes to Canada he is not in the US and probably subject to massive roaming fees.

We just went through this with Cingular. We have free mobile to mobile within the US. I called Cingular to confirm and there was not free mobile to mobile if he was in Canada.

Call to make sure. Those calls can add up in a hurry

 

[Taylor]

I don't think the calls will be free unless you have the additional coverage (at an additional cost). We send service guys into the Toronto area frequently and it always results in very high cell phone charges.

You need to check directly with Verizon before you receive a very unpleasant surprise on you next bill.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think you have to sign up for service for stuff like that. So if you don't know, I am sure it will cost you BIG $$$$...

 

[kellydizfan]

my wife and daughter recently went to Hungary (we have Verizon) and they hooked us up with World Roam. We had to rent a satelitte phone for a $300 deposit $3.99 a day and $1.99 a minute, and a $29.99 fee to ship the phone to u... all this is deducted from your initial deposit...but I would call Verizon, it is probably different for Canada.

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks everyone. I'll just tell my DH to use his boss's phone.

Actually, I'll call them in the morning. I kinda thought it wouldn't be free, but was hoping it wasn't too bad since it's only Ontario. You're all right, I do not want any surprises later. I've heard they can be on a steep incline at times.

 

[golfgal]

We didn't have Verizon at the time but the last time we were in Canada our kids could call us on our phones from home and there were no charges but if we called home we had roaming charges. You can temporarily set up your phone to have coverage in Canada and then take it off when you get home. Check to see what the extra minute charge will be and see if it is worth it to just pay the extra minute time or change your phone over for a week or whatever. You can maybe look on their website to see what it costs to have coverage there and see if it is worth that. DH did that when he went to Mexico and that worked great there.

 

[DawnCt1]

When DH has left the country (excluding Iraq and Kuwait) we have found the AT&T calling cards the best to use. I had a friend who got them for me from Sam's Club. They were about $30 for 500 minutes. They deduct more minutes for over seas calls but they lasted forever and he called me from Sweden, Germany, etc. In fact, I almost think they made errors in not deducting enough minutes because they lasted far longer than I ever expected.

 

[maleficent1959]

We have Verizon and we have checked on this ourselves. You will have to pay roaming (can't remember what exactly, but it was high) if you call from Canada even if you call another Verizon customer. And they told me I could not call DH from my phone when he was in Canada because he would be in a roaming area and still subject to the roaming charge. We could have switched to another Verizon plan that included Canada in our calling area, but it wasn't worth the extra cost and hassle.

Instead we did what DawnCT suggests. We just used an AT&T international phone card and they worked great.

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks for the advice everyone. My husband mentioned a calling card last night too. I'm wondering if maybe his boss suggested that to him? I think that's the route we're going to go.

I hate the thought of changing my plan because I know anytime you make any changes to your account, they automatically restart your 2 year contract from that time. My kids want new phones every couple of years, so we plan on allowing them new phones at that time. This seems to be the "Thing" to do around here.

 

[airhead]

I have Verizon too. I went to the outlet I got my phone at and told them I needed to be able to use my cell while traveling to Ontario,CAN. Very simple! you tell them the dates you need access and they will adjust your calling area/charges. Its very easy and so worth it.

 

[airhead]

...If you're happy with Verizon service(as I am) I don't have a problem with that.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I used mine a few times in Montreal without thinking about it. I think it was $1/min (with verizon) Oops.

If he uses the phone in the US, but hits a tower in Canada, and you call and explain it to them, they will adjust the charges. We have a camp on the Canadian border, and we can use our phones there (barely ), but have to call to get the roaming charges and the long distance charges taken off.

Jen