topic Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city? in Get Support

Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

sahands — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 10:07:57 GMT

PM has provincial plans and canada wide plans, so why does it matter what city is your calling area (when trying to change phone number)? Shouldn't PM just be asking for what province is your calling area?

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

closng — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 16:39:21 GMT

@sahands wrote:
PM has provincial plans and canada wide plans, so why does it matter what city is your calling area (when trying to change phone number)? Shouldn't PM just be asking for what province is your calling area?

Hi @sahands,

It might have to do with the fact that different cities have different area codes. By selecting a city, this will narrow down the area codes for the phone number choices you can pick from, otherwise, it would be a huge list.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

Someone_here — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 16:49:46 GMT

In the end, it doesn't really matter which city you choose, you can indeed choose any city you want in your province of choice. After that, it is just a personnal preference for which area code you like / people you know are used to use...

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

stonechucker — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 16:54:05 GMT

It's more of a concern for those who need to call you.

If they need to call long distance because you get a number from Toronto that's really easy to remember, but you live in North Bay, if your callers don't have LD plans, they'll be charged for every call they make to you.

Just because you have a Province Wide or Canada Wide plan, doesn't mean everyone else does.

Remember, even within a province, and even within area codes, regular old local callings rules still apply in you don't have LD packages.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

youbme — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:25:21 GMT

Very good point @stonechucker. I have had this issue in the Ottawa-area, as those with landlines in Perth (613 area code) are often dinged with LD when calling my cell (Ottawa 613 number). It is complicated in locations like this one, where we have a huge geographic area for a single area code.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

Acekiller — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:28:09 GMT

In this day and age, they should really get rid of local long distance charges.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

kav2001c — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:39:20 GMT

@sahands

Its not for you

Its for everyone else

An area code can cover a very large area (eg 587 is entire province of AB) but just because YOU can call Calgary + Edmonton, depending which exchange you choose, others can't call you

This also matters if you live in a condo as many can not use a long distance number for your buzz code

In general take the city you live in

Unless somewhere like Toronto where its impossible to find a good number

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

stonechucker — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 18:20:55 GMT

That apartment/condo buzz code is probably a problem because the building owner doesn't want to pay the long distance charges. I hear it all the time at my complex where many people work in the next town over, and they have phone numbers that are long distance from my town.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

computergeek541 — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 20:05:31 GMT

@sahands wrote:
PM has provincial plans and canada wide plans, so why does it matter what city is your calling area (when trying to change phone number)? Shouldn't PM just be asking for what province is your calling area?

It matters because of local calling area rules. People who have home phone and cell phone plans and only have local calling will need to pay long distance if they are calling somewhere outside of the LCA that they are in. The city is what is used to determine these areas.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

will13am — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 20:29:51 GMT

@Acekiller wrote:
In this day and age, they should really get rid of local long distance charges.

^^^ This. ^^^ If anyone still has a calling plan, cellular or landline that charges long distance inside provincial boundaries need to be having a crucial conversation with their service provider. This is absolutely the minimum tolerable.

Re: Why does changing phone number require selecting a city?

kav2001c — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 21:20:45 GMT

@stonechuckera condo is paid directly by tenants

So if everyone in building is willing to pony up the extra cash they could do long distance

@stonechucker wrote:
That apartment/condo buzz code is probably a problem because the building owner doesn't want to pay the long distance charges. I hear it all the time at my complex where many people work in the next town over, and they have phone numbers that are long distance from my town.