topic Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers? in Get Support

Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

susieliu97 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:47:06 GMT

I just switched to public mobile and when I dial local numbers now I get the message at the beginning of the call saying it's completing my long distance call. The chatbot told me to try dialling +1 in front of the phone number, but why do I need to do this for local calls? I'm afraid I'm going to be charged a long distance fee.

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

hairbag1 — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:17:07 GMT

All PM plans are Canada wide calling. You'll not be charged long distance rates for any calls within Canada.

If you run outta minutes your phone quits working until renewal.

EDIT; all currently offered calling plans have Canada wide calling...as noted by @ShawnC13

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

totalUser — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:43:28 GMT

You don't have to dial 1 if the message doesn't bother you

They won't charge you anything, there is no surcharge with public mobile, if the call goes through it's included

Welcome to public

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

Staliger — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:58:54 GMT

@susieliu97 wrote:
I just switched to public mobile and when I dial local numbers now I get the message at the beginning of the call saying it's completing my long distance call. The chatbot told me to try dialling +1 in front of the phone number, but why do I need to do this for local calls? I'm afraid I'm going to be charged a long distance fee.

Don't worry. It is up to you whether or not to add +1 to any number. Calls will work anyway and won't cost extra fee.

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

ShawnC13 — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:06:20 GMT

@hairbag1 wrote:
All PM plans are Canada wide calling. You'll not be charged long distance rates for any calls within Canada.
If you run outta minutes your phone quits working until renewal.

@hairbag1not all PM plans are Canada wide calling. All currently offered plans are.

@susieliu97 when you signed up did you pick a new number? If the call would be a long distance call from a landline you are required to use a 1 first to dial it without the message. If this is a new number could if have an area code that is not local to the area you are in?

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

bhplin — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:33:46 GMT

As far as i know, it won't charge any extra whether dial +1 or not as long as you are in Canada.

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

will13am — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:44:23 GMT

Regardless of the canned messages, this is a prepaid service and so there can never be any additional charges above and beyond those services that have been purchased already. I have a province wide calling plan. Whenever it dips into the long distance minutes add-on, I get the message about long distance charges being applied.

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

ChuckYeah — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 19:07:53 GMT

I put +1 in front of all my numbers, especially in my contacts. Set it and forget it, I always say. No overage so nothing to worry about, regardless of where you are in Canada or where you are calling.

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

AE_Collector — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 19:10:49 GMT

Adding a 1 in front of any 10 digit number whether local or long distance will work and won't turn it into a billable long distance call. Most of the numbers in my directory have a 1 in front of them to ensure it goes through quickly.

AE_Collector

Re: Why do I have to dial +1 in front of local numbers?

Nezgar — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 05:11:17 GMT

@susieliu97 wrote:
...when I dial local numbers now I get the message at the beginning of the call saying it's completing my long distance call..

For whatever reason, Telus' network (which is also shared by Koodo & Public Mobile) thinks the number you are calling is not a local call from the cel tower your phone is currently using. Maybe you are in a borderline area with another local calling area, and your previous carrier (Bell,Rogers) had a tower in a slightly different location.

Regardless, as many others have already noted - it's safe to either wait out the annoucement , and then your call will go through, or prefix 1 to your phonebook entries without any worry of extra long distance charges to avoid the message entirely.

Cheers - N.