Additional cities?

[FONGO_steve]

I would think once an area was slated as free it wouldn't suddenly become toll after people have paid money for the ATA credentials. That one month where I had service I paid $57. Certainly not free, and now I cannot dial my mom's number.

You'll want to go by the list of free cities that is published on our website for an 'official' reference as to what is free and what isn't. Halifax was never in this list (although some areas of Halifax were mistakenly allowed for a while). We have revised the tariff a few weeks ago to correct a bunch things and to also add quite a few new cities as free - an official announcement on the expanded calling area will be coming in the next couple weeks.

[TheHardy]

It is based on what RATECENTRE the NPA-NXX is on --- see the cnac website http://www.cnac.ca/data/ac902.htm.

It was previously stated (and at the time that you signed up!) that the calling area around both Halifax and Winnipeg MIRRORED the traditional wireline LCA ... Kris had verified this as well at the time, as I posed that very pointed question.

Apparently, this has been CORRECTED and AMENDED. I think that it may have been an oversight on FPL's part. I would not fear about LOSING areas, and I am still trying to get a REASON why some of Halifax & Winnipeg were 'cut' ... Steve has stated what the case is insofar as RATES and policy ... but I cannot get my head around the TECHNICALITIES of it ..... I do not understand how there could (as you state and are familiar with) calling into HALIFAX-proper, but NOT the surrounding area which is it's traditional LCA. Steve (and thank you for all the info you do provide) was unable to get a reason, as it is NOT his department; I can only hope that an answer will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, I would suggest that you contact Steve directly via PM and also fire off a message to Customer Support (or call them if you have the time) stating the specifics of your case --- this is because YOU are the person affected, and can make a much more passionate and detailed case than anyone can as your advocate. You have my support in whatever info you need and research, but if you can spearhead the complaint/investigation, so much the better. Feel free to PM me if you need info ...
www.localcallingguide.com and the www.cnac.ca website are invaluable tools for this type of endeavor.

I have faith that in time we might get an understandable reason, or maybe even a correction once the FPL->FonGo transition comes into play, as it has been confirmed that FonGo will be offering more DID's than FPL does -- and if Halifax has DID's, then the whole traditional wireline LCA should again be a FREE call (even based on the REVISED explanation).

Hope that made sense!

[TheHardy]

You'll want to go by the list of free cities that is published on our website for an 'official' reference as to what is free and what isn't. Halifax was never in this list (although some areas of Halifax were mistakenly allowed for a while). We have revised the tariff a few weeks ago to correct a bunch things and to also add quite a few new cities as free - an official announcement on the expanded calling area will be coming in the next couple weeks.

Thanks for the official word, Steve. I am starting to turn slightly blue in holding my breath ... I've been on 'pins and needles' for 2 weeks already!

To re-open an old wound again (and I know it is not your department), but did you by any chance manage to forward on WHY Halifax-itself would be FREE but not the LCA around it? I still cannot get my head around that. I know the answer "FPL does not have facilities there" ... and I accept that as a reason, but the logic of it just continues to escape me. I know it is like a 4 year old to his parent, and the easy answer is "Because I said so..."

[dks]

It's true that the website does not even state that Halifax is a free area, but I tried the software and called Halifax and it was toll free. After a few days I bought the credentials so I could use a corded phone instead of the computer because the sound quality was terrible over my computer. The Waverley section of Halifax was working, and then it stopped. So although it is not mentioned on the site, it was working which prompted me to buy the credentials. I'm with TheHardy, I don't understand why 1-902-860-xxxx would be considered a toll call when it is a free call from within Halifax and it is actually part of the city of Halifax. Especially when Timberlea is free and it's farther away. It makes no sense to me at all. I could understand it better if it was Truro or New Glasgow.

In any case, thanks for all of the feedback. At least I have a better understanding of the thinking that went behind the discontinuance of the 860 free calls. I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that the new calling area will include 860 so that I can start using the service again.

[TheHardy]

DKS: as I say, it appears that it was misrepresented to you. I too see Halifax in the about on the software, but it does not mention the LCA of Halifax, and never did. The fact that it DID work, and then stopped, should be enough to legitimize your complaint to FPL. You may not get anything out of it, other than getting your voice heard, but I would at least take the time to do it --- feel free to reference back to this thread in doing so.

I think that there may be some good positive changes on the horizon with FonGo, but we will have to wait and see. Like I say, if all holds true with what has been stated, and FonGo offers Halifax DID's, then the entire Halifax-LCA should be included again AT THAT POINT.

In the meantime, other than "I told you so", I cannot explain it any better than I have, and apparently Steve is not currently in a position to give a more in depth explanation either.

[dks]

Thanks TheHardy. I did complain about it directly to FreePhoneLine customer service on the day I noticed I could no longer call 1-902-860-xxxx numbers. It was some time in December. The response I was given was Halifax was not on the list of free calling areas, and that was the end of it. I saw it on the about, and I also saw Halifax mentioned for FreePhoneLine in the FreePhoneLine Wikipedia. It's still there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freephoneline.ca

I don't know who put it there, but I assumed it was someone from FreePhoneLine. I sent an email to customer service mentioning that it was on Wikipedia and never received a reply.

To be honest I was very excited to be able to call Mom as if it was a local call and not pay for the call. It seemed too good to be true! I recall wondering how long this would last. My instincts were correct once again - it was too good to be true as it did not last long for me.

There's nothing more I can do about it except suck it up, and hope it will be offered again. My only regret is that I wish I joined 2 years earlier as I would not have minded so badly losing the $57 if I had 2 years of free service all along.

The other problem I experienced was my caller id was showing up as 902-482-8086 whenever I called a Halifax number (not just my mom's number), and 902-482-8086 is definitely not my number. My mother would ask, "Whose number are you calling from?" She called me back at that number and received a recording stating the number was out of service. That was a minor issue for me, but losing the free calls does hurt.

[FONGO_mike]

Hi dks,

another option (although it may not be ideal) is to get your Mom to sign up for an account. Then she would be able to make calls to you and you to her for free.

[TheHardy]

Thanks TheHardy. I did complain about it directly to FreePhoneLine customer service on the day I noticed I could no longer call 1-902-860-xxxx numbers. It was some time in December. The response I was given was Halifax was not on the list of free calling areas, and that was the end of it. I saw it on the about, and I also saw Halifax mentioned for FreePhoneLine in the FreePhoneLine Wikipedia. It's still there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freephoneline.ca

I don't know who put it there, but I assumed it was someone from FreePhoneLine. I sent an email to customer service mentioning that it was on Wikipedia and never received a reply.

To be honest I was very excited to be able to call Mom as if it was a local call and not pay for the call. It seemed too good to be true! I recall wondering how long this would last. My instincts were correct once again - it was too good to be true as it did not last long for me.

There's nothing more I can do about it except suck it up, and hope it will be offered again. My only regret is that I wish I joined 2 years earlier as I would not have minded so badly losing the $57 if I had 2 years of free service all along.

The other problem I experienced was my caller id was showing up as 902-482-8086 whenever I called a Halifax number (not just my mom's number), and 902-482-8086 is definitely not my number. My mother would ask, "Whose number are you calling from?" She called me back at that number and received a recording stating the number was out of service. That was a minor issue for me, but losing the free calls does hurt.

Email support from FPL is not as speedy as forum support -- allow 48-72h lead time.

I am not so sure that your Halifax-LCA calling is gone for too long -- I suspect return upon FONGO launch (but I am by no means an OFFICIAL channel).

The outbound CID thing has to do with HOW FPL is offering free calling INTO Halifax (and may lead to some insight into why only Halifax-proper is covered!). As FPL is not handling the call internally END-TO-END, it was showing a VOIP-MS termination number (that 902-482 #).

If I get any more insight into things or hear any rumblings which I can share, I will do so.

MIKE suggests an interesting idea -- not sure how technical MOM is, but having her get an FPL account, regardless of where she picks her number from, would allow her to call outbound to you at any case, or alternately reach her via VOIP-VOIP call ... maybe send her instructions and buy her a good headset if she doesn't have one ...

[Jake]

set up a voipcheap account and use it as an outgoing trunk in your setup. 50$ will buy you a lot of talk time with them. (sorry FPL)

[Colin0317]

When will I be able to get a number in Moncton NB? It's listed as a free calling city, but it won't let me get a Moncton number...

[TheHardy]

When will I be able to get a number in Moncton NB? It's listed as a free calling city, but it won't let me get a Moncton number...

There are many cities that FPL/Fongo could use local numbers in, not the least of them being in Atlantic Canada (no current coverage). Others include Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria (BC) and many others.

We are supposed to be hearing back on this, but as usual, there is no timeline. All we are able to do at this point is wait and see...