In looking at my last phone bill this morning, I decided that it was high time to do something about the outrageous amount of money that I'm sending to Bell Canada every month.
We're moving soon, so I figure that I should be able to go completely Bell-free pretty easily by moving to Rogers for my broadband connection (Cable, instead of DSL) and using Vonage for my local/long-distance phone service.
I figure that I end up saving about $50 per month in the new configuration based on what I'm spending on DSL, local and long distance service now.
The only thing that kind of freaks me out is that Vonage Canada doesn't provide 911 service. Which isn't so bad because we both have cellphones that we could use - but what if someone else is doing the dialing? I spent some time last night looking for local number emergency dispatch alternatives for fire/police/ambulance, but natch. Which means that anyone picking up my phone and dialing 911 wouldn't get connected.
So, the big question is - should I stop being a cheapskate and pop the extra $20 or so a month and just get very basic phone service from Bell just so that we can have the security of 911? Or, is my scenario so far-fetched that the odds of it happening are far outweighed by the dollars saved?
Comments and your participation in my poll in the right-hand panel would be appreciated!
I voted "Yes" because I had forgotten that others may be at your place (someday watching your kids) and have a need to report an emergency. I gotta think that you'll only need the Bell service for a few months, until Vonage gets their 911 service launched for Canada. The way they did it in the U.S. basically allowed you to indicate an address associated with the phone number on your Vonage account and this was sent along to the 911 operator. I would think they could implement the same up north, assuming they can work with the civil authority associated with this service.
I would definitely ask Ma Bell if they have a 911-only line that you can buy. Down here that'll run you ~$10 or, if you can prove your poorness, they have to give it to you for free.
I would think that they should (not necessarily do) provide 911 service free. Any phone hooked up to any physically non-broken line should be able to dial 911.
Primus' TalkBroadband already has E911. Why wouldn't you use them instead?
I *hate* telco's. Primus. Yick. ;-)
What about dialing the operator, or the local police station? Post your name/ address/ emergency instructions prominently on the wall next to the phone, or on the back of the receiver itself. We have 911 service, but we realized that our babysitter may not know our exact address or phone number for other reasons, like ordering pizza!
I grew up with no 911 service. We got by. It isn't worth the extra CAN$240 or so a year. If an emergency happens, there will be so many neighbors at your house it will make your head spin, trust me. You aren't being irresponsible for refusing the service.
I thought of that - my problem there is that there are no reliable alternative emergency numbers that I can find. I'd be happy dialing 416-555-1212 instead of 911, but it doesn't look like there is an equivalent in this area like there are in the 911-less rural regions...
There's bound to be a "real" number that you can use to reach the local police department. Call the local police department (they should be listed in the phone book) and ask them for the emergency number you can use in lieu of 911. Then post it prominently near every phone and send me 10% of the money you save on the phone service. I accept checks, money orders and cash. ;)
i would worry about not having 911 simply because of the kids... and, in an emergency situation, i'm not sure if some people have the presence of mind to look for another emergency number... prominently posted or not.
i think the real question is not what if something does happen, but what if something happens that turns serious when it could have been prevented by something as simple as 911.
i hate bell as much as the next person, and would love to change our service, but not if it meant losting the peace of mind that having 911 brings to me!