Canadian Freedom Mobile HELP!

amother

Sat, Oct 21 2023, 10:28 pm

I got my son a cell phone for yeshiva in Canada for traveling home bein hazmanim (we do not live near yeshiva). It's a tagged dumb phone with just about everything disabled except talk and text.

Freedom Mobile was recommended as the cheapest plan as we really don't need a monthly plan. We got the prepaid annual plan as it's really only going to be used for traveling. So far I've found their customer service horrible and wasted 2 hours so far chatting and on the phone with them. They claim the plan is up and running and it must be the phone. I'm afraid to tell my son to take it to one of their stores because TAG said any factory resets can ruin the phone and make it unusable.

The phone was originally used in the USA and we were told it was a simple swap of a sim card and everything should work.....

Bottom line my son cannot make or receive calls. We've been experimenting and he can see missed calls from me and can't make a single call.

Does anyone have Freedom Mobile that can guide me. Is there a setting he needs to change to make it work on the Freedom Mobile network?

amother

Indigo

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 12:54 pm

May have nothing to do with Freedom but rather the phone. Each country runs on a different cell broadband called GSM vs CDMA. I had the same issue. For some reason my unlocked Canadian phone wouldn’t work in the USA and it was because of this. I needed to buy a new phone for the USA. Some phones can run on both and some can’t. I don’t even know how to find out which ones do or don’t but talk to the geek squad and maybe they can guide you.

amother

Teal

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 12:58 pm

Freedom mobile is notorious for spotty reception, dropped calls and no customer service. It’s kind of a you get what you pay for situation.
Not sure where in Canada your son is but it’s known to not work well in the bathurst and Lawrence area of Toronto. Not sure that is even the problem, just my experience

amother

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 2:26 pm

Quote:

We called them and verified the phone should work before purchasing the plan.

amother

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 2:30 pm

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Good to know. We spoke to someone at freedom before getting set up and they said his yeshiva is in their network range. I really don't need it to work in yeshiva (in fact the rosh yeshiva will have it during the zman), he needs if for when he travels home. If there's an emergency, if he needs me to call am Uber for him, etc.

I don't know the area of his yeshiva.

amother

Indigo

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 3:44 pm

I also confirmed with Freedom that my phone would work (the other way around) however you need to check your phone settings to see if it’s GSM or CDMA compatible. For example Verizon is CDMA and ATT is GSM. Freedom runs 3G HSPA network on the 1700 and 2100 MHz frequencies, also known as AWS or Band 4. The 4G LTE network run on the new AWS-3 or Band 66 frequency, except in Eastern Ontario where AWS/Band 4 will be used. You really need to find out which Hz your phone is. Chances are kosher phones are older and not compatible.

Gerbera

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 3:56 pm

Sorry you're having issues. I've been with this company since they started off as Wind Mobile many years ago and don't have any issues at all with service. My kids both have that prepaid plan with talk and text - must be something with the phone. Can't he try the sim card in a friend's phone and see if it works? Otherwise...you need to go to the store....

amother

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 10:43 pm

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Can't he try the sim card in a friend's phone and see if it works? Otherwise...you need to go to the store....

Not really. His yeshiva doesn't really allow cell phones. The exception is for boys who need to travel a distance for off shabbasim. All those phones are locked up when not in use.

There isn't really a close store for someone without a car.

amother

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 10:47 pm

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Good to know...but may be too techie for me. I'll have to ask my son if he can figure it out.

Most phones are GSM or csma in the USA. Do you know if which if any would work for freedom?

It was previously on a no name network but I was told it's an unlocked Verizon phone.

Thanks

amother

cornflower

Sun, Oct 22 2023, 10:50 pm

amother OP wrote:

Quote:

Can't he try the sim card in a friend's phone and see if it works? Otherwise...you need to go to the store....

Is he in Toronto?