Cheap Canadian phone number for non-resident

Feb 5th, 2023 8:15 am

#1

alfredjingle [OP]: Newbie; Feb 4, 2023; 5 posts; 1 upvote

Feb 5th, 2023 8:15 am

Cheap Canadian phone number for non-resident

I'm gonna move from Canada to Europe soon. For various reasons, I need to keep my Canadian bank account and credit card for another year or so.

To be able to receive the verification / 2-factor authentication codes for the cards/transactions/CRA login, I need to maintain my Canadian cell phone number.

I'm currently with Eastlink and their most basic plan is $18/month. That's still a lot of money for receiving 2 or 3 text messages per month, but on the other hand, it's what I'm used to and know to be working.

Is there a cheaper option that would work reliably outside Canada? Just to be clear, I don't need that phone number for anything else but receiving verification codes while outside Canada.

Feb 5th, 2023 10:10 am

#2

vkizzle: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2011; 38470 posts; 24693 upvotes; Center of Universe

Feb 5th, 2023 10:10 am

Freedom mobile.
Works outside of Canada via wifi at no extra charge.

+4

Feb 5th, 2023 12:03 pm

#3

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 5th, 2023 12:03 pm

I would just argue do you even have to have phone number for logging into accounts or potentially you could use VOIP. Most of the banks have additional way to authenticate, like TD has TD Authenticator app, Simpliii is using their banking app, EQ Bank is using email for verification. CRA login has an option to 'call' which means if you have Voip, that would work. Just saying this as Voip is about 1$ per month and you could keep your number + save some money. One of the options..

+2

Feb 5th, 2023 1:18 pm

#4

alfredjingle [OP]: Newbie; Feb 4, 2023; 5 posts; 1 upvote

Feb 5th, 2023 1:18 pm

I would just argue do you even have to have phone number for logging into accounts or potentially you could use VOIP. Most of the banks have additional way to authenticate, like TD has TD Authenticator app, Simpliii is using their banking app, EQ Bank is using email for verification. CRA login has an option to 'call' which means if you have Voip, that would work. Just saying this as Voip is about 1$ per month and you could keep your number + save some money. One of the options.

Is there a VOIP company that you would recommend?

Feb 5th, 2023 1:32 pm

#5

jm1: Deal Addict; Jan 5, 2003; 4882 posts; 4715 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 5th, 2023 1:32 pm

As @idfrro said, most banks have an alternative to SMS for MFA and CRA can use a "password grid" that you refer to when you login. If it's just one or two banks and CRA, then do that. The password grid can be saved to your phone (as a PDF, screenshot, etc.) so you don't even need to carry a piece of paper around.

Therefore, you don't need to continue Canadian cell phone service. VOIP is not a good idea because no VOIP service can guarantee they'll receive all short codes. Some work with some banks, some work with others, and it can change at any time. You'll need true cell phone service to reliably received short codes from everywhere.

+2

Feb 5th, 2023 2:23 pm

#6

alfredjingle [OP]: Newbie; Feb 4, 2023; 5 posts; 1 upvote

Feb 5th, 2023 2:23 pm

jm1 wrote: ↑ As @idfrro said, most banks have an alternative to SMS for MFA and CRA can use a "password grid" that you refer to when you login. If it's just one or two banks and CRA, then do that. The password grid can be saved to your phone (as a PDF, screenshot, etc.) so you don't even need to carry a piece of paper around.

I'm with BMO, with them it's 'banking like it's 1999', they don't have alternative methods of verification and I dread changing to another bank before leaving.

Thanks for your thoughts on VOIP and for pointing out the CRA password grid thingy, I wasn't aware of that!

+1

Feb 5th, 2023 2:39 pm

#7

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 5th, 2023 2:39 pm

alfredjingle wrote: ↑ Is there a VOIP company that you would recommend?

I'm using voip.ms and it is good for what I need. With a good app (like Groundwire), it works really well. Another thing that you could/should do, is to first try if that setup would work for you before you either port your number to voip.ms so you are not in 'this doesn't work' position later.

+2

Feb 5th, 2023 2:41 pm

#8

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 5th, 2023 2:41 pm

alfredjingle wrote: ↑ I'm with BMO, with them it's 'banking like it's 1999', they don't have alternative methods of verification and I dread changing to another bank before leaving.

Thanks for your thoughts on VOIP and for pointing out the CRA password grid thingy, I wasn't aware of that!

If that's gonna cost you money (paying phone just to login), then I would change it as it is not that hard. You are just not getting service that you need to. I use EQ bank and it is pretty good, so check them out.

+1

Feb 5th, 2023 4:59 pm

#9

ahoo99: Member; Dec 12, 2007; 256 posts; 362 upvotes; saint john

Feb 5th, 2023 4:59 pm

idfrro wrote: ↑ Simpliii is using their banking app,

To use their app, you need 2FA. And sending text doesn’t work on my bell phone, the only way is to call. No alternative ways. Sending text does work for my wife’s public mobile phone.

Feb 5th, 2023 5:10 pm

#10

jm1: Deal Addict; Jan 5, 2003; 4882 posts; 4715 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 5th, 2023 5:10 pm

alfredjingle wrote: ↑ I'm with BMO, with them it's 'banking like it's 1999', they don't have alternative methods of verification and I dread changing to another bank before leaving.

I don't use BMO, but on their website here: LINK

"Don’t have access to a phone? Challenge questions may come in handy as an alternate to verifying your identity. Instead of requesting a verification code, you can answer a previously set challenge question."

+2

Feb 5th, 2023 5:52 pm

#11

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 5th, 2023 5:52 pm

ahoo99 wrote: ↑ To use their app, you need 2FA. And sending text doesn’t work on my bell phone, the only way is to call. No alternative ways. Sending text does work for my wife’s public mobile phone.

You can use their App for pushing verification codes, doesn't have to be SMS.

Feb 5th, 2023 6:04 pm

#12

alfredjingle [OP]: Newbie; Feb 4, 2023; 5 posts; 1 upvote

Feb 5th, 2023 6:04 pm

jm1 wrote: ↑ I don't use BMO, but on their website here: LINK

"Don’t have access to a phone? Challenge questions may come in handy as an alternate to verifying your identity. Instead of requesting a verification code, you can answer a previously set challenge question."

Interesting. I recently called them to ask about alternatives to verification via phone and they told me there aren't any.

Feb 6th, 2023 5:51 am

#13

ahoo99: Member; Dec 12, 2007; 256 posts; 362 upvotes; saint john

Feb 6th, 2023 5:51 am

idfrro wrote: ↑ You can use their App for pushing verification codes, doesn't have to be SMS.

But you can't use the app without SMS.

Feb 6th, 2023 12:26 pm

#14

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 6th, 2023 12:26 pm

ahoo99 wrote: ↑ But you can't use the app without SMS.

I'm not sure what do you mean by 'cannot use the app without SMS'.

Feb 6th, 2023 1:30 pm

#15

XinbingL77044: Newbie; Aug 18, 2019; 41 posts; 25 upvotes

Feb 6th, 2023 1:30 pm

idfrro wrote: ↑ I'm not sure what do you mean by 'cannot use the app without SMS'.

You said you can disable SMS in the app, but SMS is needed to log on the simplii app. So it's like a catch 22.

Rogers Cable internet, Bell Mobility / Public Mobile

Feb 6th, 2023 1:38 pm

#16

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 6th, 2023 1:38 pm

XinbingL77044 wrote: ↑ You said you can disable SMS in the app, but SMS is needed to log on the simplii app. So it's like a catch 22.

That's not correct once you set it all up. I don't use SMS to login onto Simplii app and for any authentication, I get the code from the app.

Feb 6th, 2023 2:28 pm

#17

XinbingL77044: Newbie; Aug 18, 2019; 41 posts; 25 upvotes

Feb 6th, 2023 2:28 pm

idfrro wrote: ↑ That's not correct once you set it all up.

ok fine. Tell me how to set up without log in? I assume you know what is catch 22.

Rogers Cable internet, Bell Mobility / Public Mobile

Feb 6th, 2023 2:40 pm

#18

idfrro: Newbie; Dec 29, 2021; 65 posts; 76 upvotes

Feb 6th, 2023 2:40 pm

XinbingL77044 wrote: ↑ ok fine. Tell me how to set up without log in? I assume you know what is catch 22.

As I said, once you set it up you are not asked for SMS. I don't remember now as it's been ages when I did it, but I'm never asked for a code (SMS) to login. Also, if you need Code to do things like change some info, add new contact to interact transfer, those you can get from the app (if you set it to use).

Feb 6th, 2023 6:09 pm

#19

vkizzle: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2011; 38470 posts; 24693 upvotes; Center of Universe

Feb 6th, 2023 6:09 pm

XinbingL77044 wrote: ↑ ok fine. Tell me how to set up without log in? I assume you know what is catch 22.

Logging into RBC with the app doesn’t require 2FA.
Once confirmed as a “trusted” device, you just log in normal via username/account# and password.

+1

Feb 7th, 2023 4:42 pm

#20

GT_647: Deal Addict; Apr 13, 2005; 1733 posts; 1746 upvotes; Markham, ON

Feb 7th, 2023 4:42 pm

vkizzle wrote: ↑ Freedom mobile.
Works outside of Canada via wifi at no extra charge.

game. set. match.

/thread

op won't a cheaper option with the ability to receive SMS while roaming.

VOIP providers are hit & miss with SMS 2FA.

.

+3