Yes, I am putting a fresh coat of spit and polish on my soapbox preparatory to my latest rant. Please feel free to either read on or simply move on down to the links.
I am old school. I don't like cell phones. I don't use a cell phone beyond for a couple of minutes once or twice a month to call in to the grocery store to tell them I'm there to pick up my grocery order. I have an old-fashioned flip phone and it's only for emergencies. I know, I should get with this century but if I don't need it why would I pay big bucks each month in order to have something I don't use.
OK - fast forward to the current times when the need is apparently arising for things called 'vaccine passports' in order to be able to use various services (like entering restaurants). I thought I had successfully avoided issues by printing a paper copy of our proof of vaccinations. Well, it appears that they've (the infamous 'they' who have nothing better to do than make everyone else's life miserable) already figured out how to forge the paper versions and now they are apparently not going to be acceptable forms of identification. Enter the new-fangled cell phone and the need for one. I wouldn't care about entering restaurants because that's something we rarely do (and haven't at all since covid hit) BUT we're planning to fly out to see our #2 son and his family in February and, guess what, we won't be able to get on the plane without showing that dad-gum 'proof of vaccination' and....guess what.....it will have to be on a phone.
Enter the assistance of #2 son's technical expertise and a suitable phone and cheap plan was sourced (luckily my credit on my current cell phone plan is transferable). All was good - until - the person on the other end of the phone informed me that I would need to provide (as proof of identification) my driver's license AND my Social Insurance Number. Now....wait just a hot minute....it's against the law for them to ask for the SIN number. The ONLY people who are allowed, by law, to require that are government agencies and employers. I told her that and she said I was wrong and that it was the only way I would be able to purchase a phone/plan. I told her that no, I believed I was correct and therefore would not be proceeding with the purchase at this time until I had time to check the facts.
Sure enough, a perusal of the Government Of Canada web site proved me to be correct. They are NOT allowed to ask for that information....well, actually they're allowed to "ask", but I am not legally required to provide same. I wonder just how many other people have been caught up in that particular snare and been railroaded into doing something that's totally against the law.
So....tomorrow I will be going to the cell phone store in person and will be prepared to do battle. We'll see what happens!!!
This whole vaccine thing is getting out of hand. We got our vaccines in order to have some hope that things would get better, but all the news coverage and nonsense attached to it is taking away my hope. And that's depressing. I hope you get your point across to the phone company and get what you need. As for the links - thanks. I'd love to find that fox fabric although I have a tendency to only "collect" pretty fabric like I collect scrapbook paper. Trying to get better at using up my stash.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much uncertainty and misinformation out there surrounding the virus and the vaccination policies and it's so hard to know what is correct and what we should do.
DeleteAs for the fabric - it's from P&B Textiles and is called 'Little Critters' (not that I'm trying to enable you or anything of the sort!)
Love that thought of "one thing at a time"--I find that especially with quilting (for some unknown reason?) I tend to have way too many things to work on concurrently...this eventually catches up with me and I then get totally paralyzed and want to do NOTHING!! So thanks for the reminder..;))
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of cell phones either--I would rather talk on a real telephone and HEAR the person's voice!! I hate texts...they are really so impersonal..and my aging fingers don't want to do that "walking" on their tiny keyboard (I guess I am on a rant too hahaha)
Anyway..love your posts hugs, Julierose
Ah - I'm with you on being able to hear much better on a landline. One thing that incenses me is those people that insist on using the 'speaker phone' feature on their cell phones and it sounds as though they're talking through a tunnel. Texting takes me forever and if I want to tell somebody something I will either email or (gasp) pick up the landline phone and CALL them. I hate feeling beholden to a cell phone and knowing that I'm at someone's beck and call every minute of every day. If you want me, leave a message!! (and yes, there's room on my soapbox for you too!)
DeleteWondering if TracFone is available to you? I've been using it as my carrier for many years. With all kinds of phones. My son does, too, abd has a flip! I have a smartphone. I never pay more than an average ( no contract, just buy minutes as needed) $12 per months. I simply can't afford more. I'd like to think you can get them as your carrier. I'm not familiar with cross border laws on this.
ReplyDeleteYou sent me off on a quest to see about the availability of TracFone in Canada - it is, but it seems that it incurs something called 'roaming fees' every time you use it. Not sure what that even IS!! The plan #2 son found for me is only $15/mo with the phone itself costing $170 outright. The monthly rate is only $5 more than what I pay now for my flip phone so I'm happy with that. Provided, of course, I can convince them that they really don't need my Social Insurance Number!!
DeleteOMG Mary Anne. This is exactly what I have been going through. I don't have a phone nor do I have a driver's licence so I don't exist. I tried awhile back to get an Ontario ID and was refused because a) I didn't have a driver's licence or b) a valid photo ID. Your health card isn't acceptable. I'm going to try and get a passport and if that doesn't work I really don't know. Then I guess I'll have to get a phone even though I'll never use it. Good Luck :)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine trying to do anything without a driver's licence these days. As for a passport, I'm not sure what forms of ID you would need to provide. I wonder if you could get some type of notarized letter from a lawyer that states that you are who you say you are? I had huge issues with my health card when I tried to register for the vaccine - the system kept insisting that I had two cards (I don't) and kept kicking me out. Had to get the local member of parliament involved before it was finally sorted out. In the meantime I waited more than 6 weeks past the time I could have gotten the vaccine. Sometimes I think 'Debacle' is my middle name!!!
DeleteWe got our son to put ours into Saskatchewan's Vaccine Wallet app. Yep, there will always be those who manage to ruin something that would be the easiest to use.
ReplyDeleteI have never been asked for my SIN number when buying a phone. Something seems fishy to me.
God bless.
I actually wonder how many people have actually fallen for the request for the SIN number and were totally unaware that it's against the law.
DeleteThat is really strange to have to give all your confidential information; sounds dodgy to me. Gosh, what a lot of rigmarole to have to go through. Alas, it is the world we live in. I rather love my smart phone. =) I have no doubt that you will win the battle when you go to the phone store. My fingers are crossed for you. =)
ReplyDeleteMy fingers are crossed for me too! It's going to be interesting to see what happens when I'm there in person. I think they count on people not knowing that it's not necessary to give that number for identification. I'll know more on Monday after I've been to the store.
DeleteI do absolutely despise the big heavy thumb of tech over our lives these days. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI've resisted this long so I guess there's something to be said for that.
DeleteStick to your guns!! Don't let them railroad you.
ReplyDeleteTry Mint Mobile if you only use your phone periodically. Their plans are great and the price is reasonable. I finally succumbed to the need and they are don't leave me feeling like i'm mortgaging the house every time I pay the bill
Alas Mint Mobile isn't offered here in Canada (at least that's what Mr. Google says). The plan our son found for me is $15/mo which is only $5 more than I'm paying now so I guess it's not too bad. Basic phone will cost me $170 which is pretty cheap....but why do I think that when I arrive at the store they won't have any available and no chance of getting any more in the foreseeable future.
DeleteLife has certainly become very complicated of late Mary Anne and I hope that you can get this sorted out. Good luck at the mobile phone store! Christine xx
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, things are definitely a whole lot more complicated these days. Hopefully I can brave the phone store tomorrow and see what happens.
DeleteI recently became modern and have a Samsung S10+ (not up to totally modern). Lots of learning and more interruptions now. My vehicle warranty gets a ton of calls…grrrrr. Good luck dear. I think I could become a hermit and stay home forever.
ReplyDeleteBeing a hermit sounds more and more attractive for sure! I do NOT want one of 'those' phones and have resisted up until now but it appears that I'm going to need one sooner rather than later if we want to fly out to see our kids.
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