change address to Canada

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 30, 2004 Posts: 8

I have had Vonage service for 4 years with US address; now that I have moved to Canada and no longer have a US address I want to change my address and the website (vonage.com) will not let me. I called Vonage and they said I had to take a different (Canadian area code) number and pay $15 more permonth to do ths. What kind of nonsense is that? Has anyone been able to change their address to Canadian one?

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: May 14, 2006 Posts: 27

In what way would it help you to change to address to a Canadian one? Since they don't send anything by mail, I would keep the US address and the lower price. Isn't the 911 address set separately from billing?

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 30, 2004 Posts: 8

There are a couple of problems with keeping a US address while in Canada: first the billing address has to be tied to your credit card address and I cannot have my credit card with a nonexistent US address, second, for replacement of equipment, they will not ship to a Canadian address unless you have a Canadian account.

Finally, no you cannot choose a 911 location in Canada if you have a US account.

Posts: 506 · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

you'r egoing to have to change to a CDN acct.. you might be able to keep your number as a Virtual Number if you're lucky, there have been reports in the past where ppl have been able to do that..

do you not have any family or a good friend that you could use their US address for acredit card and Vonage acct? and maybe other US-related services you may want/need to keep??

I have a US credit card with a US address and I dont' live in the US at all.. I use my mother-in-law's address for my US Visa card, and i just view my transaction history online, and send cheques to the bank office in Charlotte when I do actually use the card and need to pay it..

There are lots of times when having a US credit card can be very handy, so why loose it in the first place?

Posts: 48 · Full Forum Member Joined: Feb 22, 2007 Posts: 48

dabones wrote:

There are lots of times when having a US credit card can be very handy, so why loose it in the first place?

Keeping a credit card with an address in the foreign country in which you have recently lived can lead to undesireable tax consequences. It is one of the deciding factors when competing governments decide who you should pay tax to--in this case, Canada or the U.S. Too many ties to the old country and you could end up being taxed by the U.S., even though you live elsewhere. While this sounds absurd, it is quite common. If you keep a U.S. credit card it is important to have it registered in the address of the country in which you live, if your credit card issuer will allow it.

Posts: 196 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 196

toolio wrote:

Keeping a credit card with an address in the foreign country in which you have recently lived can lead to undesireable tax consequences. It is one of the deciding factors when competing governments decide who you should pay tax to--in this case, Canada or the U.S. Too many ties to the old country and you could end up being taxed by the U.S., even though you live elsewhere. While this sounds absurd, it is quite common. If you keep a U.S. credit card it is important to have it registered in the address of the country in which you live, if your credit card issuer will allow it.

I don't believe this to be a very accurate statement.

Now on another note and just for the record. I have consistently and often times paid my US acct with a CDN issued credit card.

Posts: 196 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 196

I don't know what rules and regulations specifically prevent issuing a US provisioned device for CDN use. Suffice to say, Vonage says oneI can't get a US account (primary number) issued in Canada. I would suspect that CRTC probably has thier nose in it anyway.

Posts: 48 · Full Forum Member Joined: Feb 22, 2007 Posts: 48

outerfire wrote:

I don't believe this to be a very accurate statement.

It is an entirely accurate statement.

I have no intention of turning this into a tax argument, but this is made quite clear in tax law, court cases deciding on taxation and tax books. Canadians interested in seeing how a credit card with a Canadian address can affect them after they leave the country can read about it in the excellent tax book "Canadians Resident Abroad," or read the landmark court decision by Judge Tesky in which it was ruled that "holding credit cards issued by Canadian financial institutions and other commercial entities including stores, car rental agencies, etc" is a key consideration in deciding on residence for tax purposes (as oppossed to where you physically live.)

It is possible to live and work in another country for years and still be subject to taxation in your old country, if proper procedures are not followed. That includes Americans who move to Canada. (And by the way, no matter where they live, Americans are obliged to file a U.S. tax return every year.) Rules vary according to whether your new and old countries have tax treaties with each other. Some do, some do not.

Posts: 196 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 196

toolio wrote:

... but this is made quite clear in tax law, court cases deciding on taxation and tax books.

Now there's an oxymoron.

Actually, I'm not really trying to stir the pot as I am very well aware of being subject to taxation in multiple countries. And since I have no idea of the citizenship, residency, and employment circumstances of the OP, I would not fathom to give any advice other than to say get educated on the requirements. Yes any American citizen living outside their country is subject to the same filing requirements as when they lived in the country. For bank accounts in the USA a deemed non-resident of the United States will have to file some different paperwork in order to maintain an account in the US, but it is possible and practical to do.

But to me you are implying that the Canadian interpretations of their taxation law are universal worldwide, and that is simply not the case.

However, there is no question that one has to be aware of the tax implications of maintaining accounts in worldwide entities. And I think we would both agree the OP needs to exercise due care and diligence.