The Telegrams Canada web site is only available to Canadian credit card holders with a Canadian billing address. International users have access to the same services through the web site at International Telegram.

Telegram forms vary by country, and even by office within the country. We have arranged a few samples below:

 Sample telegram to Canada (JPG image, 35,080 bytes) view
 Sample telegram to the United States (JPG image, 25,892 bytes) view
 Sample telegram to Italy (JPG image, 61,523 bytes) view

This occurs if your web browser does not support secure online banking. We require a web browser with "strong" (128-bit) data encryption capability. This protocol is regarded as very secure for financial transactions. To learn how to upgrade your web browser, see our upgrade information or contact your computer dealer. If you are unable to use online ordering, our operators will be happy to serve you by phone. 

Telegrams Canada has adopted the strictest security measures in the industry. Here's how we keep your financial information secure:

1.  Your credit card details are scrambled (also called "encrypted") when sent over the internet. We use the same high-security data encryption as banks, stock brokerages and the Government of Canada. 

2.  Visa and MasterCard have implemented zero-liability policies for fraudulent use. This means that you are 100% protected from fraudulent use of your card, whether online or anywhere else. 

3.  We want to make online shopping safe and enjoyable for everyone. That's why we are an active member of the Better Business Bureau. We encourage you to check any online business with the BBB before making a purchase.  

You can check our record online or by calling the BBB of Ottawa at (613) 237-4856.

To send a telegram by phone, dial 1-866-835-4726 (from outside Canada and the United States, dial 1-613-530-1088). To send a telegram by e-mail, address an email to helpdesk@telegrams.ca including the delivery name and address, your message, and your name and daytime phone number. An operator will telephone you to arrange payment by credit card.

Delivery information for telegrams to Canadian addresses can be found here. For specific delivery information please see the delivery details for each country here . Telegrams to remote places may take longer than the standard delivery time.

Telegrams to private homes within Canada are usually delivered between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Delivery outside these times is sometimes possible by special arrangement by contacting our office. Telegrams to inns (hotels, motels, B&B's) can be delivered any time during waking hours.

If no one is home when the courier arrives, the telegram will be left at the door. Sometimes the telegram cannot be left at the door, for example, in a lock-out apartment building or if you have required a delivery signature. In the case of a signature-required delivery, a door hanger will be left on the door. The door hanger tells the householder where to pick up the telegram locally, or how to arrange re-delivery. Telegrams are kept at the local delivery office for one week. If after one week no one picks up the telegram, it will be destroyed. Unclaimed telegrams are not refundable. For lock-out apartments, if no one is home and the householder cannot be reached by phone, the telegram will be mailed. Mail delivery may take several days.

Yes! In most cases, we can electronically deliver the message to the front desk the same day. The telegram will then be printed and hand delivered by the establishment's staff. If the guest has not yet checked in, the telegram will be kept at the front desk and handed to the guest upon check-in.

Same-day delivery is available only to certain cities. See the delivery details for more information. 

Telegrams to inns can be delivered Saturday or Sunday. There is no additional charge for weekend delivery.
In many Canadian cities, we may be able to do a special delivery to a home on Saturday. For more information, please contact our customer service centre. 

We are committed to getting your telegram there on time. Even so, delays can occur due to bad weather, road conditions, communications bottlenecks and other factors. For this reason, we can't guarantee delivery times. If you have questions about delivery to a specific location, please contact us before sending your telegram and we'll give you the most current delivery information.  

You can require a signature for telegrams within Canada, and to business addresses in the United States. There is an extra charge for this. Please note this may delay your telegram, as it means someone must be home in order for it to be delivered.

If the telegram was not delivered, please consider the following information before you call. If the fault was our own, we will be happy to offer a refund. Most of the time, however, non-delivery is due to one of the following reasons:

Was the address correct? Telegrams are hand-delivered, so you should carefully check the address for accuracy. A misspelled street name, missing phone number, incorrect postal code, or incomplete address can cause the telegram to be delayed or returned.

Is the telegram still in transit? Telegrams to some places may take more than one business day for delivery. To areas with no service at weekends, if you placed your telegram on Friday it might not be delivered until Tuesday.

Did the recipient respond to the door hanger? If a notice was left at the door, did the recipient arrange for re-delivery or pick up the telegram locally? If not, the unclaimed telegram will be destroyed by the local delivery office after one week.

For First-Class telegrams delivered within Canada and the US, we can provide confirmation of delivery for a fee of $19.00 which includes a certified copy of your telegram. For telegrams sent overseas, please note that some countries do not offer confirmation of delivery. If we are able to confirm overseas delivery, there is a charge of $19.00 for this service. Please contact us for more information. Delivery confirmation is not available for Mailgram service.

Telegrams Canada retains copies of all telegrams for at least six months.

Regular Copies: A duplicate copy of a telegram can be mailed to the sender or recipient for an $6.00 charge (includes mailing).
Certified Copies: If you require a certified copy of a telegram, the fee is $19.00 (includes mailing).
Over Six Months: If your telegram was sent more than six months ago, we may be able to provide a copy. There is a research fee of $20.00 plus the price of the copy as above.

To request a copy, please contact us.

We do not offer singing or entertainment telegrams. For these services, please check your Yellow Pages directory under "Telegrams, Singing, Dancing, etc." or visit Yellow.ca.

Please see our contact information page.

Telegrams Canada is the only licensed telegraph service provider in Canada, and operates Unitel's international cablegram system in Canada. The International Public Telegram Service and Telex exchange were formerly operated by AT&T Canada, and before that by CNCP Telecommunications, Canadian National Telegraphs, and Canadian Pacific Telegraphs. Telegrams Canada holds a Class B license issued by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Most of the rights-of-way along Canada's railroads are owned by Allstream who provides other non-telegram services formerly provided by CNCP.