I have never called home with a phone. I always use Skype. You can do video chat if they also have skype, or you can buy credit to your skype account and call landlines and cell numbers in any country for hella cheap.

I always have cc issues and I call them using Skype to save money.
But if its an emergency than use your cell phone.
I think your problem is you are calling collect.  Just call the number normally and not collect and you should be fine.  Calling collect from here is impossible.

Did you remember to put a "1" in front of the number? For instance, calling home, I'd have to put 1-717-***-****. When I first got here, I forgot the one, and it didn't work, I thought it was my phone.

I thought in this day and age that it would be near impossable to get cut off from the outside world.
I know it is Sunday however you can still send a e-mail to your credit card fund
or if you turn it over you will see on the back a international number you can call
Im sure you can borrow a couple hundred yuan from sombody or a phone to make the call.
If you are realy in the shit PM me and I will tell them to call you.
Best regards

Hell PM me, I'll make the call for you if you are willing to trust a faceless stranger with your info.

I'd say the same as DaBen... I've got Skype (a 'real' one!).

Maybe Canada has closed? Perhaps it went out of business or didn't pay its phone-bill??

Also possible - the US has invaded... isn't the first thing they do when they invade a country is disconnect all phones???

try this 12593-001-area code then number. 

That 12593 charges you something insane like .5 kuai a minute to call Canada.

If you want to call foreign countries you will have to go to a China Mobile store to enable this service first. Bring your passport and remember your PIN number than you entered when you registered your card.
They will set it up for you.

Skype is the way to go.

I can only think of two things
Become a gigolo or Try using an internet café in a couple hours you should be able to fix or at least figure out all your problems.

yesterday, I had no luck, pay phones were either not working or so corroded that I couldn't and was unable to figure them out,, Today i woke up sick with a cold, which I haven't had any for years, I'm so sick I'm not trying anyhting today.  just want bed alone

If you are staying at a hotel, they should be able to help you.
I had a similar problem in 2006, my first time in China. The credit card company kept declining my card, so I explained the situation to the front dest and they helped me call the international number for the credit card. After they verified my inormation, all was cleared up and I have never had that problem again.

Many shops have phone service,which they will charge you on a meter,or just go to a big hotel,who will be quite expensive but not so expensive if the phone call is really important

I got to phone and straighten out my Visa card, then later I phoned home, but after awhile i got a message in Chinese and was cut off think iit said ka or na butchey. 
          tim bo dong
  Next problem is making Chinese do what I ask, I've asked for my address in Chinese so I can take a taxi home, Tonight I could not find my stop from the bus, took it to the endand had to take another bus home, but this time i found my apartment, it's the one with all the hookers waiting for me. na just kidding, but it hard to pick land marks when i can't read the language.

Go to your online banking account. Depending on what bank you use where your from. They should have a number on their website if you have access to a computer which I'm sure you do you can call the number where your from with a calling card. Talk to a representative and have them unfreeze your account. You would have to tell someone you are traveling abroad otherwise if they see someone is using your card in another country they will automatically block it for your protection. I had to do it myself forgot to tell them I was coming except my doctor back home!