Once upon a time reserved for elite business corporations, nowadays toll-free numbers are widely available for any business that wants to add professionalism and convenience to their services. With 1-800 numbers and other free-to-dial numbers, people don’t pay anything for placing the call. Connection charges are handled by the company. Callers can dial toll-free numbers from any device: cell phones, landlines, and internet-powered devices. Though the call is generally free, some fees may still be applicable depending on how the call is placed. Show
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What Does a Toll-Free Call Mean?A toll-free call is a call that’s free of charge for the person placing the call. Instead of having the caller pay for the connection, it’s the owner of the phone number, such as the person or company, that gets charged for the call. These numbers have distinct, preassigned 3-digit codes in place of an area code. Those codes currently are: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833 (it’s important to note that these codes are not interchangeable). These numbers are typically used for customer service calling for several notable reasons:
The easiest and completely free option is to place calls to 1-800 and similar free numbers from a regular telephone. On your phone’s dial pad, enter:
In other words, when calling from the U.S., the number you enter will look like this: 1(800)123-4567 How to Call a Toll-Free Number From MobileWhen using a mobile device, you can call make both local toll-free calls and international numbers. Local means that you call a domestic 1-800 or similar number from within the United States. International means that you’re calling either a U.S.-based toll-free line from outside the country, or you’re making an international toll-free call. How to dial a local toll-free number from a mobile phoneTo dial toll-free numbers from mobile from within the United States, just press:
To call these numbers locally – i.e. from within the U.S. – you aren’t required to dial the country code “1”. How to call international toll-free numbers from a cell phoneIf you’re making the call to a United States toll-free number from outside of the country, you’ll need to enter:
Please note that some companies will not connect calls made from outside the country. If you need to call 1-800 numbers based in another country, you’ll need to enter:
Note that foreign free numbers also have “800” area codes, and some are part of the Universal International Freephone Service. But don’t confuse them with regular telephone numbers. They have a different format and may not be recognized by U.S. phone carriers. Find more information in the “Dialing from abroad” section below. How to Call 1-800 Numbers from Any Device?MightyCall’s phone system allows any business to pick their own 1-800 number (or another free prefix) and ensure a national business presence. But we also make it possible to dial toll-free numbers from mobile phones or practically any device at hand – mobile phone, laptop, tablet, and even an IP desk phone – just like you would from any regular phone. How to place a call from any device using MightyCall’s app:
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Dialing 800 Numbers from AbroadSince the dialer is generally not charged with a call placed to a free number and the company handles all charges, many companies block calls made from abroad to avoid high international call rates. Many international companies provide local numbers for customers to use instead, or have warnings concerning “additional charges” under specific conditions. This doesn’t mean that you can’t contact toll-free numbers internationally. The Universal International Freephone Number (UIFN) is a service that allows companies to use the international prefix “+800”. Note that Universal International Freephone Numbers don’t have a country code and look like this: +800-1234-5678. However, this number format may not be recognized by some U.S cell phone operators as valid, which means you may not be able to place or receive these calls. If you plan to make calls to international freephone numbers, consult your mobile operator for more information. With freephone calls, all expenses are handled by the company hosting the number. 144 carriers in 67 countries participate in the UIFN program which allows free dialing from countries where the system has been adopted. Who Pays for Calling 1-800 Toll-Free Numbers?Toll-free calls on landlinesThe charges for 800 and similar calls go to the person/company hosting the number. Essentially, businesses are paying for customers to call them—that’s why these numbers are predominantly used in customer-service calling.The calling process is free for the person that’s dialing if they’re calling through a landline number. Toll-free calls on cell phonesBack in the 1960s, toll-free calling was developed for landlines, not mobile phones which didn’t exist. Nowadays, this turned into a loophole for mobile carriers. When you’re calling 800 or similar numbers from mobile, the provider isn’t technically responsible for toll-free charges on cell phones. You’ll still incur roaming charges and will use your minutes to call, just like with any other number. If you enter an 800 number from a cell and do not have an unlimited calling plan with your service provider, the call will use your available minutes – so it won’t be “free” at all. Extra charges for some toll-free calls on mobile phonesWhile it usually costs nothing to dial a 1-800 number from a regular phone, not all calls from mobile phones are free. Situations where the caller may be charged include:
How to Call Toll-Free Numbers Online?To call a toll-free number when traveling and prevent extra charges, you can either use Wi-Fi calling or online calling services like Skype or Viber that allow you to make outgoing calls to external numbers. Wi-Fi calling is a feature that’s available on some phones for placing calls over the internet without extra cellular or internet charges. Whether you’re planning to make a regular or free call in this case does not matter. Another way to place toll-free calls online is through a calling app like Skype or Viber. However, calling through services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger isn’t available because these apps don’t support calls made to external numbers. SkypeSkype allows free international calls to U.S. toll-free numbers, and free numbers in several other countries including France, UK, and Poland. However, users note that they’ve been able to make calls via Skype to free numbers in Austria, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Netherlands, and Taiwan. How to make toll-free calls from mobile via Skype:
ViberViber allows calls to any external number via Viber Out. How to call a toll-free number via Viber:
How to Dial 1-800 Numbers with Words?Sometimes, you’ll see numbers that combine a free prefix with a combination of letters or words. These are called vanity toll-free numbers. Vanity numbers are numbers that contain words or abbreviations that are easy to memorize. They are great for branding and hotlines. One of the most famous examples is 1-800-FLOWERS the use of which helped launch the company into newfound stratospheres of profit. On your phone’s dial pad, you’ll see that every digit has several letters that correspond to it. For example, “2” stands for “A/B/C”, “3” stands for “D/C/E” etc. To enter a number that consists of letters or a combination of numbers and letters, simply press the digits that correspond to the letters. For any number that contains letters or words:
Calling a Toll-free Number is Easy From Any DeviceCalling a number with a 1-800 or other free prefix is simple from any device you have at hand. Keep in mind that to keep calls made to these numbers completely free, it’s advisable to place the call from a landline number. Calls made through internet devices can also be made for free if you’re using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data, or a third-party app like Skype. If you have a business and are looking into getting an easy-to-remember number with a national presence, VoIP services like MightyCall have a wide collection of 1-800 and other numbers for you to choose between, with different area codes and vanity number options available. Check these out today. Why can't I dial 800 numbers on my phone?Some 800 numbers only allow calls from certain calling areas. If your phone number is not in that area, the 800 number will reject it. You may have to find a non toll free number and use that number instead.
How do I call a toll free number from my mobile?How can I call a toll free number? Toll free numbers are called the same way you would any other number. Just be sure to dial “1” followed by the correct toll free prefix (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, or 888). Toll free prefixes are not interchangeable.
Why is iPhone not allowing me to make calls?Check your iPhone settings
Go to Settings and turn on Airplane Mode, wait five seconds, then turn it off. Check Do Not Disturb. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and make sure it's off. Check for any blocked phone numbers.
Why won't my call go through to a certain number?If you're having a problem reaching one specific number, and they have not blocked you, contact your cellular carrier. It's probably a routing problem in the cellular network.
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