What sort of number is 1-800?

Question

i need to phone america from uk and the number ive got starts 1-800, can anyone tell me what sort of number this is, local, premium etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

It's an inward WATS (Wide Area Telephone Service) line. The "1" really isn't part of the number at all, as it's just the long distance prefix that you could use whenever dialing a long distance number on a standard phone. (Cell phones and some PBXes allow for 10-digit dialing, which analyzes the number and determines the actual dialing rules for it.)

888, 877, and 866 are also valid toll-free area codes in the United States.

The subscriber determines what locales can place calls to the number.

When last I ordered toll-free service for the call center I worked at (sometime in 2006), AT&T charged $5.00 for the toll-free number itself, then 1.5c a minute for inter-LATA callers (callers from outside the area code), 7.5c a minute for intra-LATA callers (those from within the area code), and 15c a minute for callers from Canada, Mexico, and certain callers from Latin American countries.

Essentially, if you dial the number and it lets you get through, then they've provisioned to accept calls from the UK and you need not worry about extra charges beyond what your provider charges for a local call. You may receive a message that calls from your area are blocked.

Answer 2

It usually means its a toll free number from within the United States. Not sure if its still toll free from another country. You may want to call your phone company where you are to be sure. I've also heard 1-800 numbers are only reachable from within the US but I'm not sure if that's true.

Answer 3

Toll free - from inside the USA. There are the 800 part is called an area code, and there are four different area codes that are toll free from inside the US. They are 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, and 1-866.

Answer 4

800 and 888 are usually toll free numbers and don't cost a thing but i'm not sure if it is country to country the same deal but i dont see why not

Answer 5

I think the person who surveyed you was calling from somewhere far away, thus giving you a bill for long distance calling. Telemarketers do this, and people get charges for long distance which are annoying. I doubt it's a hack of some sort.

Answer 6

Toll-free, so in the U.S. it doesn't cost you any extra money to call such a number.

Answer 7

Its called a Watts line. Its toll free anywhere in the US.

Answer 8

it's a toll free #.there will be no charge to you to use that #

Answer 9

it's a toll free # meaning no long distance charges.tally ho.