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. Although the call is generally free, some fees may still apply depending on how it is placed.
What does a toll-free call mean?
A toll-free call is one that’s free for the person placing it. Instead of having the caller pay for the connection, the owner of the phone number, such as the person or company, is charged for the call. These numbers have distinct, preassigned 3-digit codes instead of area codes. The current codes 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:
- To help a business avoid appearing local if it’s located in various areas
- To encourage people to call, since these numbers are free
- To provide a company with a professional appearance
- To prevent callers from blocking their caller ID (the option isn’t available on these numbers)
- To stay accessible to customers in case of relocation
- To keep the number portable, since the FCC requires 800 and similar numbers to be portable across services. This means you can easily move from one company to another and keep the same business number. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, a business owns its number, for all intents and purposes.
How to call 1-800 numbers from a landline?
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:
- The country code (e.g., “1” for the United States)
- The free national prefix (e.g. “800”)
- The number (e.g,. “123-4567”)
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 a mobile
When using a mobile device, you can make both local toll-free calls and international calls. Local means you call a domestic 1-800 number or a 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 phone
To dial toll-free numbers from a mobile phone from within the United States, just press:
- The free number prefix (e.g., “800” or other)
- The number (e.g,. “123-4567”)
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 phone
If you’re making the call to a United States toll-free number from outside of the country, you’ll need to enter:
- The country code (“1”)
- The free number prefix (e.g., “800”)
- The number (e.g., “123-4567”)
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:
- Your country’s exit code (“011” for the U.S.)
- The international prefix for the country you’re calling (e.g., “800” or other)
- The number
Note that international toll-free numbers also use “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:
- Open MightyCall’s webphone or mobile app
- Enter the country code (e.g., “1” for the U.S.)
- Choose the correct toll-free prefix (e.g, “800” or other)
- Enter the number (e.g, “123-4567”)
Dialing 800 numbers from abroad
Since the dialer is generally not charged for calls to free numbers and the company handles all charges, many companies block calls 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 landlines
The charges for 800 and similar calls go to the person/company hosting the number. Essentially, businesses pay for customers to call them—that’s why these numbers are predominantly used for customer service calls. The calling process is free for the person dialing if they’re calling from a landline.
Toll-free calls on cell phones
Back 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 a 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 phones
While 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:
- Conference calls: Supposedly free conference calls may distribute charges among participants to ease the financial burden on the company
- Religious help lines: Calls that provide religious services over the phone may also result in extra charges
- Any call where you hear a warning about extra charges: Some numbers that have a toll-free prefix, in fact, have calling rules set up that accept free calls only within one or several states. So if you dial a free number but hear a message along the lines of “additional charges may apply”, stick to the meaning that additional charges will be applicable to your call.
How to call toll-free numbers online?
To call a toll-free number while traveling and avoid extra charges, you can use Wi-Fi calling or online calling services like Viber, which let you make outgoing calls to external numbers.
Wi-Fi calling is a feature available on some phones that lets you place calls over Wi-Fi 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 Viber. However, calling through services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger isn’t available because these apps don’t support calls made to external numbers.
Viber
Viber allows calls to any external number via Viber Out.
How to call a toll-free number via Viber:
- Tap the “Calls’ tab
- Tap on the Dialpad icon
- Enter the number in the format +1(800)123-4567
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, whose use helped launch the company into newfound stratospheric profits.
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:
- Enter “+” and the country code (e.g. “+1” for the USA)
- Enter the prefix (e.g., “800”)
- Enter the digits corresponding to the letters. For example, the word “FLOWERS” corresponds to the digits “3569377”. So you would input +1(800)3569377
Calling a toll-free number is easy from any device
Calling 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 to these numbers completely free, it’s advisable to place them from a landline. Calls made through internet devices can also be free if you’re using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data or a third-party app like Viber.
If you have a business and are looking for an easy-to-remember number with a national presence, VoIP services like MightyCall offer a wide selection of 1-800 and other numbers, including different area codes and vanity number options. Check these out today.
