Not many people do this but when dialing what are the Premium area codes to avoid when Dialling North America and other countries on Landline? And to prevent anyone phoning overseas to give them a swerve I'll start the ball rolling with the UK And I haven't a Clue if Freephone Numbers can be accessed from another country In the Uk they are (0800) and (0806)
National rate (Non area) codes start (0870) which are OK but the (0871)code is sometimes a higher rate There is 2 cheap rate call codes (local area) these are (0845) and (0500)
Now the expensive codes Anything that start with (09xx) is a premium rate line at say $2 @ minute(if you are in the same country) Time that by 4 If you are outside the UK
Can buy a couple of Gallons of Fuel for just saying "Hello How are you?" on these from abroad Exercise extreme Caution when Phoning these and B) Expect a hefty Bill if you are phoning Home from another Country
Cheapest way? use Skype or IM from a Library (If they'll allow it?)Cost you pennies at most?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: bedstor,
Posts: 13348 | Location: 6 miles west of Wigan UK | Registered: 06-05-02
I really don't have a clue what you're talking about. I always went to a PO or locutorio to make long distance calls. International phone cards work too.
Posts: 7651 | Location: On Vacation | Registered: 06-06-02
Explanation: What Bedstor is talking about is premium rate calls. In Britain (and France) we do have what Americans call 'toll free' numbers, which are free to the caller.We call them Freephone or 0800 numbers.
However some numbers, premium rate numbers, are charged at rates above the normal rate. They begin, typically, 0870. The 0870 ones are expensive.A premium number may be used by companies even for their customer services departments sometimes (!). So the caller is not getting a free call, nor even, necessarily , a call at the rate applicable for any other call. One result is that if the company has you on 'hold' waiting it is making money out of its own delay as it is getting a cut of the call charge.
An 0870 number or an 09 number may be charging at £1 ($2) a minute or more. They are a favourite of 'sexy' chat line services but are also used by other organisations who aim to make a profit on the call. So a TV company may have a competition by phone and charge all the callers a premium rate. The show 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' charges a premium rate to anyone who rings in, even if all they want to do is put themselves forward as contestants. The show makes so much money from this alone that it must pay the prize money in the quiz itself many times over. Similarly every vote by phone for TV talent shows or shows like 'Strictly Come Dancing' (which the BBC sold in the States as 'Dancing with the Stars' ) is at premium rate. The phone company splits the proceeds with the TV company.
We would like to know whether it is possible to ring such a number from outside the UK, or if you have them in the States to ring the equivalent from here. I don't think that you can get throught to a US 'toll free' number from here. (My feeling is that it is sometimes possible to ring an 0845 or 0870 number in England from France and Easyjet airline is accessible that way. I've no idea about using free calls on 0800 from France)
PS Bedstor: There is a website that claims to give hotline landline numbers to companies that only advertise an 0870 number to the public. It's www.saynoto0870.com
AnswerPool.com 
Exercise extreme Caution when Phoning these and B) Expect a hefty Bill if you are phoning Home from another Country
