Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Mon, 06 May 91 00:12:31 EDT From: Tony Harminc Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Directory of 800 Prefixes Wanted Message-ID: Organization: TELECOM Digest Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 336, Message 8 of 11 Lines: 29 Steve Shellans asked for a directory of 800 Prefixes. The Moderator's reply included the statement: > .... But the general rule now is an 800 number, regardless of > prefix could be anywhere in the USA. In fact an 800 number could be almost anywhere at all - not just in the USA. Several countries within world numbering zone 1 (Canada, USA, Bermuda, and Carribean islands) use the 800 pseudo area code for toll-free calls. In many cases these numbers are reachable cross- border (if the subscriber is paying for cross border coverage). But even an "ordinary looking" 800 number could ring in a European country or Hong Kong, or any one of many places. Similarly an "ordinary looking" 0800 number in the UK could ring in Canada or the USA. I get quite fed up with people who call me from the USA and leave an 800 number that can't be reached. They seem to assume that if they have paid for "all states" service, they have covered the world. I don't even have the choice of paying for the call -- there is just no way to reach such a number. Tony Harminc