uk to us phone

[cotambear]

I am trying to reach a toll free no in the us from the uk (from a landline) that begins 866
What prefix do I use? I`ve tried 001 but all I get is an engaged tone. many tia

[snakebite911]

I don't think you are supposed to be able to call a toll free number from abroad, usually they have other alternatives to call.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by snakebite911

I don't think you are supposed to be able to call a toll free number from abroad, usually they have other alternatives to call.

You can most definitely call a toll free number in the US, however, it will not be free. When you call you will get a message that states "The toll free number you are calling is not toll free when dialed from outside the USA .......". After the message you will be connected.

Not sure what the international dialing procedures are from UK, but I seem to remember that it is 00, in which case you dial 00 1 866 ### ####

[snakebite911]

Originally Posted by MrDK

You can most definitely call a toll free number in the US, however, it will not be free. When you call you will get a message that states "The toll free number you are calling is not toll free when dialed from outside the USA .......". After the message you will be connected.

Not sure what the international dialing procedures are from UK, but I seem to remember that it is 00, in which case you dial 00 1 866 ### ####

Not necessarily, quote from Wikipedia below. Bit technical, but generally: Depands on the owner of the number, what is allowed, and often not open to international calls, with exceptions, UK being one.

The toll-free numbers can only be called from certain phone numbers, depending upon the preferences of the customer (and sometimes the provider) who has the phone numbers. The default is that these numbers are available from any phone in Canada or the USA. However, many US toll-free numbers cannot be accessed from Canada, and many Canadian toll-free numbers cannot be accessed from the USA. Some are not accessible from pay phones (which the provider passes as an ANI code). Calls from payphones assess the toll free owner an additional fee in the USA as mandated by the FCC. Although toll-free numbers are not accessible internationally, many phone services actually call through the USA, and in this case the toll-free numbers become available. Examples of these services are the MCI Worldphone international calling card, and Vonage internet telephone. However, many calling card services charge their own fee when their toll-free numbers are used to make calls, or when their toll-free numbers are used from pay phones.
From many countries (e.g. the UK), US toll-free numbers can be dialed, but the caller first gets a recorded announcement that the call is not free, and perversely, on many carriers, the cost of calling a 'toll-free' number can be higher than to a normal number.
US toll-free numbers could at one time be accessed from certain other NANP countries on a paid basis by replacing the 800 by 880, 888 by 881, and 877 by 882. Thus, to reach 1-800-xxx-yyyy from a NANP country where it was blocked, 1-880-xxx-yyyy could be dialed. Areas codes 880, 881 and 882 have since been recovered.
A limited number of US toll-free numbers may be accessed internationally free of charge to the caller by dialing through the AT&T USADirect service. This is one way in which US companies may provide toll-free customer service to their international clients.
In addition, US toll-free numbers may be accessed free of charge regardless of the caller's location by some IP telephone services.

[MrDK]

The limitation to toll free calls with the US and Canada (same calling system) used to common, but today that hardly exist.

Do not have all the ins and outs as to blocking of numbers, but I routinely call "toll free" numbers when overseas and have never had an issue. I have called from many countries in Europe and Asia. Always gotten the same message and always gotten through.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by MrDK

The limitation to toll free calls with the US and Canada (same calling system) used to common, but today that hardly exist.

.

it surely does exist
i would say about 60-70% of toll free numbers can not be reached in states from canada

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by marc26

it surely does exist
i would say about 60-70% of toll free numbers can not be reached in states from canada

I certainly could stand corrected in that as I am not living in Canada. However, where there I never had problem calling the US on toll free lines, but that may be because I generally call companies that do business in both the US and Canada.