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Questions About Toll Free (1-800) Numbers
What is a personal toll free number?
Why would I need a toll free number?
How do I sign up for a toll free number?
Do I have to pay a monthly fee to have a personal toll free
number?
What are the rates for calls made to a toll free number?
Does having a toll free number mean that I need another phone
line?
What does it mean when someone says my toll free number is
portable?
Are calls to my personal 1-800 number subject to any
surcharges?
What is a personal toll free number?
A personal toll free number (also referred to as an "800 number") is a service
where the person receiving the call pays for the phone call, rather than the
caller. While toll free numbers have been a popular way for businesses to keep in
touch with their customers for a long time, they have also become very popular in
recent years for residential customers. Currently, any phone number beginning with
800, 888, 877 or 866 is a toll free number.
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Why would I need a toll free number?
While you don't necessarily need a toll free number, it can be a good thing to
have when you've got friends or family members who need to call your home. Toll
free numbers are especially useful for college students or older family members on
fixed incomes who need to be in touch with you. Toll free numbers are significantly
cheaper than calling cards or collect calls.
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How do I sign up for a toll free number?
To sign up for a toll free number through the SmartPrice.com™ site, you
simply need to begin the switching process. First, from the Results Page, choose
the company and plan that you'd like to switch to. You will be asked to fill out an
account with SmartPrice.com so that we can pass your information along to your
chosen long distance company. As part of that process, we'll ask you if you would
like a toll free number.
You can get started right here to find the best plan for you. Once you tell us a
little about your calling habits and pick your plan, you can opt to get a toll free
number and sign up for other money-saving long distance plan features.
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Do I have to pay a monthly fee to have a personal toll
free number?
Generally there is a small monthly fee (about a dollar) to have a personal toll
free number. However, considering that the cost of incoming toll free calls is very
inexpensive relative to other way to call, most people find that this more than
pays for itself.
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What are the rates for calls made to a toll free
number?
Rates for toll free calls vary depending on the carrier - you can find specific
toll free rates in the details of your plan (click on the plan name from the
results page). However, a general rule of thumb is that toll free calls coming from
out of state are charged at your interstate rate, and toll free calls coming from
in state are charged at your intrastate rate.
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Does having a toll free number mean that I need
another phone line?
No, you do not need to have an extra phone line to use a toll free number. Your
toll free number can be directed to ring to any number that you choose - most
people have their toll free number ring to the main line at their homes. When you
select a toll free number through the SmartPrice.com™ site, we'll assign that
number to your main billed telephone number, unless you contact us and make a
request that it ring to a different line.
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What does it mean when someone says my toll free
number is portable?
When someone says your toll free number is portable, this means that you can
switch long distance companies and plans without having to get a different toll
free number. You can keep your existing toll free number when you switch
services.
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Are calls to my personal 1-800 number subject to any
surcharges?
Most of the carriers on our site do not place surcharges on calls to your 1-800
number that are placed from regular phones. However, some of the carriers on our
site place a surcharge on calls to your 1-800 number that are made from payphones.
Please refer to individual plan details for more specific company and plan
information.
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