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Index
a) Toll free USA (1-800, 1-888,1-877,1-866)
b) Toll free International
c) 0800 free - UK (and 0808)
d) 0845 access - UK
e) Exceptions to the rule, pay phones, cell phones, hotels etc
f) Diagram
a)
Toll free USA (1-800, 1-888,1-877,1-866)
In the
USA number starting with 1-800, 1-888, 1-877 and 1-866 are toll
free numbers which means that you do not pay for the access call
from a standard line. Generally with a toll free number the
international call charge is charged to the phone card. There are
some exceptions, mentioned below.
b)
Toll free International
Toll free
international numbers will vary by country. As they are toll free,
this means that you do not pay for the access call from a standard
line. Generally with a toll free number the international call
charge is charged to the phone card. There are some exceptions,
mentioned below.
c)
0800 free - UK (and 0808)
0800
numbers in the UK are toll free numbers that start with 0800 or
0808. As they are 'toll free' you do not pay for the access
call from a standard line. Generally with a toll free number the
international call charge is charged to the phone card. I.e. no
charge is made to the phone you are using. There are some
exceptions, mentioned below.
Note: Some cards may operate via an 0845 number but provide a toll
free access number and add a 'per minute' surcharge if used. This
is very common in the UK. If using our call calculator we do show
this surcharge in a separate column for your convenience. It will
also be shown on the product page. the surcharge with such cards
is charge to the phone card not the phone.
d)
0845 access - UK
0845
access is fast becoming the norm in the UK today. Calling an 0845
number generally charges the phone you are using with the rate of
a local call. For a landline this is normally between 1p and
3p/min but may vary depending upon your phone service provider.
Quoting rates via the 0845 number allows card manufacturers to
show lower per minute rates, as they then do not bear the cost of
a free phone number. When dialling an 0845 number the phone you
are using will be charged at a local call rate and the phone card
is charge at the rate shown in the rate table or calculator. There
are some exceptions, mentioned below.
Many people like the 0845 number as they can usually dial this
number on their mobile for the price of a normal call. This allows
them to make a cheap international call from their mobile phone
using a mobile phone (cell phone)!
e)
Exceptions to the rule, pay phones, cell phones, hotels etc
Life
would be much easier if these didn't exist but they do. In most
cases you will need to do some further research before being
confident in the costs you are paying.
Pay
Phones:
As pay phone operators makes no immediate money from people
dialling toll free or 0800 numbers, they generally will make a
'payphone surcharge' for calling a phone card access number. This
will normally be levied to the phone card itself and does vary by
country. Where we have these details, UK, USA we publish them but
in some other countries they may vary. Although not ideal,
sometimes it's a case of try it and see. Some UK cards do not have
a payphone surcharge. Usually the makers of such cards absorb the
costs themselves. In some countries, the access numbers may be
blocked by the payphone operator. If this happens to you then
please try either a hotel or someone's home phone.
Cell
phones/Mobile phones:
An enormous amount of people use cell phones, sometimes called
mobile phones. Generally each service provider have the freedom to
create their own tariffs for calls to local, national,
mobile and non-geographic numbers etc. If in any doubt please ask
your cell phone provider for the cost of the call made to the
access number. You do not need to highlight that it's a phone card
number just mention the number itself.
E.g. With our mobile phone we can dial the 0845 access number as
part of our free minutes (UK-Vodaphone). For any minutes used
above and beyond the free ones we get charged the national rate
which is 8p/min peak on our tariff.
We always recommend that you check the rate from your mobile
before using a card. When roaming, that is using cell phone in
other countries you may get charged much higher charges for using
cells when roaming. I recently used my UK cell to call a French
free phone number and was charged over £1/minute.... the second
time I went I used the hotel phone :)
Hotel
phones: We
are finding that most hotels do not charge for accessing 0800 or
toll free numbers. In some established markets such as the USA,
some hotels charge a connection fee of 99 cents or similar for
each call made to a calling card. Many don't charge. In some
countries the hotels may block access numbers although this tends
to be rare. We would suggest that you check with the hotel
telephone charges sheet before using your card. If in doubt
purchase a low value card and renew by email if OK.
f)
Diagram
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