How Can I Call Toll Free Number In United States From Thai Cell Phone?

[DONEWITHIT]

Hello,

I've been trying to call a 1-800 number in the united states from my thai cell phone by dialing 0081 and then the toll free number.It won't allow me through.I've tried various combinations and no luck.I'm hoping someone else has done this from their cellphone and can tell me if their is a correct prefix and proper way of doing this.I'm pretty much a computer illiterate old guy that feels much more comfortable reading the forums than posting as I have poor typing skills.That's also why I don't have skype or something similar as I'm more at ease using a telephone and not messing up anything on the computer so I can still talk to my kids on msn messenger live,my son set up before I left America.I realize this is something I should know but I don't and could very much use some of your knowledge.If any members could put out this information I would deeply appreciate it.Thanking you for your time and patience in advance.DONEWITHIT

[gunnyd]

I use 00199911111 to call Bank of America's Toll Free numbers.

It is the access number for AT&T

GunnyD

[LaReina]

A 1-800 number means the reciver pays for the call. If you use your cell phone and an access number it implies that the merchant will be paying for a long distance overseas call? I dont think so.

Download SKYPE. It is easy!!! if you want me to walk you through it via messenger I will. But you have to pm me to let me know you need help.

But trust me, it is really easy and there is nothing you can do wrong. You do need a speaker and a microphone for your computer though.

You set up a free account, and with SKYPE, you can call 1-800 numbers to your hearts content.

[lomatopo]

+1800nnnnnn

0091800nnnnnnn

You'll have to wait for the Thai and English announcements re: that you will be charged for the call; 9 baht/min for +1/001, 6 baht/min for 009.

The AT&T access scheme, which is free of charge, only works if the business you're calling has enabled international access, most 800/888 are not so enabled.

If you have One-2-Call you can also try *490049 and follow the prompts, only 2 baht/min.

Edited August 14, 2008 by lomatopo

[dotcom]

You want the guy to use Skype on his mobile phone? Read the OP again.

I wish I could help you bud. From a land line it is 001-1- 800 - xxxxxxx

As mentioned above wait till you hear the recording in Thai & English telling you that you will be paying the charges for the call.

1-800 is only free from within the United States.

lo says use 009-1-800 xxxxx try that.

[maxjay]

You'll have to wait for the Thai and English announcements re: that you will be charged for the call; 9 baht/min for +1/001, 6 baht/min for 009.

The AT&T access scheme, which is free of charge, only works if the business you're calling has enabled international access, most 800/888 are not so enabled.

American Express will accept collect calls from AT&T. But I ususally call on the company's non-toll free #.

Also, I always try and find out the non toll-free numbers, it will save you having to be on hold longer than necessary if you are paying for the call.

[LaReina]

You want the guy to use Skype on his mobile phone? Read the OP again.

I wish I could help you bud. From a land line it is 001-1- 800 - xxxxxxx

As mentioned above wait till you hear the recording in Thai & English telling you that you will be paying the charges for the call.

1-800 is only free from within the United States.

lo says use 009-1-800 xxxxx try that.

My husband has Skype on his mobile phone. How do you know his phone does not have a wiresless card?

He has a computer, and can install Skype there, hence my comment about the speaker and microphone.

[lomatopo]

How do you know his phone does not have a wiresless card?

Well, the OP did describe himself as "...pretty much a computer illiterate old guy...", so that might lead one to think he doesn't have a mobile device capable of running Skype over WiFi, and that even getting Skype up and running on his PC might be a challenge. But that's just a guess.

I use the AT&T free access a lot but not all the 800 numbers I call are so enabled. Sometimes the businesses tell you they are, but I often just try it first and if bounced ("we're sorry but...?) then I use one of the lower-cost options like 009 1 800 NNN NNNN. AFAIK, the "008" prefix cannot be used for 800 numbers.

Just dial 009 1 800 NNN NNNN, or +1 800 NNN NNNN and wait for the Thai and English announcements to end. The + symbol can be found on your mobile phone keypad, typically the lower-most left button, press it twice quickly to get the + symbol in the display.

[gunnyd]

008 does work with toll free numbers. After you dial you will get a message informing you that you will be charged the regular rate of a toll call then the call goes through. I use AT&T access number that I listed with no problems with BofA but they did give me the number to use. American Express cards have the collect number printed on the back of the card.

[lomatopo]

008 does work with toll free numbers.

I tried several times, before posting, and could not complete the call. I think TOT now blocks calls to 800 numbers via the 008 prefix but perhaps this is a quirk peculiar to my phone/service (One-2-Call)? My guess is that this is the issue which prompted the OP's post? Hopefully 009/+ works for him as it does for me?

Edited August 15, 2008 by lomatopo

[dkstoney]

I was always under the impression that 1-800 numbers were for domestic calls only. As LaReina said, the receiver of the call pays the toll and aren't likely to pay for an overseas connection.

[longball53098]

Hello,

I've been trying to call a 1-800 number in the united states from my thai cell phone by dialing 0081 and then the toll free number.It won't allow me through.I've tried various combinations and no luck.I'm hoping someone else has done this from their cellphone and can tell me if their is a correct prefix and proper way of doing this.I'm pretty much a computer illiterate old guy that feels much more comfortable reading the forums than posting as I have poor typing skills.That's also why I don't have skype or something similar as I'm more at ease using a telephone and not messing up anything on the computer so I can still talk to my kids on msn messenger live,my son set up before I left America.I realize this is something I should know but I don't and could very much use some of your knowledge.If any members could put out this information I would deeply appreciate it.Thanking you for your time and patience in advance.DONEWITHIT

Calling 800/888 numbers from here whether from a land line or a mobile is possible only if the owner of that number accepts calls from international numbers. Some do and some don't. Some will post a message on the call to the effect that if you want to proceed with the call it will be charged to you at normal long distance rates. So. the answer is ? It all depends on that owner of that number what they choose to do. Has nothing to do with if you can call from here but only if they want to accept the call from overseas and pay the toll charges for the call. Remember that the 800 calling scheme was designed as a "toll" free number. Free is the key word. If the owner wants your business that so called free call is paid by him the owner of that number and not you.

As someone already said. Find a friend to help get you set up on Skype or something similar on your PC. We assume you have a high speed connection for internet use and then you can call 800 numbers in the USA to your hearts content. If I had high speed I would be on the line for hours. Its great when you call someone like the IRS or your bank and they put you on hold for an hour. No worries its free.

Get set up with Skype or something

Edited August 15, 2008 by longball53098

[bendejo]

Regular US -based '800' numbers, no. Most international calling systems warn you at the time of connection that even though it is an 800 number you will be charged the international rate.

After some experimenting, I found the cheapest way to make overseas calls from Thailand (from a handphone) is to use pre-pay cards, such as http://www.thookdee.com/

Most Family Mart stores have these.

At 1 baht/min you can't complain much, and you can use it from your handphone. Punch in the phone number on the card, then your pass code (from the scratch-off) and then the number you want to reach. There are a few others that are app. 3 baht/min to call the US. The only bother with these is you can't set up a nifty speed dial, you have to interact and punch in lots of digits (if someone has succeeded in automating this do tell!).

Now if a company claims to have toll-free international service, you can use one of the yellow LENSO phones you see around the country and you will be able to call collect internationally. There are also international toll-free access numbers you can use from your handphone to connect via AT&T or Verizon. (I'm currently in Malaysia and don't have my info handy, but you can find them on the web like I did). Again, if the number you're calling doesn't accept collect international calls you'll be told so.

Speaking of Malaysia, the cheapest handphone calls to the US from here is Digi, less than 7 US cents/min. However, if I call a place a few blocks away it runs nearly 20 US cents a minute. Crazy! I made a toll-free international call via my handphone but had to pay the local company as if it were a local call; imagine my surprise to find it cost 3 times as much as an IDD! No wonder the locals mostly use SMS.

Did someone say something about having to call the IRS? Tell me about it!

Edited August 17, 2008 by bendejo

[lomatopo]

Calling 800/888 numbers from here whether from a land line or a mobile is possible only if the owner of that number accepts calls from international numbers. Some do and some don't.

Perhaps its just a matter of semantics but in fact you can dial any 800/888/877/866 number from a mobile phone in Thailand, the call will be completed and you will pay for the call: *490049/ 2 baht/min (One-2-Call only); 009/6 baht/min, +1/9 baht/min.

I cannot get an 008 prefixed number to connect on an 800 number.

You will always pay for the call. (The merchant accepts the call as it looks like it was originated in the U.S.A. to them.)

Some merchants allow international in-bound calls free of charge but you need to use their long distance provider. For those merchants which have enabled it, I do use AT&T/USA Direct, 1800000133 to get a dial-tone from AT&T and then dial my 1800NNNNNNN number which goes through. If the merchant has not enabled international toll-free service via AT&T the call will not be completed, unless I am will to pay for it via say an AT&T calling card. This type of call is completely free as you do not pay any local per minute mobile phone charges for calling the AT&T access number, AT&T pays for that!

Re: calling cards, a lot of people have posted positive experiences with Dee Dial . Unless you use the call-back option remember to factor in your local per minute mobile phone calling charges.

Edited August 17, 2008 by lomatopo

[dotcom]

Funny. Can't remember reading a bigger load of <deleted> on TV.

Call the Thailand operator & ask them.

P.S. There will never be any SKYPE garbage on my computer.

I have net2phone & it works fine & miss out all the spyware.