Calling 800 number from Europe to U.S.
 

I had thought it couldn't be done, then I read this on kottke.org:

<i>To call a U. S. or Canadian toll-free number from France:

- instead of 800, dial 00 1 880
- instead of 877, dial 00 1 882
- instead of 888, dial 00 1 881

and then the last seven digits of the number you are calling. So, if you are trying to call 800-555-1212, dial 00 1 880 555 1212 instead. This call will be charged at the regular rate of a phone call to the US or Canada (i.e. it's not toll-free). C'est simple.</i>

Does anyone know if this is true?

There's no &quot;European&quot; system.

What you describe might be true for France. But in the UK (and from memory, Germany) a foreign 800 number is dialled:

00+country code+800+foreign number. And you then pay the normal rate from the telco you're using for a call to the country concerned.

Most European countries, I thought, had the UK/German system.

That's really useful information, because I've racked up a few enormous bills from France trying to reach AOL tech help and a credit card company to report a lost card.

I always thought it just couldn't be done from France, either. Thanks!

For credit card companies, before you leave on vacation, call them and get the regular, not 800 phone number where you can call collect.

My credit card always offers such a number.

Sorry, I should have noted that this was from France &amp; Italy.

There is one toll free number that I may need to call that does not have an alternate number that you can call collect.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
That's really useful information, because I've racked up a few enormous bills from France....
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

US 'toll free' numbers aren't free from europe or even cheaper, the op and flanner are just describing how to call such numbers.

Um, yeah, which is why I was thanking the OP for this information. You can't even use 800 numbers from France, or you couldn't in the past, which is why I racked up big bills.

Before leaving for Europe check the back of your credit card for a customer service phone number to use when out of the USA and if there is none check their website for the number. Until a couple of months ago I used primarily a US Airways Dividend Miles credit card from Juniper Bank (division of Barclay Bank) Even though I have used it for years all over Europe suddenly it was being rejected everywhere in France. I called the collect number listed on the back of the card to resolve the problem. First I found that when calling their collect number you get a recording not a person and of course the operator can not get acceptance for the collect call. Real smart Juniper. Then after I paid for the call myself and remained on hold for a very long time I was informed that my card was being rejected because I was trying to use it in France and the computer was suspicious of fraud. I guess the computer never noticed that I have lived in France 6 months each year and more than half my annual charges are made in Europe. I now use a Capital One card and it charges no foreign transaction fees nor does my Capital One ATM card that is linked to my new Capital One bank account.

For the occasional calls I make to the USA from Europe I use an AT&amp;T prepaid calling card and do the following to get my 800 number.

From France for example:
dial 0 800 99 0011 and you will be connected to the AT&amp;T network. I then enter my 800 xxx-xxxx number to use my calling card in the same way I would if I were in the USA.

Larry J