The owner of a valuable 800 toll free number who attempted to illegally sell the number to an undercover agent faces stiff fines according to regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission.
By law, phone numbers cannot be sold or brokered. In 1997, the FCC made the sale of 800 numbers illegal. Because of the short supply of available numbers, complaints were pouring in at that time that price gouging for the popular numbers was becoming a common practice. The FCC acted quickly, prohibiting sales.
According to the FCC, anyone who is caught hoarding or selling toll free numbers will face severe penalties. In the past these have included an $11,000 fine per incident.
The demand for 800 numbers is at an all-time high. Finite supplies of available 800, 888, 877 and 866 numbers are plummeting. Making the situation worse, hopes that the new 855 numbers would soon be released have been dashed as insiders report the launch of the numbers may be held off until 2011. Meanwhile more than two-thirds of available numbers have been taken and millions of news numbers are registered each year.
According to the FCC, toll free numbers are becoming increasingly popular for business and personal use. The supply of retired numbers is low because toll free numbers are so effective in helping businesses thrive. Toll free numbers increase market reach, enhance customer confidence, establish recognition of brand image, and sustain businesses during times of a weak economy. Because businesses that offer 1-800 numbers prosper, disconnected numbers returned into the system are scarce.
In an unstable economy, small businesses need reliable marketing tools to increase the flow of new and repeat business and compete with bigger, sustained companies. Toll free numbers instantly win customer confidence and give new businesses the jumpstart they need to grow into sustained companies.
Advisors say the best way to obtain a toll free number before supply runs out is to use a legal, reliable toll free service provider that has access to the database of available numbers.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, 800 number, auction, ebay, number, phone, resp org, resporg, sell 800 numbers, vanity |
Toll Free Service Management System News 
Wow, that is good to know. I didn\’t realize the punishment could be so steep.
Thank god they are finally cracking down. Its hard enuff getting a number with all the demand(!) without having to contend with the horders too.
good point
I wonder if the guy knew what he was doing was wrong…
Ouch! Sucks to be him!
That\’s a steeeeeeeep fine , man!
So, then, where can people buy toll frees?
God is clever, but not dishonest.
Money can’t buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.
Interesting ideas. I’ll check back to see how this develops.
it’s a pity, advertisements say that 0800 numbers are free and when you start to use you realize that it’s not! And nobody told you before that if you call from mobile, you have to pay, from skype – to pay… it’s not fair!
Yeah Ive got mine routed to my cell phone but I transfer it over at night to a mailbox where I can get eFaxes. It’s awesome!
Wisdom begins in wonder.
Can anyone vouch for Tip #1? Because it would be damn awesome if it works.
very insightful
very good
A friend of mine, I think he might have downloaded a copyrighted song at some point. His name? Tom Smith. I don’t know where he lives or anything. No I don’t know his phone number.
Does anyone have any details of this? Because I don’t see any mention of this anywhere at all. I don’t mean to be negative but it kind of makes me wonder a little if this is true or just what they want to make people believe.
I read a report saying that this is true
I know it is certainly illegal to sell an 800 number on ebay and if someone did try it, they would certainly be in violation of ebays TOS
yes it is true
Hi Bill
Yes I believe that this is accurate
no doubt it is true
There is a bulliton posted on the FCC’s website regarding this issue
The report was removed from the FCC website on August 18th. it was in the news section. Can someone please post a copy of it if you saved it. thanks
you tell em bill
Bil – I thought you didn’t want to be negative LOL
Trying to sell something that is illegal to sell is illegal too especially if you try to sell it to an undercover officer. You can’t try to sell illegal drugs, that’s just an attempted drug dealing
There is a misspelling in the article
would everyone calm down a bit, you don’t have to go any further than to read the actual regulations set fourth by the commission to know what is legal and what is not. This article sounds true and I have heard of people selling telephone numbers on ebay before and I have heard of people getting in trouble for doing it too
oh shizzle
interesting stuff
hmmm, no outbound links allowed? it deleted my link
caught
you should let ebay know about that if you know it is going on illegally
I like PAYPAY’s number )
thanks – good thoughts
A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.
A wise man does not need advice and a fool won’t take it.
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
This is great marketing. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar.
Tip for Sprint Cell phones: you can erase a voice mail message as soon as you hear the robolady start telling you the number or you hear their name. Works really great for getting rid of those message left for you by those angry parents…or angry spouses… or angry anyone.
reynold’s site is 400% better
He who can, does. He who can’t, teaches.
When godaddy first listed their phone number i was like… OMG its not 800!!! then i thought.. Via cell phone it’s alllll the same.
How do you use the free service
Teamwork…means never having to take all the blame yourself.
Could one of them introduce a product that connects you to a human being when you call?
Phone call for Al…Al Coholic…is there an Al Coholic here?
Wait a minute…
Listen, you little yellow-bellied rat jackass, if I ever find out who you are, I’m gonna kill you!
Tip for Sprint Cell phones: you can erase a voice mail message as soon as you hear the robolady start telling you the number or you hear their name. Works really great for getting rid of those message left for you by those angry parents…or angry spouses… or angry anyone.
thanks, informative!
I really wish that I could get the 800 number of my horrible hosting company. Man.
somewhere a supervisor is yelling “calls in queue!”
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
When in doubt, consult your inner child if it doesn’t come naturally, leave it.
The wisest mind has something yet to learn.
If Sallie Mae stops calling me by using #1… I will be lonely cause no one else calls me 😦 I refer to “Sallie” as my girlfriend… God, im pathetic..
Between thought and expression lies a lifetime.
use drums? use smoke signals? 🙂
Why is abbreviation such a long word ?
A word to the wise ain’t necessary — it’s the stupid ones that need the advice.
well, since 1960, 800 numbers have been increasing in popularity
They have to be clever, cunning, imaginative, dogged and wily, whereas society merely has to lean its weight a little.
[…] Articles on this issue: eBay Seller Busted After Trying to Auction 800 Number Man Fined After Trying To Sell 800 Number Black Market: Toll Free Phone Number Brokering Black Market: Toll Free Phone Number Hoarding […]
[…] numbers will face severe penalties. In the past these have included an $11,000 fine per incident. [ Continue article…] Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)The Myth On TollFree […]
now they just have to make it free to call in the united states
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] more here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Man Caught And Fined For Trying To Sell 800 […]
[…] more here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Google says it’s now blocking ’fewer […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]
[…] Seller’s Rights Posted on November 14, 2010 by smsgov As a business consult, we are constantly asked questions on what is best for a particular company. How to increase sales, how to market, and how to beat the competition. It came as no surprise when our expertise was asked about selling an owned toll free number. Everyone in the office almost yelled, “No! Don’t try it.” Why, you ask? Check out this article. […]
[…] Reputable Toll Free Providers Posted on December 12, 2010 by smsgov In an unstable economy, small businesses need reliable marketing tools to increase the flow of new and repeat business and compete with bigger, sustained companies. Toll free numbers instantly win customer confidence and give new businesses the jumpstart they need to grow into sustained companies. Get more information on reputable businesses practices here. […]
[…] Read more here. […]