No Mystery Behind 800 Shortage

Where are all the 800 numbers going? Industry experts say toll free service is now a staple of any type of business. Small business owners, following the lead of the CEO’s of nearly half the Fortune 500 companies, are securing toll free vanity phone numbers as a strategic marketing tool. Personal use of toll free numbers has skyrocketed as parents secure an 800 number to stay in touch with their teens, college-aged children, and elderly parents.

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The Absence of Good 800 Numbers Remains

The dearth of toll free numbers continues. More than two-thirds of the available supply of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are taken and millions of new subscribers are registering every year. Business owners who wait much longer to obtain a number might find themselves out of luck. In a competitive market, a toll free number is a valuable commodity for every business. Some carriers still have access to a good stock of numbers but with toll free in such demand, one cant help but wonder how long these supplies will last?

Toll Free Service Is Essential In The Business World

Toll free service is now a staple of any type of business. Small business owners, following the lead of the CEO’s of nearly half the Fortune 500 companies, are using toll free numbers as a marketing tool. Personal use of toll free numbers has also grown. Estimates indicate that more than two-thirds of the available supply of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are taken. Millions of new subscribers are registering every year.

eBay Seller Caught Trying to Auction 800 Number

On the heels of the arrest of a man trying to illegally sell his coveted 800 number to an undercover FBI agent, attempts by another seller trying to auction off his valuable toll free number on eBay have been shut down.

According to regulations enacted in 1997 by the Federal Communications Commission, toll free phone numbers cannot be sold. These rules were approved after complaints poured in about price-gouging for catchy vanity numbers and popular numeric sequences. The FCC reports that anyone caught attempting to sell or broker an 800 number faces significant fines.

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A Necessary Reminder

Some people in the toll free industry would be benefitted by remembering that according to regulations enacted on April 11, 1997 by the Federal Communications Commission, toll free phone numbers cannot be sold or brokered under any conditions. These rules were approved after the FCC fielded numerous complaints about price gouging for catchy vanity numbers and popular numeric sequences and they are still active and enforced.

What is Toll Free Hoarding?

The FCC began investigating hoarding of 800 numbers as far back as 1995, but despite the subsequent release of 888, 877, and 866 pre-fixes, the practice continues to grow along with the skyrocketing popularity of toll free service. Hoarding by individual subscribers is lillegal. A subscriber may not acquire more toll-free numbers than they intend to use. By FCC definition, “hoarding” also includes “brokering” toll-free numbers for a fee.

If Rationing is Implemented Delays or Denials of Toll Free Service Applications May Result

The value of a 1-800 number has become a necessity for any business. Toll free numbers allow callers to reach businesses, organizations and even friends and relatives without being charged for the call. A toll free number lends credibility to any business, enhances customer service, and increases customer confidence. There are no additional installations needed for a 1-800 number and the calls can be routed to any cell phone, landline, or fax. Studies show that sales can double and word of mouth referrals can increase by as much as 200% making toll free service indispensable for business.

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Toll Free Gives Consumers Info on Vehicles

As the bad economy and the failing auto industry drives consumers to buy used vehicles instead of new, the Connecticut Better Business Bureau is promoting a toll free service to help consumers find good deals on used cars.
Some of the information discussed on the toll free hotline are the age of the car, safety issues, how long the consumer intends to keep it, features, and anticipated maintenance expenses. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) toll-free hotline is 800-424-9393.

Much Discussion Over Toll Free Shortages, No Answers

The debate about toll free phone service continues. There has been a lot of discussion about concerns that the supply of available 1-800 numbers is nearly exhausted. There have not been any new toll free numbers introduced in the past nine years and an estimated 8,000 numbers or so are assigned each day. With demand high and supplies low telecommunications leaders are worried that this will create a real economic problem for United States businesses. Others argue that the problem is not too bad, yet. The debate continues.

Toll Free Advisory Determines Shortage Imminent

During a recent discussion with members of the Tollfree Advisory Committee, it was agreed that if the database of toll free numbers isn’t beefed up soon, the finite supply of toll free numbers could run out. Last year, a plea for the deactivation of unused 800 numbers resulted in a temporary surge of numbers returned to the main database. But despite these mass replacements, the supply of available toll free numbers continues to dwindle as thousands of subscribers register for a toll free number each day. It’s time for some action.