How to Reverse Lookup an 800 Number: Your Full Guide
Cindy Ellis - July 14, 2022
Most people make and receive between 170 and 180 phone calls per month. These include calls from private phone numbers, 800 numbers (toll-free numbers), work calls, and more. That said, 800 numbers (and numbers like them) are unique. More often than not, calls from 800 numbers are from telemarketing companies, but these numbers can also come from other sources.
Knowing who’s behind the other line can help you make an educated decision about someone you’re speaking with. Even with 800 numbers, it’s important to validate phone numbers and make sure you’re speaking with the right person. We’ll take you through what you need to know about 800 numbers and how to identify the other caller.
What Is an 800 Number?
An 800 number is a toll-free number. Toll-free numbers belong to a group of many numbers, and an 800 number is a toll-free number with the 800 prefix. Most toll-free numbers also have a 1 before the prefix, so most 800 numbers look like this: 1-800-555-6790. Toll-free numbers also look more professional than area code phone numbers.
Toll-free numbers are unique because the number owner is charged for incoming calls (including long-distance) instead of the caller. It’s a common practice for established companies to use toll-free numbers to ensure that clients don’t need to worry when calling them. However, almost anyone can create a toll-free number.
How Many Toll-Free Numbers Are There?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates toll-free numbers and has created limits on the number of toll-free numbers in circulation. As a result, some toll-free numbers are harder to obtain than others. For example, 800 and 877 numbers are the most popular toll-free prefixes. Therefore, people recognize the prefix and believe the call to be professional.
Still, there are a handful of toll-free prefixes. Depending on who’s calling, they can be:
- 888
- 877
- 866
- 855
- 844
- 833
It’s important to note that other countries might have different prefixes for toll-free numbers. Furthermore, toll-free numbers are not interchangeable. This means that adding 888 and 800 before the same digits will take you to different companies or services.
Who Uses Toll-Free Numbers?
Business owners typically use toll-free numbers because they’re more recognizable than area code phone numbers, and clients/customers don’t get charged.
However, toll-free numbers can also be used by individuals and scammers. There are no laws against non-business owners using toll-free numbers, so when you answer a call, it’s important to consider who’s on the other line. In fact, many scam callers use toll-free numbers because they look more professional.
Companies that do business out of the United States also use toll-free numbers to reduce the cost of calls coming from the United States. For this reason, many companies use toll-free numbers for their customer service centers, which can be global.
Government agencies can also use toll-free numbers. Some examples include the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How Do You Get a Toll-Free Number?
Obtaining a toll-free number is easier said than done. Toll-free numbers are regulated by the FCC, so their rules need to be followed when pursuing a toll-free number. That said, there are a few ways to get an 800 number, and the FCC frequently tries new methods to see how they work.
The most common method is to be the first one to request a specific number. The FCC assigns toll-free numbers on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, beating the competition to a toll-free number of your choice can help you secure the number. Toll-free numbers can also be bought and sold, and several databases have information about the numbers available for sale.
Another method for getting a toll-free number is to bid on a number at an auction. Bidding is a new method for getting a toll-free number, but at this time, it only applies to the 833 prefixes. The FCC is testing the auction-based strategy to see if it’s a better way to assign toll-free numbers.
What Are Vanity Numbers?
Vanity numbers are toll-free numbers that are more creative; aside from the prefix (800, 833, etc), the number will also include a word that relates to the company. For example, a vanity number can be “1-800-CALL NOW.”
Vanity numbers can be a phrase or a single word, so it depends on the type of business you have. These numbers are more sought after because they’re easier for people to remember. Instead of remembering random numbers in order, people can correlate the letters in the word to the numbers on the dial pad.
Are Vanity Numbers Toll-Free?
Vanity numbers are trickier than traditional toll-free numbers, and not all of them are toll-free. While most vanity numbers are toll-free, some are local numbers. Small businesses in small towns benefit from using local area codes, especially if they’re only doing business locally. Because people know the area code, it’s even easier to remember the phone number if there’s a word in it.
Overall, vanity numbers are easier to lookup than traditional 800 numbers.
Five Ways To Lookup an 800 Number
There are a few ways to find an 800 number. That said, using a reverse number lookup is often the best method. We’ll take you through a handful of methods you can use to find an 800 number.
1. Use a Reverse Phone Lookup
The best way to find an 800 number is to use a reverse phone lookup service. Information.com allows users to enter any phone number, even toll-free numbers. To perform a reverse phone lookup, enter the number into the search bar and any other information (like an email address) you have about the caller.
When using reverse lookup, it’s better to have more information than less information. Still, the best reverse phone lookup websites like Information.com provide comprehensive services that can find the trickiest numbers.
Information.com can also help with looking up private phone numbers and call tracing. Therefore, all of your phone needs can be handled in one, hassle-free place.
2. Vertical Service Codes (VSC)
Vertical Service Codes (VSCs) can help you find 800 numbers in many ways. These are codes that service providers offer to help callers manage their call traffic. The best VSC to use to learn about an 800 number is *51 or #51 (Apple and Android devices). The *51 code can help you if you missed a call from an 800 number. Dialing it after a missed call will give you the call’s date, time, and directory information.
Another code you can use is *69 or #69. This VSC allows you to call back the number that just called you. Using *69 is a great way to tell if a number has been stolen or compromised because it will be unavailable when you call back.
Some other helpful VSCs for finding an 800 number are listed below.
- *66: Continuous redial
- *65: Calling number delivery activation
- *62: Call waiting (selective)
- *74: Speed calling
- *82: Caller ID
- *52: Call hold
- *57: Call trace
These codes can be used to lookup an 800 number or keep an 800 number on the line.
3. Use a Google Search
One of the simplest ways to find information about an 800 number is to enter the number into Google or another search engine. Search engines will scan the internet for results about the toll-free number. In most cases, you can find a toll-free number this way.
Unfortunately, some toll-free numbers are harder to find — especially if the call comes from another region of the country or world. Plus, Google and other search engines might not have information about the toll-free number available, and your search may return nothing. In these cases, we recommend using an alternative method like the reverse phone lookup tool. You can also try other search engines like Bing.
4. Whitepages
Whitepages is an online database that has information for landline phone numbers. Whitepages can be a great tool for looking up information about toll-free phone numbers because many are landlines. For this reason, you can find most toll-free numbers in the Whitepages. That said, you have to be careful with the Whitepages.
Whitepages is not the most reliable source of information about toll-free numbers. The website is not always up-to-date, and some information can be incorrect. Whitepages is also limited to landlines in the United States, so you might not be able to find the number you’re looking for. Another issue with Whitepages is that vanity numbers might not look the same. This can confuse people who are looking for a toll-free vanity number.
Depending on your location, you might also have access to Yellow Pages, which is a physical and online database of phone numbers. In Yellow Pages, some toll-free numbers might not be available, and you’ll only have access to local information. Therefore, it’s not a great alternative.
5. Social Media
Social media can be helpful when looking for information on an 800 number. We recommend checking on social media because most companies have pages for their business. On the page, most companies have their phone numbers listed. If the company has a toll-free number, that’s where you’ll find it.
We recommend checking multiple social media platforms because some are more in-depth than others. Some great places to check are included below:
Depending on the company, they might have their toll-free number listed on one or all of the social media platforms listed. There’s also a chance that toll-free numbers can be found on Reddit, Tumblr, and Snapchat.
You can also find additional information about companies on their social media; this includes physical or mailing addresses and email addresses, which can help you during reverse phone number lookups.
How To Block Toll-Free Numbers
Many toll-free numbers can be spam or scam calls. Blocking these numbers can reduce the number of phone calls you get each day, making phone traffic more manageable. However, blocking toll-free numbers is different from blocking traditional phone numbers.
There are two ways to block toll-free numbers. The first method is to visit DoNotCall.gov. Visiting the website will connect you with a link that adds you to the National Do Not Call Registry. Being added to the registry will prevent toll-free numbers from calling your phone.
Another way to block 800 numbers and other toll-free numbers is to call 1-888-382-1222. Simply call the phone number with the phone you want to be added to the National Do Not Call Registry. Then, follow the steps provided by the agency.
Remember that when you block an 800 number, you may have difficulty looking up that phone number again because you’ll no longer be receiving calls from it. So if you want to do a reverse phone lookup and block the number, you should note the number first.
Find Out Who’s Calling Today
800 numbers can seem like calls from professional telemarketing services, but that’s not always the case. In fact, with more than 100 million scam calls being made each year, it’s in your best interest to verify who you’re speaking with before making any decisions. Additionally, always be careful when providing personal or banking information over the phone.
While most 800 numbers are harmless, using Information.com can give you the peace of mind you need. Ultimately, there’s no more hiding behind the other line–even for 800 numbers.
