Everyone at some time in their lives has dialed a toll free number. You do it to complain or to compliment. You do it to order a product or service, ask for a refund, ask a question or make a statement. You may even do so simply as part of a promotional gimmick, hoping to win a prize. You rarely think of where you are actually calling. You rarely think of who might be answering the phone. And, unless you are a business person, you rarely think of what the toll free number means, what their business function is and how the charges for them are determined.

 A business, virtually every business, will use a toll free number so that they can set up a destination neutral number that is free for everybody and anybody to call, no matter where they are calling from. When you get a number from the phone company, you are given one that has your local area code. Thus, anyone who sees the 614 area code would know they are calling a business located in the Columbus, Ohio area, etc. With a toll free number, it does not really matter where the call is originating or where it will be answered.

Most toll free numbers are used for customer service and for targeted marketing campaigns. Customer service calls are typically self directed calls, meaning that the customer is calling with an exact and set purpose in mind. For instance, they may know that they need a new screw for their squeaky night stand or would like to know why they have two right shoes in their box but not a single left one to be found. Targeted marketing, on the other hand, can be either general and generic or more specific in nature. Additionally, a toll free number can be established to track a particular campaign. The number “1-800- like- red” can be used for customers to order a limited edition red item- the number of orders can be directly counted this way without having to separate and tabulate.

 If there is no preference to what the number is, the process if fairly simple. Your managed service provider or yourself requests the toll free number, one is generated for you and you are off and running. However, many customers choose to have specific or vanity numbers that may require negotiations, refinement and may involve additional costs as well. There may be a higher fee involved for these special numbers. Additionally, the carrier may charge a one- time setup fee for the toll free numbers, and this may vary in each situation and from each carrier.