iPass dial-up toll-free (or free-call) numbers

iPass dial-up toll-free (or free-call) numbers

Document number: 54067

The iPass client is designed to provide you with local numbers for accessing iPass point-of-presence (POP) locations. In many cases, a toll-free (or free-call) number is also provided when a local POP is not available, or when you must call a toll-free call number to complete a data dial-up call.

There may be circumstances, however, where a toll-free number results in a hotel or telephone phone bill charge. While the reasons may vary, these charges are usually the result of how phone billing is handled from your location, and not due to iPass incorrectly identifying a number as toll-free. The most common reasons are:

Some hotels even charge for toll-free calls. Any of the following can be charged:
- A per-call access charge (for example, $1 every time you access a toll-free number).
- A per minute charge (yes, even on toll-free calls).
- Free calls, up to a certain number of minutes, then a per-minute charge after that.
Some local phone carriers (particularly in EMEA and other international locations), may charge a per-minute fee for calls. You should contact the local telephone company operator to clarify to confirm a local or toll-free number is not billed.

The list below includes numbers that were reported as charging, and a brief explanation of the findings of the billing (from iPass).

France and 0860 numbers. The French telecommunications regulator, ART, has changed their numbering scheme in the past year. Although 800 numbers used to be the only toll-free number range, ART has now added 0860 numbers to be toll-free for data access. However, hotels and client sites may be blocking 0860 numbers since they used to be toll numbers, but your users can show them the new numbering scheme and let them know they should not be blocking or charging for 0860 numbers.
Spain and 909 numbers. Spain's Centro de Información indicates the 909 numbering scheme is a toll-free range. However, hotels may be charging for this number in error or at their own discretion. iPass does have one 900 Toll Free number in Spain, which can be selected from your phone book if there is an issue using the 909 numbers from your location. (iPass is investigating adding additional, non-909 numbers at this time.)
United Kingdom 845 numbers. The 845 numbers displayed are nation-wide numbers, and while the leading 0 is not displayed, is dialed. By highlighting one of these numbers when in the phone book, you will see the 0 in the "Dialing Properties" field at the bottom of the iPass client. (Unlike 0800 numbers, however, the 0845 number range are local rate calls, meaning you may incur the same charges you would incur if you were calling a nearby neighbor's home.)