A 1-888 doesn't work, need to know if PM supports this #

[makkahn28]

I was trying to call a 1-888 for a headphone Co. in NY, but got message # isn't available at this time.

What does that mean?

[srlawren]

Glad you got it sorted out, @computer

[computer]

My mistake to many numbers please delete

[srlawren]

@computer is it 1-888-WORKERS you're dialing?  I just tried it and it went right through, and I'm in BC, with province-wide calling plan.  Did you dial the 1 in front of it?  If not, try it with the 1.  If not, then please send a private message to @CS_Agent with your phone number, the number you're trying to dial, and that it is telling you you don't have a calling plan (or whatever the exact message is you're hearing) and ask them to look into it for you.

[computer]

1-888 NUMBER for worksafe BC says I dont have a phone plan,. thinng is I do have one and a long distance addon could I please get some help PM mod.

Kevin

[stonechucker]

In the case where the company based in US, and offers a Canada-US toll free number, there is a small chance the company's toll free provider has not setup an area code (new, uncommon) to their accepted dial-in list(s).

I remember a prior thread, which I can not find, where someone was out of province on a Canada Wide plan, with a new-ish phone number.  He or she tried to call-in sick to the tollfree sick line, and couldn't.  The problem was the toll-free rejected anything that wasn't specified by the 'white listed area code' file.

[kav2001c]

@makkahn28 toll free numbers can have regional restrictions. Especially with an American toll free number, I would suspect it is not a free call from Canada.

[srlawren]

Quite honestly, if a company is doing warranty support for all of North America through a US-based toll-free number that only accepts calls from the US, that's pretty messed up.  OTOH, most support these days seems to be online anyway and it seems to me like there's fewer and fewer needs to call up a company for things like that.  

[daredogg]

I agree @computergeek541, there are ways to get around not being able to call a toll-free number. Hmmm, anyone try a collect call directly?!  Might be worth a try. Collect call from... Customer from Canada EH!

[computergeek541]

I don't see it as that big of an issue if a toll free number isn't reachable from Canada.  But as said above, this is just the way that some companies have set these numbers up, as they likely aren't willing to pay for a slight increase in cost to accept these calls from Canadian customers.  The company is still going to have a regular phone number that you can call, although it would be a long distance call.  There are many free or inexpensive ways to call most U.S. phone numbers.

[srlawren]

@makkahn28 true. But here's the thing: this isn't a PM limitation, nor is there anything they can do about it. You'd be faced with the same issue with any Canadian carrier.

[makkahn28]

OK, but here's the thing:

If, lets say U purchase an item, and ya need a warranty repair, and they service NA, well, that would be awkward if Canadians can't call and only option is Email, or if Email is not available

[daredogg]

I get the issue of not being able to call toll-free from time to time, but thankfully it's been to numbers in the province, so I looked for the local number. It's true that some toll-frees have restrictions on the numbers they accept calls from. For example, I have a 1-877 number for business, and I've restricted it to calls from Canada. Maybe this number you're calling has a restriction for US only originating calls.

[srlawren]

@makkahn28 I don't think they accept calls from Canada.  I have LD minutes add-on and just tried it and got the same "the number you have dialed is not available in your area" message as @ShawnC13 got with his Rogers work #.

Not all toll-free numbers accept international calls, as they are more expensive.

EDIT:  see here:  http://www.askmefast.com/What_does_The_toll_free_number_that_you_have_dialed_is_not_available_from_y...

[makkahn28]

# was 1-888-565-2230

That shouldn't matter, kinda strange

[ShawnC13]

I called it from my Rogers Work phone and got.  The number is not available in your area at this time.

[ShawnC13]

Yeah something different as this number was 1-888-8-BATTERY so it had an extra number and he got a message of talk not included.  I know it is a 1888 nubmer but could it be because it is based in US do you have LD.  It shouldn't matter but as we are finding out PM is a little different then most providers

[makkahn28]

It was called Aftershokz

11#'s I think

[ShawnC13]

There was a member the other day that had a 1-888 number that wouldn't work from his phone but the thing was it had an extra digit in it I tired it with all digits and could get through on my home phone.  I will look for that.  How many digits in this number?

[mimmo]

I know some 1800 numbers work only in Canada or only in USA.  So I would try a different phone (home phone or another on PM line) and see if you get the same issue.  if yes then its not a PM thing. (use google hangouts to call or another VOIP)  if the other phone works then contact a mod.