Why Are Disconnected Numbers Hard To Get?

Every so often, there seems to be a slight surge in the amount of 1-800 numbers retired back to the main database for others to use. But they don’t last long. Toll free numbers are so popular and in such demand that once a number is retired, it is instantly in intense competitive demand.

Historically, the percentage of retired good 1-800 numbers has been very low. There are several reasons for this—foremost, toll free numbers are an effective way to bring customers to a business and supporters to a cause. Owners of toll free numbers are generally very pleased with the effect the number has so they rarely give them up. When they do, the numbers are scooped up pretty quickly.

And owners of 1-800 numbers tend to hang on to a good number even if they take a break from their business or organization. It costs so little to have a toll free number (if acquired through affordable and reliable carriers like Tollfreenumber.ORG) that subscribers keep the numbers for future use. When only paying for incoming calls, having a number that is temporarily not in use costs very little. Why give it up if you might need it at a later date?

When a 1-800 number is disconnected, it remains dormant for several months and then is returned to the database of numbers maintained by the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800). Once it is re-activated, especially if it is a desirable number, competition is fierce and it is quickly taken by a new subscriber.

The limited availability of new 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers and the limited turnover of used numbers have created an intense and competitive demand for the remaining toll free numbers. There are new numbers held in reserve-the 855 numbers-but it is anybody’s guess when they will be released by the FCC. So, until new stock is introduced, existing unused numbers and retired numbers remain a very hot commodity.