The FCC regulates United States telephone companies that are involved in
transmitting and billing interstate pay-per-call ("900 numbers") and other
information services. Don't confuse 900 numbers with 800 or 888 numbers.
You pay for a 900 number call. You do not have to pay for most 800, 888,
or other toll-free number calls.
Talk with your children. Make sure they understand they
shouldn’t call 900 numbers without your permission. You can have the phone
company block 900 number calls from your phone. The FCC requires local phone
companies to make blocking available — where technically feasible — for a
"reasonable" fee. However, any subscriber with a new number can request free
blocking within 60 days after service begins.
Deal only with reputable companies. Some companies or
organizations sponsor 900 number services for opinion surveys, information,
entertainment or other services. Before you call a 900 number, be sure you
understand the cost of the call and the nature of the information or service
you'll receive.
Think twice before calling a 900 number for a "free" gift.
Television ads, postcards and telemarketers may urge you to call a 900 number to
get a "free" prize. But you pay for the so-called free gift by making the 900
number call. The provider of the service usually makes money on a per-minute
basis, so there's an incentive to keep you on the line.
Increasingly,
people of all ages are using wireless phones and devices for communicating,
gathering information, and entertainment – in all types of locations.