How do I get a specific toll-free number?

September 11, 2004 10:44 AM

I want a specific Toll-Free number. 1-800-MOR-NSID
posted by tomierna-old to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

I've tried AT&T's lookup service, which tells me my chosen number is not available. I've done Google searches on variations of the number (with dashes or parenthesis and no punctuation). I've done reverse lookups. I've called the number, which rang, but was not answered.

Are there any other ways to find out who this number is assigned to so I could buy it?

I'm in the United States.
posted by tomierna at 10:45 AM on September 11, 2004

800 numbers are expensive. And mostly taken. You can look for other toll free codes, 877, etc...but people tend to dial those incorrectly if it is just from a flash of advertising.
posted by th3ph17 at 11:06 AM on September 11, 2004

This one is an 866 number, and it's the mnemnonic that we desire.

Also, this number will be used to connect to a service like VirtualPBX, not that it should matter to this specific effort.
posted by tomierna at 11:26 AM on September 11, 2004

I'm going to sound completely stupid by asking this...

Why don't you phone that number, find out who answers?
posted by five fresh fish at 1:28 PM on September 11, 2004

I've called the number, which rang, but was not answered.

you don't sound stupid, just too lazy to reread before posting...
posted by Kwantsar at 2:03 PM on September 11, 2004

Opps. Missed that line. My bad. [hangs head]
posted by five fresh fish at 2:37 PM on September 11, 2004

If your business wants this specific number, it would be a deductible business expense to hire an agency to do a search for you. (Often they will refund if there are no results, so ask that first.) They can comb private databases such as credit histories to determine possible ownership. Of course, the information they obtain may well be out of date or otherwise useless.

Otherwise, there are companies which will consult with you to find an available "vanity" 800 number which will fit your business. Note that not all phone companies will let you pick the number they assign, so investigate your provider beforehand as well.
posted by dhartung at 12:23 AM on September 12, 2004

Have you tried calling 1 800 555 1212 and asking the operator who the number belongs to?
posted by haqspan at 11:28 AM on September 13, 2004