8-1-1

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

In the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), particularly in Canada and the U.S., the telephone number 811 is a direct line to the business office of the telephone service provider servicing the line. From there, one may perform some or all of the following operations:

• Pay the bill
• Order additional lines
• Order and cancel services
• Order and rent equipment
• Order calling cards
• Speak to customer service

On mobile phones, 611 is sometimes also used for this purpose.

At one point in time, this number routed to 911 as a misdialled call, but this operation has long passed from use. It was desigend so that when someone was in a crisis, they would not be panicked by having reached the wrong line, however the reassignment of this code was required due to the scarcity of N11 numbers.