Don't Pay For Directory Assistance

Don't Pay For Directory Assistance

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Story Published: May 29, 2006 at 8:59 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 8:26 AM PDT

By Herb Weisbaum

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SEATTLE - Using directory assistance can be expensive; most phone companies now charge for this service. Here in Washington State, Qwest and Verizon customers pay $1.25 per call. Dial some long distance directory services and you could find yourself socked with charge that tops $3.00.

Jump online and you'll find a bunch of phone directory sites that will give you business and residential numbers for free, sites such as Switchboard, AnyWho, White Pages or Dex Online.

But what if you don't have a phone book and you' can't access the Internet? Sometimes paying for directory assistance call is your only option. Not anymore.

Now you can get phone numbers for free over the phone. There are three companies offering this service: 1-800-Free411, (www.free411.com), 1-800-411Save, (www.1800411save.com and 1-800-411 Metro (www.411metro.com).

There's no charge because these are advertiser-supported services. That's right; you must listen to a 10-15 second commercial before you're given the number or connected for free.

I tried these three services a number of times and I think they're great. When I called 1-800-Free411 and asked for a local restaurant, the computer-generated voice said, "While we search for that number, let me tell you about Domino's. Connect now, and you can get three medium one-topping pizzas for just $5 each." Then I was given the option to take advantage of the pizza deal or get connected to the number I had requested. I chose to get connected and that was it.

I found that in many cases, especially when I asked for a residential or government listing, there was no commercial announcement.

Am I willing to listen to a 15-second announcement for a pizza place, hotel, computer service, or window installation company in return for free directory assistance? You bet I am!

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