« Don't forget about that $30 tax credit | Main | Pay less by threatening to cancel your gym membership »
February 20, 2007
The 411 on free 411
411 is convenient when you don't have access to a computer, but it costs money. Even when you dial 800-555-1212 for directory assistance for toll-free numbers, you get charged if you use your cell phone (which I recently found out when Cingular charged me $1.49 for what I thought was a free call).
Fees are going up, too. Sprint, Cingular, and Verizon now charge $1.79 for directory assistance.
Now you can bypass those fees if you're willing to put up with a little advertising. Call 800 FREE-411 (800 373-3411) and it works just like regular 411, without the fees. The catch? You have to listen to a couple of ads. I just tried it and had to listen to spiels from a mortgage lender before the automated voice asked me for the listing and then heard a travel agency ad before I got the number. In all, it took about 30 seconds longer than regular 411 but it was free.
Posted by brian at February 20, 2007 01:16 PM