6-1-1
Encyclopedia
For customers of some telephone companies in Canada
and in the U.S.
, 611 is the abbreviated dialing
telephone number
used to report a problem with telephone service, or with a payphone
. Many wireless phone
providers also use 611 or *611 as a general customer service
access number; most do not count calls to 611 against the minutes in subscribers' calling plans, or assess any extra charges for 611 calls. A service from RANGER Wireless Solutions exists called 611 Roaming Service
, which allows wireless phone customers to dial 611 and they will be connected to their own customer service department regardless of the network to which they are connected. In 2010, Dial611.com was launched as a consumer site to educate wireless users about the free 611 service from their mobile carrier.
Prior to the introduction of Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) in the 1950s, which required dialing "1" to initiate a DDD call, the number for "Repair" was 1-1-4 ("Information" was 1-1-3). All existing local numbers beginning with 1 had to be changed, so 114 and 113 (and others) changed to 611 and 411, respectively.
The 611 number is not officially assigned by the United States Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) or the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), but both have chosen not to disturb the assignment as it is generally recognized across the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
In some localities (including Calgary
, Alberta
), 611 was used to report problems with landline telephone service. 811 was used to report problems with cellular telephone service but this has since been discontinued.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 611 is the abbreviated dialing
Abbreviated dialing
Abbreviated dialing is the use of a very short telephone number to reach public services. Typically these are two or three digits, and are most commonly known as being emergency telephone numbers like 9-9-9, 1-1-2 and 9-1-1. Other services may also be available this way, such as the N11 codes in...
telephone number
Telephone number
A telephone number or phone number is a sequence of digits used to call from one telephone line to another in a public switched telephone network. When telephone numbers were invented, they were short — as few as one, two or three digits — and were given orally to a switchboard operator...
used to report a problem with telephone service, or with a payphone
Payphone
A payphone or pay phone is a public telephone, often located in a phone booth or a privacy hood, with pre-payment by inserting money , a credit or debit card, or a telephone card....
. Many wireless phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
providers also use 611 or *611 as a general customer service
Customer service
Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.According to Turban et al. , “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer...
access number; most do not count calls to 611 against the minutes in subscribers' calling plans, or assess any extra charges for 611 calls. A service from RANGER Wireless Solutions exists called 611 Roaming Service
CornerWorld
CornerWorld Corporation is a microcap publicly traded company holding assets in direct marketing, telecommunications and technology. CornerWorld has headquarters in Dallas, Texas, as well as offices in Holland, Michigan, and New York, New York....
, which allows wireless phone customers to dial 611 and they will be connected to their own customer service department regardless of the network to which they are connected. In 2010, Dial611.com was launched as a consumer site to educate wireless users about the free 611 service from their mobile carrier.
Prior to the introduction of Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) in the 1950s, which required dialing "1" to initiate a DDD call, the number for "Repair" was 1-1-4 ("Information" was 1-1-3). All existing local numbers beginning with 1 had to be changed, so 114 and 113 (and others) changed to 611 and 411, respectively.
The 611 number is not officially assigned by the United States Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) or the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), but both have chosen not to disturb the assignment as it is generally recognized across the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
In some localities (including Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
), 611 was used to report problems with landline telephone service. 811 was used to report problems with cellular telephone service but this has since been discontinued.