6-1-1
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. It is an N11 code of the North American Numbering Plan that are used for special services.
RANGER Wireless
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.
Background
While 611 was in use to call repair service in some areas from as early as the 1930s, other codes were also used, the most common being 114 (with 113 used for information). A decision to standardize on 611 (and 411 for information) nationwide was made in the 1960s, but the use of 114 was still widespread in the 1970s, and into the 1980s in some areas.
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.
Assignment
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).[1]
See also
- 1-0-9 - telephone problem reporting number in Hong Kong