The prefix +33 806 designates a French number whose call is charged at the rate of a standard communication, without any surcharge on the service. The +33 corresponds to the international dialing code for France and simply replaces the initial 0 of the national number. Understanding this mechanism allows for quick identification of the nature of a received or outgoing call.
Pricing of 0806 numbers: what the prefix implies on the bill
The most common confusion concerns the actual cost of a call to a number starting with 0806. Numbers beginning with 0806 to 0809 are standard numbers: the service is free, and the call is counted against the phone plan just like a call to a geographic landline number.
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Specifically, if a plan includes unlimited calls to landlines, a call to an 0806 incurs no extra cost. For a plan without unlimited calls, the communication is charged at the price of a standard local call.
This category is clearly distinguished from premium-rate numbers (0890, 0891, 0892 and beyond), where an additional charge is added to the cost of the communication. To easily find the interpretation of +33 806 numbers with Car System, just remember this principle: 0806 to 0809 means normal rate, never a surcharge.
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International format +33 806 and national format 0806: same number, same rate
The display of +33 806 on a phone screen can sometimes be confusing, but it is the same number as 0 806 displayed in national format. The +33 is the telephone code for France. When a call comes from an international network or a device configured for international notation, the initial 0 disappears in favor of +33.
Thus, +33 806 XX XX XX and 0 806 XX XX XX point to the same line. The pricing does not change based on the displayed format. Only the network from which the call is made can modify the cost (call from abroad, for example, subject to the operator’s roaming conditions).
Why +33 appears on some calls and not others
The display depends on the device and network configuration. A smartphone set to international format will systematically display +33. A landline phone in France will display the initial 0. Both formats are interchangeable for identifying the caller.
Ranges of +33 806 numbers: who uses them and how are they assigned
0806 numbers are not distributed randomly. ARCEP (the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications) oversees the allocation of number blocks to telecommunications operators.
Each operator receives ranges of numbers which they then redistribute to their business clients. For example, the block +33 806 060000 to 069999 is assigned to the operator Prosodie, which manages customer relationship services on behalf of companies.
0806 numbers are primarily used for after-sales services and information lines. Companies choose them to provide a contact number with no extra cost for the caller, distinguishing them from premium-rate commercial numbers.
- Customer service departments of major brands use 0806 numbers to ensure free access to the service
- Public or semi-public organizations sometimes adopt these numbers for their assistance lines
- Some automated information services (order tracking, information on a file) operate on these ranges
Recognizing a legitimate 0806 call and avoiding telemarketing traps
An 0806 number is not premium-rate, but that does not mean every call received from this prefix is trustworthy. Telemarketing can use standard numbers to bypass the distrust associated with premium-rate prefixes.
Since the law of July 24, 2020, commercial prospecting calls must adhere to strict rules regarding number display. An unsolicited call from an 0806 may be legal telemarketing, but it can also be an attempted scam through number spoofing.
How to verify a received 0806 number
Several reflexes can help distinguish a legitimate call from a suspicious one:
- Search for the complete number on a reverse directory like appelinconnu.fr or tellows.fr to check reports from other users
- Never call back an unknown number without verifying its origin, even if the 0806 prefix excludes a surcharge
- Report abusive calls via 33700 (the platform for reporting voice and SMS spam) or directly to ARCEP
- Use a call identification app like Truecaller to obtain information about the caller before answering
Differences between green, standard, and premium-rate numbers: the classification of 08 prefixes
The family of 08 numbers includes three distinct categories that the color code of Infosva (the ARCEP voice server) allows to distinguish:
| Prefix | Category | Cost for the caller |
|---|---|---|
| 0800 to 0805 | Green numbers (free) | Free call and service |
| 0806 to 0809 | Standard numbers | Call at the price of a local call, free service |
| 0810 and beyond | Premium-rate numbers | Paid call + variable service cost |
The 0806 number is in the intermediate range: no total free service like a green number, but no surcharge. For a consumer, the financial difference with a green number remains minimal if the plan includes calls to landlines.
The distinction between these three categories is based on the decision of the company that subscribes to the number. A customer service that chooses an 0806 rather than an 0800 places the cost of the communication (excluding service) on the caller. Choosing an 0800 absorbs the entire cost on the company side.
Remembering the logic of the ranges simplifies the reading of any 08 number: the lower the digit after 08, the cheaper the call. The 0806 remains in the comfortable pricing zone for the caller, which explains its massive use by customer relationship services in France.