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What is an 855 fax number?
An 855 fax number is a toll-free fax number: 855 is one of the toll-free prefixes shared by Canada and the United States, alongside 800, 833, 844, 866, 877 and 888. Someone sending a fax to it from anywhere in North America is not billed long-distance charges for the call. onlinefaxservices.ca put together this guide to explain how toll-free fax numbers work, how an 855 fax number compares with a classic 1800 fax number, and when a toll-free number is worth it for a Canadian business.
Get Started NowIs 855 a fax area code?
Strictly speaking, 855 is not a geographic fax area code. It is a toll-free code in the North American Numbering Plan, which covers Canada, the US and several Caribbean countries. Numbers starting with 855 work exactly like numbers starting with 800; the newer codes were added as the original 800 numbers ran out.
Because toll-free codes are shared, an 855 number does not tell the sender whether you are in Toronto, Vancouver or Chicago. That can be useful if you serve customers nationally and do not want to look tied to one city.
1800 fax number vs 855 fax number
People often say 1800 fax number to mean any toll-free fax line. In practice, an 800 number and an 855 number behave the same: both are dialled with a leading 1, both are free for the sender within the toll-free coverage area, and both can receive faxes from any fax machine or online service.
The differences are cosmetic. The 800 prefix is the most recognised and is now hard to find with an easy-to-remember pattern. Newer codes such as 833, 844 and 855 have more numbers available.
Who uses a toll-free fax number?
A toll-free number makes sense when your senders are spread out and you want faxing you to be free and familiar:
- Clinics, pharmacies and labs receiving referrals and prescriptions from across a province or across Canada.
- Insurers, brokers and claims teams collecting signed forms from customers nationwide.
- Law firms, accountants and property managers who deal with clients in several provinces.
- Businesses that sell into both Canada and the US and want one number for both.
Things to know before choosing an 855 number
Toll-free coverage is generally Canada and the US. Senders outside North America may not be able to reach a toll-free number at all, so if you receive international faxes, a local Canadian number may be the safer choice, or have both.
Toll-free also says nothing about where you are located. If local presence matters, for example a clinic that wants patients to recognise a local area code, a local number may build more trust. Finally, check how your provider bills incoming pages on toll-free numbers, since toll-free calls are paid for by the receiving side.
How to get an 855 fax number online
You do not need a phone line or fax machine to have a toll-free fax number. FaxToFax.com offers local or toll-free Canadian and US numbers that receive faxes into an encrypted inbox you open in a web browser on a computer or phone. You can also send faxes from the browser by uploading a PDF, JPG or PNG, with time-stamped delivery receipts.
Availability of specific toll-free prefixes varies, so choose from the numbers offered when you sign up. The Personal plan is $4.99 for the first month, then $18.99 per month for 200 pages; the Business plan is $14.99 for the first month, then $39.99 per month for 500 pages and 5 users. FaxToFax.com does not offer number porting, so it suits a new number rather than moving an existing one.
855 Fax Number: What It Is and How Toll-Free Faxing Works: questions
Is an 855 fax number free to send to?
Yes, for senders within the toll-free coverage area, generally Canada and the US. The receiving account pays for the call.
Is 855 a Canadian or American number?
Both. 855 is a toll-free code shared across the North American Numbering Plan, so it is not tied to either country.
Is a 1800 fax number better than an 855 fax number?
They work the same way. 800 is more familiar, but 855 numbers are easier to obtain.
Can international senders fax a toll-free number?
Often not. Toll-free numbers are usually only reachable from within North America, so use a local number for overseas senders.
Can I move my existing 855 number to FaxToFax.com?
No. FaxToFax.com does not support number porting; you would choose a new number when signing up.
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