What to Know About Making an International Phone Call

Calling internationally can be a tedious, laborious, and expensive experience. You may find yourself struggling with the process of choosing the correct country code to dial or spending huge amounts of money on making international calls in the wrong way.

Calling international numbers is not an exact science. Sometimes you get the number you want right away, but other times, you have to get your phone connected to a calling center where someone will ‘dial’ the number and try to get a connection, usually with less luck than you would have if you just did it yourself.

The process is complicated. However, it is not the case in 100% of situations, especially if you follow our basic tips and make cheap calls to Nigeria or any other country.

What to Keep Your Radar On?

If you are going to be abroad for more than the occasional holiday, you should have a plan for dealing with the different country codes.

With our list below, you should have a few strategies to help you choose which code to use depending on your location, which phone you will be using, and how to make the call.

1. There Are No Universal Numbering Standards

While there are conventions set in place to make life a bit easier, there is no universal set of rules to use. When you dial a country code in the USA, you will see +1; when you dial the code for Canada, you will have to use +1-644.

In the event you call an NZ number, you will dial +64, whereas the country code of the United Kingdom is 044. It’s that simple. Each country has its own way of getting a phone connected to its network, and you have to work with what they give you.

This does not mean you cannot use a code to make a connection, it simply means you need to work with the system they provide you with. You may be able to get an easy connection by adding the number to your contacts, but if you call from your mobile phone, even more effort will have to be put into dialing the right code.

In some cases, the country code will be added to the number itself, so you will have to dial the number with the country code before you dial the number.

2. Calling Centres Can Be a Pain in the Neck

Getting a call through to a certain destination is not always a walk in the park. When you are traveling abroad, you may be forced to wait around for a long time, even days, to get a number to connect. This can be a hassle if you have a lot of calls to make.

You should never put yourself in a situation where you have to wait for a call center to connect a number. Even if you use a calling card, you may need to wait before you can get through. Such an option can require you to make a prepayment, and most of them also charge you commissions to cover the cost of their service.

3. There Are Alternatives

You should also look at using some other services for making international calls, such as Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram.

While they may not be as reliable as calling from a regular phone, you’ll have fewer problems, even if you can’t connect. You should use what works best for your needs.