1-800.....

I just bought a phone card to call from Santo Domingo to US.
The have 1-800-872-2881 as a local access number from there.
I would like to verify if anybody knows can i call from the hotel there 1 -800 ...
(i am staying at viva dominicus)
Thank you.

I thought I heard that "toll-free" numbers dialed from the DR are charged per min just as if you were making a long distance call, so you end up paying twice for each call. Anybody know for sure?

That is correct. You must dial 880 instead of 800. I believe that the 200 numbers in the DR are toll free.

That is not quite correct.

There are 800/888 numbers and 200 numbers that are toll free within the DR. The caller pays nothing.

There are also 800/888 numbers that CANNOT be called from the DR, toll or otherwise, so Codetel provides a an International Toll Free access line, for which such 800 numbers CAN be accessed, and yes, there is a toll. You dial 1-880-number, then you will be prompted to enter the entire 800/888 number again (1-888-number or 1-800-number). You will be connected, and international toll charges apply.

It is the owner that decides from where they will pay the toll charges and accept calls. The owner can specifies if he will allow out-of-state calls and/or international calls.

I've heard it costs $1.00 USD/minute to call a 1-800 # from
the DR to America.

I guess it would depend on where you are dialing from. I believe that Codetel, Tricom or Western Union call centers charge about .40US cents/min for calls from the DR to the US. I'm sure the hotels and resorts would charge considerably more that that.

Calls to 800 numbers via the 880 International access line run about the same as calling the USA.

Call Center: RD$4+/min. (depends on the call center)
Dial Direct: RD$7/min. (varies by carrier, time of day)
Calling Card: RD$4+/min. (depends on the card)
Cellular: RD$14/min. (depends on service plan, carrier, etc.)
AT&T Direct: RD$62 first min., then RD$22/min., via 800-872-2881