Problem calling 849 area code

Apr 13, 2011
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Is anyone else having problems calling from the US to a number in the DR that has the 849 area code??
Maybe it is my cell phone company (Sprint)...
I call several times, each time it says "wrong number or wrong area code" and the on the fourth or fifth time calling the same phone number, it finally goes through.
I am not having this problem when calling 809 or 829 area codes - so that made me wonder if the problem was because it is an 849 area code.
 
Apr 13, 2011
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Same here - none of my text messages got through to the number. And I know it is a valid number, because sometimes it actually does connect for a while.

Anybody have any ideas about why??
 

Anastacio

Banned
Feb 22, 2010
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849 area code? I wasn't aware we had area codes. 809-829-849 My girls cell phone number starts 849 and I've just called her and it works from inside the country. Must be something your end.
 
Apr 13, 2011
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Yes - no problems for calls to numbers that start with 849 from inside the country. But major problems when calling the number from the US - and no text messages are getting through.

Curious - what are the first three numbers called if not "area codes"?? 809, 829 and 849 are area codes for the Dominican Republic, unless there is a new name for the first three numbers ...
 

Africaida

Gold
Jun 19, 2009
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In the US, they are called area codes indeed (Anastacio is a Brit, which might explain the confusion, LOL :) ).

I guess you can call them country codes too.
 

Anastacio

Banned
Feb 22, 2010
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I call them phone numbers, and these are the first 3 numbers of the phone number. It isn't a code for a specific area so why would it be called such.
'Whats the first three numbers' works for most I reckon.
We do have area codes in the UK, but they are codes for a specific area, and calling them area codes is logical.

For the OP, have you tried calling an 829 or 809 number?
 
Apr 13, 2011
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OK - :) I understand the confusion. I am used to "country codes" being when you have to add 11 (or some number similar) before the other 9 numbers... so I did not know what else to call those first three numbers other than area code.

But would still love to know if anybody has solved the problem of calling ot texting 849 numbers from the US...
 

DMV123

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Mar 31, 2010
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We had the same issues when the 829 exchange first came out. It did get resolved over time. Report the issue to your carrier there, as the problem is not here.
 
Apr 13, 2011
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Anastacio,
I agree with you about "first three numbers" - probably just a force of habit to call them "area codes" even though they cover the whole country.
And yes, I have called and have not had any problems calling people with 809 or 829.
It just seems strange that the US phone lines or cell towers would have so many problems recognizing the 849 number as real - because sometimes it does work, but most of the time a message comes on saying it is wrong...
 
Apr 13, 2011
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DMV - Ok - report the issue to my carrier - will do. Thanks.
How long did it take until the 829 exchange worked out the issues? Do you remember?
 

DMV123

Bronze
Mar 31, 2010
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DMV - Ok - report the issue to my carrier - will do. Thanks.
How long did it take until the 829 exchange worked out the issues? Do you remember?

Sorry I don't remember how long it took, I did not have any problems but I remember reading on here about the issue.
 

Festero

New member
Dec 15, 2002
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Overview of how the NPA/Area Code is utilized North American Numbering Plan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's not uncommon for US-based wireless carriers to treat calls to the DR with hesitation, as it has a reputation for being the telecom fraud capitol of the Western world. I know of one US wireless carrier that does not permit out-bound calls to the DR, period. And, the only other countries that carrier prohibits calls to are a couple of Arab countries.

I recall the introduction of NPA 829 did take a long time to become recognized by US telco switches, as others have mentioned.
 

SantiagoDR

The "REAL" SantiagoDR
Jan 12, 2006
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849 area code? I wasn't aware we had area codes. 809-829-849 My girls cell phone number starts 849 and I've just called her and it works from inside the country. Must be something your end.

Yes, the Dominican Republic has AREA codes.....

The D.R uses the U.S. plan for their country code identification.

Area Codes 212, 315, 347, 516, 518, 607, 631, 646, 716, 718, 845, 914, 917 etc is New York
Area codes 809, 829 and 849 is the Dominican Republic.
 

bienamor

Kansas redneck an proud of it
Apr 23, 2004
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Took a couple of years before the problems with 829 got worked out. will be the same with 849. Some callling cards, like walmarts ATT cards had problems for longer than that. In the USA they have problems with NPA splits sometimes, as all carriers dont do their updates.
 
Feb 7, 2007
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@Anstacio - as others have pointed, 809, 829 and 849 are area codes based on North American Numbering Plan. They are not area codes referring to "area" within the Dominican republic, but rather to an area within the North American Numbering Plan. Jamaica also has area code, 876.

Why 809, 829, 849 are not country codes? Because country code is "1", a number that precedes 809, etc. when dialing form outside of North America (e.g. from Europe you dial 001809xxxx. Same dialing pattern as if you dial new York, f.e., 001212xxxx). Country code "1" is being used by USA, Canada, DR, and some other Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica and Bahamas, for example.
 
Feb 7, 2007
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I recall the introduction of NPA 829 did take a long time to become recognized by US telco switches, as others have mentioned.

Which is quite strange considering the official telco databases are updated on the spot with all NPA/NXX additions and telco carriers have just subscribe to them. The subscription runs only couple of thousands dollars a year so it should not be major problem for ANY carrier, landline, mobile, prepaid, cards, etc.