With direct dialing, you go strait through to the number of the person you want in the UK, and you pay in the country you’re in. All you need to know is the telephone number in the UK, which is made up of the phone number itself, and its area code, e.g. 0272 (area code for Bristol).
When dialing from abroad you must always omit the initial ‘0’ of the area code.
The only other information you need is the international code for the UK which you must dial first. This will vary from country to country.
Remember, for direct dialing you will need to know:
INTERNATIONAL UK AREA CODE LOCAL
CODE FOR (LEAVING OUT NUMBER
THE UK INITIAL ‘0’)
For instance, to call Bristol (0272) 12345 from Austria you just dial 0044 272 12345 and you’re through.
Note:
Several countries, like the UK, have cheaper international calls at certain times for direct dialing.
Exercise 11. Decide whether the following are true or false.
1. For international calls you dial: the country code + the area code + the number.
2. The caller does not pay for a collect call.
3. Directory Enquiries will put you through to the number you want.
4. Switchboard and operator are the same people.
5. The dialing tones for ‘ringing’ and ‘engaged’ are different.
Exercise 12. Insert the missing word.
1. Look it _________ in the directory.
2. He’s _________ the other line.
3. Listen ________ the dialing tone.
4. He’s tired _____________.
5. She’ll ring ____________.
Exercise 13. Insert the correct term.
| UK term | US term |
| Directory Enquires | _______________ |
| reverse charge call | _______________ |
| _______________ | busy |
| _______________ | area code |
| ex-directory | _______________ |