How to use an International Reverse Phone Directory

A good way to find people in other countries is to use an international reverse phone directory. Try it yourself and see what a good idea it is. Find long lost friends and relatives easily by learning to use a reverse phone directory.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Access a directory on the Internet that has reverse lookup for international telephone numbers. Two examples are Numberway and Index of the Web.

2. Select the country that matches the two-letter number code. Germany, for instance, has a code of 49. Key in 49 and then the telephone number. You should receive the name of the person to which the number belongs.

3. Understand that you are saving money by using an Internet directory as opposed to directory assistance through your local phone company. The charge for directory assistance overseas is exorbitant. Even if you reach an English-speaking operator, it is unknown as to whether or not they can access reverse lookup.

4. Realize that you can at least identify the country the call came from with the two-digit code. This is a big help in deciding whether to return a call.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find out who has called you with an overseas number before calling them back with international reverse phone directories.
• Not all of the online directories have international reverse lookup.

Resources

• Index of the Web has all countries' directories
• Find people through Numberway
• The University of North Carolina gives a country code list

[thurstia]

on 10/3/2009 I wish it worked for unlisted numbers.