Why am I blocked from calling toll-free numbers from payphones?

Many toll-free numbers are programmed to block incoming calls from public pay telephones. This is because of an FCC mandate requiring payphone owners to be compensated about 50¢ per call in what is called “dialaround compensation” for any toll-free call made from their phones. 

The dialaround compensation is paid by the owner of the toll-free number. 

This FCC mandate has led to numerous instances of payphone owners rigging their phones to make repeated calls to toll-free numbers with the intent of raking in the compensation fees. 50¢ per call can add up pretty mightily after millions of these calls are made.

Read about one such case here.