# Is there any way to look up someone's land line phone number any more? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2019, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934 "2019-02-04T06:05:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/1 "2019-02-04T06:05:11Z")
That is, that doesn’t charge you a monthly premium? Once upon a time this was a public service provided by the local telephone company. Now, every website that claims you can look someone up for “free” is just a pitch for paying for their service. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/2 "2019-02-04T06:12:14Z")
[White Pages .com](https://www.whitepages.com/). Just ignore all the background search guff on the page. No login or sign up necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/3 "2019-02-04T06:27:35Z")
Another one that sometimes works is [https://www.anywho.com/whitepages](https://www.anywho.com/whitepages) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/4 "2019-02-04T07:23:55Z")
[superpages.com](http://superpages.com) has a white pages section too or used to ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/5 "2019-02-04T16:42:45Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [White Pages .com](https://www.whitepages.com/). Just ignore all the background search guff on the page. No login or sign up necessary. Nope. All it does is confirm they’ve heard of such a person. Landline info is under “premium”. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/6 "2019-02-04T16:54:06Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Nope. All it does is confirm they’ve heard of such a person. Landline info is under “premium”. No it isn’t. I found my siblings correct landlines just by clicking on the phone icon. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/7 "2019-02-04T17:00:32Z")
I looked up a few people I know on WhitePages. It looks like some of the entries are flagged as premium and others are not. The ones that are flagged don’t show you the phone number unless you pay for it. I don’t know why some entries are premium and others aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/8 "2019-02-04T17:58:25Z")
I’ve always used [Whitepages.com](http://Whitepages.com) and have always gotten people’s landlines for free. Mobile numbers are extra, but I’ve never been blocked out if the person I’m interested in actually has a landline. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/9 "2019-02-04T23:15:19Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I looked up a few people I know on WhitePages. It looks like some of the entries are flagged as premium and others are not. The ones that are flagged don’t show you the phone number unless you pay for it. I don’t know why some entries are premium and others aren’t. From my experience with it, I’d say the ones that show for free are landline numbers; for mobile numbers they want payment. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/10 "2019-02-04T23:21:08Z")
Have you tried calling the operator? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/11 "2019-02-04T23:49:53Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > From my experience with it, I’d say the ones that show for free are landline numbers; for mobile numbers they want payment. It just seems to be a free-for-all there. I’ve never tried it before today, but my parents, who have only a landline and no mobiles, show up as having 4 mobile numbers and no landlines. (Correct and incorrect, but related, addresses do show up, though.) I, who have a landline, shows up with no landlines and 4 (?!?!) mobiles. I mean, ok, conflate my wife and my mobile number, and we’ve still only historically had two. My brother shows up as having a landline. Click on his detail, at any point, and it sends me to the premium paid site to unlock. At no point was I able to click on the phone icon in the initial results or thereafter for anyone I know with a landline and get their landline number. It sounds like it works for some, but not with anybody I know, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/12 "2019-02-05T01:29:57Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > From my experience with it, I’d say the ones that show for free are landline numbers; for mobile numbers they want payment. Matches my experience. If I put in my name, it shows my landline number, but my cell number is blurred, with a link to pay for that info. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/13 "2019-02-05T01:40:47Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > From my experience with it, I’d say the ones that show for free are landline numbers; for mobile numbers they want payment. I just looked up myself and the phone icon showed my home line, but my cell was blurred out unless I upgraded to premium. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/14 "2019-02-05T07:57:50Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Have you tried calling the operator? Yeah, or dialing the tried and true “411” (if in the USA)? Or 555-1212 (I suppose you need an area code for 10 digit dialing)? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/15 "2019-02-05T12:14:50Z")
Don’t call 411 from your cell phone before checking if your carrier will charge you for the privilege. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/16 "2019-02-05T12:43:43Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [White Pages .com](https://www.whitepages.com/). Just ignore all the background search guff on the page. No login or sign up necessary. I just tried looking up my own land line. It wouldn’t give me the information – just kept trying to get me to sign up for premium. And I tried clicking on anything that wasn’t a route to the premium status. If this really does work, tell me how to actually get a number. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/17 "2019-02-05T12:44:45Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Another one that sometimes works is [https://www.anywho.com/whitepages](https://www.anywho.com/whitepages) This one, on the other hand, works simply, right off the bat, and doesn’t try to get me to sign up. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/18 "2019-02-05T14:13:05Z")
I looked up my own info on [Whitepages.com](http://Whitepages.com) using just my fairly common first and last names and my Zip Code. The first hit was me with my full middle name and it knew I was a Jr. It also had my neighborhood’s name and listed the towns that I previously lived in going back 30 years, but phone numbers and exact address are premium only. There were surprising(to me) results under ‘Family’. They had my stepmother’s name listed, and while the last name is the same, my dad married her after my mom died when I was in my late 30s. We never even lived in the same town and for 30 years different states. They also had my sister’s (married) name and she lives 1500 miles away. Even more curious they had my sister’s two step-daughters-in-law listed under their _maiden_ names, each of whom I met exactly once. They did _not_ have the stepsons, who I least know a little better and have the same last name as my sister. There was no mention of any close relatives who have the same last name and have interacted(by mail and email) with me frequently over the years - some of whom lived close to me, albeit 30 years ago. How do they come up with info like that? The AnyWho site, for free, came up with my full name and address and landline number. Unfortunately it’s the number that I got rid of 5 years ago when I bought my current house and moved to a different, but nearby, town. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/19 "2019-02-05T15:27:04Z")
I just tried anywho for my mother (since I haven’t had a land line for almost 20 years), and also got full name and address with phone. Curious, I also searched my dad (who has been dead since 2001), and found the same details. So, whatever sources they’re using, they aren’t double-checking their currency very well. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934/20 "2019-02-05T16:34:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This one, on the other hand, works simply, right off the bat, and doesn’t try to get me to sign up. Weird. That one does show up with phone numbers and addresses for me and my family, but none of the phone numbers are right, and some of the addresses are wrong.