I had some trouble finding this on Google, and it's a useful bit of information to have when you're in a pinch**, so I'm going to put this right here in the hope that future toll free dialers from France will be able to find it.
To call a U. S. or Canadian toll-free number from France:
- instead of 800, dial 00 1 880
- instead of 877, dial 00 1 882
- instead of 888, dial 00 1 881
and then the last seven digits of the number you are calling. So, if you are trying to call 800-555-1212, dial 00 1 880 555 1212 instead. This call will be charged at the regular rate of a phone call to the US or Canada (i.e. it's not toll-free). C'est simple.
** Like when your CC company decides to put a hold on your card because there have been purchases made in Paris (classified as "unusual activity"). People travelling to Europe and mixin' wit dem durty for'ners? That don't seem right in this day and age.