New area code overlay brings new questions to Central Coast

The new 820 area code was introduced to the Central Coast Saturday and people have a lot of questions.

The new 820 are code is an overlay to the 805 area code. This means that two area codes serve the same geographic region. Verizon Wireless says customers will not have to change there existing area code but will now have to dial the number one, the area code, and then the 7 digit number you would like to dial.

People living in the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties are affected by this new area code overlay.

Owner of Santa Barbara Auto Stereo and Wireless, Alan Gold, says that received a few calls concerning the new area code all week before the new area code was introduced Saturday.

” Pretty much we got about 7 or 8 calls that were all related to contact lists in the phone,” said Gold. “The primary concern was if we had any shortcuts that would allow you to insert the new area code or insert the existing 805 area codes into all the contacts that didn’t have them in place … unfortunately, at this time, we haven’t figured out how to do that.”

Gold was the first cellular store owner in the Santa Barbara area and says that he does not think 805 area code phone numbers will run out.

As of Saturday morning, Gold says there has not been an 820 area code phone number created and that if you visit his store, you could still get an 805 area code phone number.

For more information on the new area code overlay, click here.