How does one lookup a phone number in US white pages?

[charlotteCH]

Can someone accustomed to US phone books please explain how I can look up phone numbers in US?

  I have been to multiple web sites which purport to be US white pages, gone to say Virginia where I have been trying to find ** and all that comes up is her name and living in Stafford and offers  to do a background  check. Also I've tried to find her email address and no luck there either.   
Is there such a thing as an Australian or UK phone book online which gives names, addresses and phone numbers? And forget the offers of background checks for $9.95.

Help and guidance here will be very much appreciated.
exasperated charlotte

Moderator comment: name of living person removed in accordance with Rootschat policy.  If anyone is able to assit/ advise please us the PM system to exchange personal information.  Other advice may be posted on this thread.  Thanks.

[KathMc]

Charlotte,

I usually go to yahoo.com and go to people search. If they dont' have any unlisted number it will pop up. Let me know if you need any help with it.

Kath

[charlotteCH]

Thank you Kath.  I'll try that now. yahoo, from memory, was not on offer on the list I found.
Now I have looked back on the experience  of earlier this evening it was amusing- being offered info on  people's  utility bills, their criminal records and so on but no phone numbers.

And I will take up you kind offer of further help in  a personal message if I can't sort this out.
Thanks again,
charlotte

[johnnyboy]

Charlotte: I also usually Yahoo People Search, as well as 411.com, at http://www.411.com/

Regards,
John

[marykk]

I go to www.att.net

[charlotteCH]

John and marykk,

Thank you for those links and for your help.

charlotte

[shellyesq]

Switchboard.com is what I usually use.  It has the links to the background checks, but the phone number will come up first. 

[Tony Payne]

I usually also use Switchboard.com for the USA - works most of the time.

There are also ones for the UK and Australia - just don't have the links with me right now.  The UK one I last used had the full address as well.  I'm pretty sure the Australia one does too.

As well as Yahoo you can also Google for them.  I know in Google if you want to know where a USA phone number (405) 123-4567 is you can type " Area Code 405" and it will return related links - very handy.

[yn9man]

I use switchboard.com if I can't get any information using google.

yn9man