Make a Collect Call from Anywhere in the World
Dial internationally without paying upfront.
A collect call allows you to make a phone call without paying upfront. Instead, the person receiving the call accepts the charges before the connection is established.
Collect calls are commonly used when calling from hotels, public phones, correctional facilities, or when the caller does not have credit on their phone.
Popular Access Numbers for Collect Calls
Collect call access numbers vary by country.
Select the country you are calling from to find the correct access number.
How Collect Calls work
1. Choose the Access Number
Select the access number for the country you are calling from.
You will be connected to the operator platform.
2. Enter the Number You Want to Reach
When prompted, enter the phone number of the person you want to call.
The operator platform will dial the number for you.
3. Call Is Connected
The person you are calling will be asked to accept the charges.
Once they confirm, your call will be connected.
FAQ
A collect call is a telephone call where the person receiving the call agrees to pay the charges, rather than the person making the call.
This service is typically used when the caller cannot pay for the call directly, for example when calling from a hotel phone, a public phone, a correctional facility, or when they do not have credit on their mobile phone.
Before the call is connected, the receiving person will hear a message asking whether they accept the charges for the call. Only after they confirm will the call be connected.
Collect calls have been used for decades and are still available through specialized international operator services.
Yes, collect calls still exist, although they are less common than they were in the past.
Many traditional telephone operators have discontinued their collect call services, but several specialized providers still offer international collect calling, especially for situations such as prison calls, hotel phones, or emergency contact.
Today, travelers and international callers also use alternatives such as calling apps, VoIP services, or travel eSIM plans, which can often be cheaper and easier to use.
However, collect calls remain useful in situations where the caller cannot pay for the call themselves.
In many cases, yes.
You can usually make a collect call from a mobile phone by dialing the access number of a collect call provider. After connecting to the operator platform, you enter the phone number you want to reach.
The system will then call the receiving person and ask whether they accept the charges for the call.
However, availability depends on several factors, including:
If collect calls are not available in your location, you may need to use alternative international calling services.
Emergency Calls
Need to reach someone urgently?
Collect calls can be a useful option in emergency situations when you cannot pay for a call directly or when your phone does not have credit.
They are often used by travelers who need to quickly contact important institutions or family members.
Common emergency situations include:
With a collect call, the receiving party can accept the charges for the call, allowing you to reach them even if you cannot pay for the call yourself.
Institutions that accept collect calls
Some banks, insurance companies, and government institutions in the United States and Canada still accept collect calls from international callers.
This can be especially helpful when you are traveling abroad and need to resolve urgent issues.
➡ See the list of institutions that accept collect calls