How to Make a Collect Call

By eHow Travel Editor

Rate: (19 Ratings)

Collect calls are ideal for when you're stranded and out of change ... or for when you just don't want to pay for your own phone calls.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Pick up the receiver, listen for the dial tone, then dial "0" followed by the area code and phone number of the person or place you are trying to reach.

Step2

Listen for a tone followed by recorded instructions about making a collect call.

Step3

Speak your name when prompted.

Step4

Alternatively, talk to an operator. Pick up the receiver, dial "0," then inform the operator that you would like to place a collect call. Follow his or her instructions.

Tips & Warnings

Use the area code even if the call is local.
Some phone companies offer alternatives to dialing "0" to make a collect call.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 1/13/2006 Be careful about making collect calls from foreign countries into the United States if they do not have their rates stated. I was charged $60 for a ten minute call from Mexico to the United States.

jaywalters said

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on 4/16/2007 Next time you need to make a collect call, you can save money using http://www.800call4less.com/.

bhawkins67 said

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on 1/31/2007 watch out for calling card companies that jake up there fees when making a pay phone call. Pingo.com seems to have a small surcharge and not $60 as commented above....ouch!

Anonymous said

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on 8/18/2006 I am a Verizon phone customer, my son was out of state and used this number over a weekend. Five calls later,my ability to receive collect calls through the MCI network was suspended because for those calls I was charged $150.00!

I am sure there are other ways to call collect, just using the operator or maybe another company. I was told that the charges are upwards of $1.62 a minute!!

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