Collect call
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A collect call in the USA and Canada or reverse charge call in the UK and other countries (or calling collect) is a telephone call in which the calling party wants to place a call at the called party's expense and billed on their home telephone bill. In the past, collect calls were only possible as an operator-assisted call, but with the introduction of computer-based telephone dialing equipment, it is now possible to place a collect call without using an operator, which is called automated operator services (AOS) as opposed to Home Country Direct (HCD). Several companies offer services to place collect calls that compete with local service providers. Collect calls can be made from almost any public pay telephone in the world by following directions posted on or near the phone. Collect calling has been in constant decline since the advent of cellular phones and VOIP products, such as Skype.
While Mother's Day has the highest number of phone calls, the most collect calls are made on Father's Day.[1][2][3][4]
Other forms of paid communication, such as telegrams and mail, could also be sent "collect".
Collect Call Services
Republic of Ireland
A collect call service operates under name 1800 Reverse (operated by Reverse Corp Ltd)[5] , in the Republic of Ireland. It offers reverse charge calls from any fixed line phone, pay phone and most mobile phones (even if the prepaid credit has run out), to most fixed land line and mobile phones in the Republic of Ireland.[6] The company charges 2.99 euros to connect the call, including the first 60 seconds of the call and 0.593 euros for every subsequent minute.
The telephone company, eircom have announced their intention to withdraw their own national and international reverse charge services with effect from 24 February 2009.[7] Until 24 February 2009, national reverse charge service could be obtained by dialling the operator on 10 or, from payphones via 1 800 28 28 28 and international reverse charge services could be reached via the international operator on 114 or 1800 457 457 from payphones.
Austrailia
The services of 1800 Reverse are also available in Austrailia. Another phone service, 1800MumDad(1800686323) also allows reverse charge calls to mobile phones and landlines from any phone .
United Kingdom
A related service also operates in the United Kingdom, using the number 0800 REVERSE (advertised as "0800ЯEVERSE"). In the United Kingdom, the number can be called for free on some mobile networks, although the person being contacted via this service may be charged a considerable amount for accepting such a call.
France and Spain
Similar services in Spain (900-REVERTIDO) and France (0800-APPELPCV) are also planned[8]
International
8000 Reverse[9] is an international reverse charge service. It allows international reverse charge calls to be made back to fixed land lines in Australia or the United Kingdom. It is accessed by dialing the relevant international call prefix, followed by the number 8000 REVERSE (i.e. 8000 7383773).[10]
References
- ^ "We Love You: Call Collect". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
- ^ Gogoi, Pallavi. "Father's Unspectacular Day." BusinessWeek. 14 June 2005.
- ^ The Book of Useless Information, Noel Botham, 2002, Perigee, ISBN 0-399-53269-2, ISBN 978-0-399-53269-6
- ^ 500 Mostly Useless Facts djtech.net
- ^ [1] - Reverse Corp Ltd Website
- ^ [2] - 1800 Reverse (Ireland) Website: About Us
- ^ eircom Alarm Clock Call and Reverse Charge Call charging information
- ^ [3] Reverse Corp Ltd Full Year Results Presentation, June 2008
- ^ [4] - 8000 Reverse Website
- ^ [5] 8000 Reverse Access Codes
External links
- 1800 Reverse - Official WWW site, Australia
- 1800 Reverse - Official WWW site, Ireland
- 0800 Reverse - Official WWW site, UK
- 0800 Appelpcv - Official WWW site, France
- 900 Revertido - Official WWW site, Spain
- 1800MumDad - Official site, 1800MumDad
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