Definition

1. Noun:
   • A telephone call for which the person receiving the call agrees to pay the charges: A "collect call" is a method of placing a telephone call where the calling party does not pay for the call. Instead, the charges are billed to the recipient's telephone number, but only if the recipient explicitly accepts the charges.

Usage

• Noun:
  • This term is used specifically in the context of telecommunications and billing.
  • It describes the type of call being made. The phrase is often used by an operator or an automated system when connecting the call: "I have a collect call from [Name]. Will you accept the charges?"
  • It can be the object of verbs like "make," "place," or "accept."

Examples

• Noun:
  • He made a collect call to his parents from the airport.
  • The operator asked if she would accept a collect call.
  • Before cell phones were common, people would often place a collect call when they needed help.

Advanced Usage

• "To accept a collect call": To agree to pay for a call that someone else is placing to you.

  • She accepted the collect call from her son who was traveling abroad.

• "To place a collect call": To initiate a telephone call where the recipient will be billed.

  • With no money for a payphone, his only option was to place a collect call.

Variants and Related Words

• Call collect (verb phrase): To make a telephone call using the collect call method. This is a common verbal form.
  • He had to call collect because he lost his wallet.

Synonyms

• Reverse-charge call: This is the British English equivalent term for a collect call.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "collect call" has a single, specific meaning related to telephone billing. It does not have other common definitions. The concept is largely historical in many regions due to the prevalence of mobile phones and flat-rate calling plans.

Noun

1. a telephone call that the receiving party is asked to pay for