topic Calling the International Operator in Broadband & Landline

Calling the International Operator

drlabman — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:23:12 GMT

Not sure if this is the correct forum - wasn't sure if it should go in the BB and Landline forum or the Digital Voice forum. I have a BT Hub and digital voice phone with unlimited anytime calls, but my bill comes from EE. Anyway, this is a question regarding landline charges rather than digital voice per se.

This should be a simple question but I can't find the answer anywhere.

I want to make a reverse charge call to a number in the USA. My understanding is that I have to go through the international operator.

Firstly, is the number 155?

Secondly, is there a charge to call the international operator? I'm assuming that once the call is connected, I'm then done with the operator, so if there is a per minute charge it would be for less than a minute. The call itself should be charged to the receiver.

I can't find any document that lists these kinds of charges. Could someone please provide a link? Thanks.

Re: Calling the International Operator

JimM11 — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:45:09 GMT

@drlabman See what you can find cost wise in the link below!

How Much do Calls, Texts and Data Cost? | Home Phone Help | EE

Re: Calling the International Operator

drlabman — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:22:04 GMT

Thanks. That's a pretty comprehensive document, and if I'm correct that 155 is the international operator then there is no fee.

I don't quite understand why they can't put the words "international operator" alongside 155, or "operator" for 100.

Re: Calling the International Operator

Matt_124 — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:28:13 GMT

Just checked the link, ensure you are using the 2nd document on that link as the I believe 1st document relates to Legacy EE which is no longer sold.

On the New EE doc, I can't see any mention of either number or reverse charge calling at all.

Re: Calling the International Operator

drlabman — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:01:50 GMT

But the first link is newer than the second?

Re: Calling the International Operator

Matt_124 — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:45:57 GMT

It has been likely updated recently for the customers remaining on those products. But the plan names it refers to are the Legacy products (Fibre and Full Fibre Max), and not the New EE plans (Essentials, All Rounder, Full Works)

Re: Calling the International Operator

Schockwave — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:58:36 GMT

@drlabman , the first document appears to be newer than the second document, as the second one refers to legacy, plans.

Re: Calling the International Operator

drlabman — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:58:46 GMT

So, maybe we should get back to the more fundamental question ... Does the international operator, 155, still exist? I've seen posts elsewhere that suggest it doesn't. I could try dialling it I suppose! I've also read elsewhere that some mobile networks don't allow 155.

Simple fact is that without an international operator, it doesn't seem possible to place a reverse charge call (call collect) internationally.

I'm on holiday abroad at the moment, so would any kind soul in the UK care to dial 155 (from a landline) and see what happens?

Re: Calling the International Operator

Schockwave — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:01:17 GMT

@drlabman , I have no idea, as I do not and have not had a landline in years and have never made a revers charge call, but saw that 155 was still on the list, you just have to look for it, quite a long way down and does say no fee.

Re: Calling the International Operator

Matt_124 — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:25:05 GMT

That is only on the Legacy BB document, as you can see the plan names mentioned at the beginning are all of the old ones.

The doc for Essentials, All Rounder and Full Works makes no mention of it unfortunately.

Re: Calling the International Operator

Schockwave — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:32:38 GMT

Here is the link for current price guide from the 1st July 2025:

https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/home/ee-monthly-home-price-guide-update-1-july-2025.pdf

Re: Calling the International Operator

Matt_124 — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:31:50 GMT

That is for Legacy EE, if you reference the plan names and add-ons you will see it does not reflect the New EE offerings.

This is the New EE version:

https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/home/ee-monthly-home-price-guide-ess-all-rounder-30-may-2025.pdf

Re: Calling the International Operator

XRaySpeX — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 01:45:14 GMT

@Matt_124 : Wherein there is no mention of 155, either directly or implied. Therefore it is not unreasonable to assume it will be the same as for Legacy EE BB, namely "No Fee"!

Re: Calling the International Operator

drlabman — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:50:44 GMT

Back home now so I bit the bullet and called 155. Sure enough, it's the international operator. I spoke to a very nice Scottish lady. She confirmed that there was no charge for calling 155 and that she would be able to make a reverse charge call (call collect) to a USA number.

I still find it strange that this number is not mentioned at all in the latest EE price guide and only in passing in the legacy price guide - and even then it's not identified as the international operator, just that it's 155 and no fee.

Re: Calling the International Operator

JimM11 — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:24:16 GMT

@drlabman With the advent off WhatsApp, facetime, zoom, etc most just do not even use landline phone call's at all now, so phone is kind off way behind the times, just like the telephone book you used to get!

Re: Calling the International Operator

drlabman — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:10:55 GMT

If only my bank in the USA would allow me to use one of those methods ...

BTW, my query could equally have applied to mobiles.

Re: Calling the International Operator

JimM11 — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:27:20 GMT

@drlabman That's never going to happen for sure, had the same issue's when using my Chase bank account, and just had to eat the cost and do the International connection they supplied!