Calling the International Operator

[drlabman]

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.

[Schockwave]

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-...

[Matt_124]

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-... 

[XRaySpeX]

@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"!

[drlabman · Accepted solution]

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.

[JimM11]

@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!

[drlabman]

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.

[JimM11]

@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!