Meaning & use
reverse billing
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablebusinessfinancetechnical
A system in which the person or company receiving a call or service pays the cost instead of the caller.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun; it refers to the system or practice, not a single bill.
Patterns
- use reverse billing
- offer reverse billing
- reverse billing service
The help line uses reverse billing so customers do not pay for the call.
With reverse billing, the company pays for all incoming calls.
Reverse billing is common for technical support numbers.
noununcountablebusinessfinancetechnical
A payment arrangement where charges are sent to the recipient of a product or service rather than the sender.
Grammar: Still uncountable; it describes the arrangement as a whole.
Patterns
- set up reverse billing
- reverse billing agreement
- charge by reverse billing
The two companies agreed on reverse billing for the delivery service.
Reverse billing can simplify payments when the receiver is the main beneficiary.
They switched to reverse billing to reduce their own costs.
Common combinations
- reverse billing service
- The telecom company offers a reverse billing service for customer support.
- use reverse billing
- Many charities use reverse billing so donors can call for free.
- reverse billing number
- Call the reverse billing number to avoid charges.
- reverse billing arrangement
- They have a reverse billing arrangement with their supplier.
Synonyms and how they differ
- collect call
- A collect call is a specific phone call where the receiver pays; reverse billing is the broader system that can apply to calls or other services.
- freephone
- Freephone means the call is free for the caller and the receiver pays; reverse billing is the mechanism behind it, not the marketing name.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: reverse billing or reverse charge?
reverse billing vs reverse charge
In some countries 'reverse charge' is used for a similar idea, but it also has a specific meaning in tax (VAT reverse charge). 'Reverse billing' is more general for payments.
Practice
When you call a company and the company pays for the call, this is called ______.
Choose one answer.
The fixed term is 'reverse billing'. 'Billing reverse' is not a phrase; 'reversed bill' would mean a bill that has been changed back, and 'bill reversing' is not a standard noun phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reverse billing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.