Why Are There Two Charges for Each of My Phone Calls?

So, you’ve gotten the bill for your new phone number. If this is your first time using this type of number, you may have some questions about the charges associated with your phone calls. One of the first things you’ll probably notice is that there are two charges for each phone call. These charges, or fees, often raise some questions from our customers. So, in this article, we’ll explain what the two charges are, how they differ from each other and what factors effect the cost of the charges.

So, What Are the Two Charges for Each Phone Call?

You’ll notice that for each phone call you send or receive, there are two charges. These two charges are the Originating and Terminating fee for the call. To get the total cost of your incoming or outgoing phone call, you simply add the Originating and Terminating fees together. Most customers expect one single charge for each of their calls but, as you can see, this isn't the case. These fees are influenced by a number of factors that we'll explain below.

Originating Fees

The Originating Fee for each call comes from the caller’s end. This means, the Originating fee varies based on who calls the number. The factors that influence the price of the fee are:

• Where the customer is calling from (which Country)
• How the customer is calling you (Mobile, Landline or VoIP)

Each provider sets their own price for the Originating fee. Most of them also offer rate sheets that break down the cost of each possible “caller scenario”.

Terminating Fees

The Terminating Fee for each call comes from the receiver’s end. This means, the Terminating Fee varies based on who receives the call. The factors that influence the price of the fee are:

• Where the call is delivered (which Country)
• How the call is answered (Mobile, Landline or VoIP)

Like the Originating fee, providers set their own price for the Terminating Fee. For example, some providers even offer free Terminating fees if the call is delivered to VoIP.

Now that we’ve explained the difference between Originating and Terminating fees and the factors that influence their cost, you should have a better understanding of how each of your calls is billed and be able to answer the question about why there two charges phone call. For any other questions, talk to your provider. They’ll be able to provide you with their rate sheets and talk to you about the specifics that go into their charges.