A Sender-Address-Based Telecommunications Operator Call-back System and Method is disclosed. Unlike the prior systems, the present invention eliminates the use of a direct inward dialing telephone number. The system recognizes a triggering email or SMS message and associates the message to a particular authorized user. Once authorized, the system places a call to the caller and then places a call to the called person. The triggering email or SMS message only requires minimal special formatting, such as containing the sender's registered email address in the "from" field and the called number in the "subject" field. The system may permit third party persons to be authorized to make collect calls to the account holder on the account holder's account. The system may further provide the user with periodic account balance updates both manually and automatically as calls are being made.