A centralized automatic message accounting system (CAMA) has been developed so that the billing data can be recorded at a centralized crossbar tandem office for message unit and toll calls originated by telephone customers served by a large number of local dial central offices. It is an essential part of facilities for economic nationwide customer dialing through central offices with older types of switching equipment and through other central offices, which could not otherwise economically give this service. The new system records the billing data on paper tapes in the same form now used by local automatic message accounting systems. Tapes for both local and centralized automatic message accounting systems are processed in the same accounting center.