Perception of 0845, 0870 or plain 0207 phone prefix numbers?

[dagr]

For technical access reasons (ie. call blocking out of NHS sites), I am going ahead and setting up a UK phone number that will be routed to either a UK fixed line number, or more probably, a French land line or French mobile number.

I am not expecting many callers, mainly NHS customers and a few select suppliers, and as such the cost of the call to the caller is not really a big issue. I just wanted to get people's impressions of the difference in perception, if any, of a 0845, 0870 and plain 02 number. A 0800 toll-free number doesn't make sense in my situation.

I have already begun to investigate a few solutions and get some prices for this service (UK2Numbers, Vonage, NergyTelecom), but if anyone knows of any other solution, please let me know.

Thanks,

David.

[MSOMedia]

Hi...I'm new...I always connect 0845 numbers to my days with dial-up Internet access, so I think "expensive" when I see that prefix, even though they're local rate numbers.

I use an 0870 number which I got free from Planet Numbers (http://www.planetnumbers.co.uk). They've been quite good, but I don't know how you'd go about connecting their numbers to an international line.

[Ozzy]

Generally speaking 0845 numbers have a better image than 0870, because 0845 numbers are cheaper (local) than 0870 (nationalish) to call.

That said, there is a lot of hype about 08xx number in general at the moment, so some people are preferring to call 01xxx 02xxx numbers as so many phone companies now include geographic numbers like that in their free minutes.

Even 0800 numbers cost money to call now from mobile phones.

[dagr]

That said, there is a lot of hype about 08xx number in general at the moment, so some people are preferring to call 01xxx 02xxx numbers as so many phone companies now include geographic numbers like that in their free minutes.

Even 0800 numbers cost money to call now from mobile phones.

Very true, Ozzy, hence why I didn't discount the "old" 02 prefix in my list of choices. I know it's not much, but there's something annoying about having to pay when calling a toll-free number. Must be the Scots blood in me.

[Gareth Riley]

0845 numbers for the service you mentioned would be best as people readily associate 0845 with a local call. As for terminating it to a international number you may have trouble getting it connected. We have done some in the past but these where specific international 0870 numbers. The problem is the billing of them, because you have the cost of dialling the 0845. 3.35ppm. but then the network have the cost of the international leg of the call and that's where it gets expensive.

If you want some more info please let me know or have a look at my website www.click4numbers.com

We offer 0845 with no set-up or call charges. Usually the cost is around £10 to se-up as this is what the network charges us but as your a member of the forum I'll waive that charge if you choose to take one of my numbers.

Thanks

Gareth

[Gareth Riley]

Just read Ozzys post.

The only network to now charge for 0800 is Vodafone

Orange is free

02 promp you to take the zero off the 0800 number that then makes it free

T mobile is free

[Ozzy]

Hi Gareth,
Orange sent me an insert with my last mobile phone bill saying they are now going to start charging for calls to 0800 numbers :(

[Gareth Riley]

:shock: really ozzy thats interesting. i'll have to check it out because we've had the latest info pack for november from orange and there's no mention of it.

I'll let you know my findings

[KM-Tiger]

This is one perception of 0870 numbers:-

http://www.saynoto0870.com/

[Gareth Riley]

that sites been going for years.


The real perception of NTS numbers is that it provides a company with a professional image on stationary no matter what size of organisation. Along with in the case of 0870 providing a on going revenue stream. you can earn money for recieving calls.

People say its ripping the consumer off as in the case of the say no to 0870 website. if you are calling say BT or british gas who have call centres in scotland and in london if your not within the district calling area you'll pay the same price as as 0870 for the call anyway so by giving the number that sits under the 0870 makes no difference.

0870 numbers are charged at national rate which is currently 6.79ppm. if your on BT you'll pay also a 4ppm set-up charge for the call.

0845 is charged at 3.35ppm the same as a local call.

There are a lot of people out there that see 0870 or 0845 and think its going to cost them a fortune when in essance its only going to cost the same as if they ring the local take away or a 0208 number when they are in manchester.

[KM-Tiger]

that sites been going for years.

Does that make its content any less relevant?


There are a lot of people out there that see 0870 or 0845 and think its going to cost them a fortune when in essance its only going to cost the same as if they ring the local take away or a 0208 number when they are in manchester.
That's simply not true in a lot of cases where call routing is through suppliers that exclude 0870 etc from their rates.

But not really worth a debate. Once VOIP really takes off, per-call charging will be a thing of the past.