0800 number - do you like calling them?

[davehac]

I will shortly be going live with a business search service and I would like to provide our customers with a freephone number to contact us. As most of our customers will be calling from mobiles, an 0800 number does not really appear to do the job!

Has anyone any thoughts as to what type of number we should go live with that our customers would be happy with?

Which type of number do you prefer to call?

 

[Atilla]

One that is included in my mobile/voip plans.

 

[davehac]

Thank Atilla

Do you think it would be better to advertise an 01 or 02 or 03 number for example ( uk national number) which is fair to both customers making landline or mobile calls rather than having an 0800 freephone option from landlines and a cost to mobile users?

 

[cjd]

There are 3 ways to mitigate the mobile problem:

1. publish a normal 01, 02 number alongside.
2. publish an 01 0800 bi-pass number for mobile users - see below
3. use a website call me back button - see: http://www.voipfone.co.uk/PB_Call_Me_Back.php


Free 0800 calls for Mobiles

I’m sure you are aware that you can’t call an 0800 ‘freephone’ number for free using your mobile.
We think that’s wrong, so we thought about it for a while and have come up with a crafty way of making these calls for free – as they were originally designed to be.

Is it really totally free?
Yes - if you have a contract mobile package with included minutes to UK geographic numbers like 01 and 02.
(Even if you use a Pay-as-you-go mobile it’s normally cheaper than calling the 0800 directly; but you need to check with your provider.)

How does it work?
1. Dial our access number 029 2000 0800 (add it to your address book)
2. When we answer, just enter the 0800 number you want to call and wait to be connected.
That’s it.

How can you do it for free?
We get a tiny fraction of a penny for the call from the network operator, not enough to matter but enough to cover our costs.
But we mostly do it simply because we can, because it's quite cool and because we think mobile phone pricing is a rip-off.

You’ll find more mobile phone workaround tricks here:
http://www.voipfone.co.uk/FP_Voipfone_F ... tomers.php

ps You don’t need to be a Voipfone customer to use this trick – tell your friends; send them this email!

 

[davehac]

Thanks CJD and Danny.

I like the options you have posted. I think we may use a combination of 2 options (1) list a 01 02 or 03 number and (2) use the call me back functionality.

I visited your site CJD and it is very informative. I will keep you in mind when we are choosing the service. Thanks for the help.

 

[JN-WebDesign]

I would use both, people that have landlines love 0800 numbers obviously because they are free, but when out and a about I hate having to ring an 0800 number because it costs me.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

I will shortly be going live with a business search service and I would like to provide our customers with a freephone number to contact us. As most of our customers will be calling from mobiles, an 0800 number does not really appear to do the job!

Has anyone any thoughts as to what type of number we should go live with that our customers would be happy with?

Which type of number do you prefer to call?

My preference is a local number - I absolutely hate 0845 numbers and always avoid them where possible, to be honest 0800 numbers dont really make any difference to me. It certainly wouldnt make me call one particular company over any other.

Nicola

 

[KDMINX]

I hate 0800 numbers!

I see them the same as 0845, 0844 etc.

To most people landline and mobile numbers are freephone any 08xx number isn't.

 

[Atilla]

Thank Atilla

Do you think it would be better to advertise an 01 or 02 or 03 number for example ( uk national number) which is fair to both customers making landline or mobile calls rather than having an 0800 freephone option from landlines and a cost to mobile users?

Yes, 01, 02, etc are much more preferable.

I hate 08 numbers. Will only use them as last resort.

 

[garyk]

Yes I think in recent years with more people home/remote/mobile working the 0800 has less perceived benefit simply because the use of mobiles is so ubiquitous now. As above why not have both? I know businesses that serve primarily the local area that have tried 0800s and it hasnt made a jot of difference to their business, and in fact if you serve only a specific geographic area an 0800 it can have the opposite effect.

 

[davehac]

Thank you all for your suggestions and input. We are going to go with 2 numbers. The 0800 number will be in slightly bigger font with a landline number as an option beside it.