0845 number or local number?

[SketchSlate]

Hey all,

I'm just deciding what I should do about incoming calls, the things I have in mind are either an 0845 number or a number that is local to my city. Can anyone advise me as to what would be the best and most professional?

Regards

 

[eeSecuritySolutions]

Customers would most likely ring a local number 0845 costs too much and is not inclusive in peoples mobile tariffs.

I recommend a local number or a PAYG 0800 number.

 

[Highland Park]

I totally agree with eeSecuritySolutions - plenty of folks get free national calls now. 0800 is best of all though

 

[adxba]

We used to use 0845 numbers, mainly so we could divert it anywhere, and it wouldn't be a huge issue moving premises etc.. But you can do that with local numbers as well now. As everyone has said, 0845 numbers are expensive and mobile phone users don't get them included in their plan [That goes for 0800 numbers too which is a pain, but it seems is slowly changing].

A local number will give you an easily recognisable local presence if thats how you are aiming your business, and to be honest people trust local numbers more than 08's nowadays.

IF you really don't want a local number, look into 03's these carry the same call allowances as 01's and 02's but are more designed for national calls, the only issue is that some people still don't know about them!

Long story short, I'd say a local number! Look into ones provided by Voipfone / soho66 etc that can be forwarded to your line at work, so you can redirect it when you need to!

 

[fattony]

the 0800 numbers are not included in mobile tariffs either, I'd suggest a voip number

 

[cjd]

The local number is the correct choice. See:

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=46850

 

[adxba]

The local number is the correct choice. See:

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=46850

Thats actually a very good informative post!

Should be one of the things people NEED to read before getting a business phone number really.......

 

[Edward Moss]

Given a choice I would always prefer to do business with a geographical number rather than 0845. I always get the feeling I'm getting ripped off ringing a 0845, and as previously mentioned it's not free in most mobile packages.

 

[SketchSlate]

Thanks for all the replies, looks like I will be going for a local area number, I dont intend to have a landline but rather purchase a number and have it diverted to my mobile as this will work best for my type of business.

I came across this site looks interesting ( www dot planet-numbers dot co.uk/ )works at £49.99 for the initial fee then £10 a month and costs 3.5p/min for incoming call, seems to be the cheapest I have found, does anyone no of a cheaper way to do this.

Thanks

 

[cjd]

I'd say that was expensive. See:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/Call_Forwarding_And_Divert.php

 

[eeSecuritySolutions]

Thanks for all the replies, looks like I will be going for a local area number, I dont intend to have a landline but rather purchase a number and have it diverted to my mobile as this will work best for my type of business.

I came across this site looks interesting ( www dot planet-numbers dot co.uk/ )works at £49.99 for the initial fee then £10 a month and costs 3.5p/min for incoming call, seems to be the cheapest I have found, does anyone no of a cheaper way to do this.

Thanks

numbergroup.com

they provide 0800 numbers free of charge, no line rentals, no upfront payment.

activated immediately and you get to choose how the line operates (voicemail/redirection)

for the first 30 days is on trial, at the end of month you pay 1.5p/min per call diverted.

 

[SketchSlate]

numbergroup.com

they provide 0800 numbers free of charge, no line rentals, no upfront payment.

activated immediately and you get to choose how the line operates (voicemail/redirection)

for the first 30 days is on trial, at the end of month you pay 1.5p/min per call diverted.

Wow thanks! I think I may go for them seems like a good deal. Have you ever used them before by any chance?

 

[cjd]

Please make sure that whoever you use, you can take your number elsewhere if it doesn't work out the way you expected or if the price suddenly goes up 6 months down the line.

(Be aware that the company must pay an inbound call charge to BT (or whichever network the call originated on) for delivering 0800 call to you, then pay (BT usually) for the outbound call to your telephone. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you think 1.5p pm would cover those costs. If the call is forwarded to a mobile those costs increase enormously.)