Call Amswering Service

[accountancyextra]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a new call answering service to take about 50 messages per month on average and pass me details via text and e mail. Has anyone any experiences/ recommendations that they could share with me?

Thanks in advance

 

[bluesquare]

We use Alldaypa who are quite good. Although all we require is for them to take a message or an address for samples to be sent out. I tihnk they do a two week free trial and then it's 70p per minute after that on a payg basis

 

[FreelanceSEO]

Another vote for alldaypa here

 

[TPS Test]

I have been using inbound solutions for a few months now without any problems

 

[chris2007]

hi

TPS test which inbound provider to you use?

Am looking for an inbound provider to answer calls and do a short simple survey when the cust calls, only about 2 or 3 questions, and the detail be emailed to specified addresses depending on the answers. I can provide programming help if needed.

Any ideas people?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Ashley_Price]

Hi

In answer to the original post, yes I know a brilliant service called APA Secretarial!

I'll PM you.

 

[robwoollen]

I use moneypenny (www.moneypenny.biz) and they are really good - you get your own dedicated team of 3 so your call is answered by someone who knows your business.

They do a free week trial too

 

[Miranda]

I've used several, but the worst was a local co who had a line in their office for us, problem was their cleaner used to knock the phone socket out of the wall...
We then moved premises to the adjacent exchange area and got a new number, unfortunately on that we keep getting calls for 'Mr Ellis' plus about 10 fax calls a day on our phone line, and I couldn't justify the cost of a call centre answering these calls (up to 20 a day).

 

[Arnold Soutar 1]

Yes have also had experience with alldaypa with no complaints.

 

[TPS Test]

Chris,

The company we use is called Inbound Solutions Ltd, Contact number is 08445 447836 - speak to Paul Benson

Roger

 

[tempdent]

Hi Roger,
Just been reading your thread. You mentioned a call handling service called Inbound Solutions who you use for taking your calls. I am on the hunt for such a service and have a number of contact names, but have not heard of Inbound. Are you happy with the service? What sort of information do they get from your callers? More importantly what do they charge?! I've noticed some want an up front monthly payment or want a minimum spend per month etc. Do this company offer anything different? I'd like to hear a 'users' perspective before giving them a ring.
Sue.

 

[TPS Test]

Hi Sue,

Have sent PM


Roger

 

[Ashley_Price]

I've sent a PM but not had a reply, so I'll give a little more detail here.

With our telephone answering service we provide you with your own unique phone number. You can then divert calls to us or give out the number we supply to your contacts/customers. For example, we work for an IFA, he has the number we have provided on all his stationery, so we are, in effect, his "virtual" office.

We can do it either permanently or when you are going to be away from the office (say on holiday for a week).

We do not tie you into any contract, you can use us as often or as little as you need.

Our charges are a one-off set up fee and then a monthly (weekly for temporary cover) fee which is based on number of calls and includes the monthly line rental.

For clients who have few calls, we do a line rental + per call charge.


This is starting to turn into a real sales patter. I would say see our website but we know the current one isn't up to much and have just sent out tenders to website designers (the deadline was lunch time today).

So if you would like to know more do not hesitate to PM me or phone me on 01273 403945 (8:30am to 5pm) or 07798 648924 (outside of office hours).

 

[tema]

Have a look at Office Response - we've used them in the past and work very well.

 

[Hannah Roberts]

Give Moneypenny a call on 08000 199 944 for a free week trial. They are the market leaders and provide a great service to companies of all sizes.

 

[Hannah Roberts]

Give Moneypenny a call on 08000 199 944 for a free week trial. They are the market leaders and provide a great service to companies of all sizes.

 

[AdamJ]

We went on holiday in Feb - used Leadline to answer the phones and would happily recommend them. 0844 669 6000.

 

[tempdent]

Hi Hannah,
Thanks for the tip! I read their advertising as being a 'personal' service' and that they provide a dedicated team of operators to each customer.Having been in business before I find the concept of a 'dedicated' team a rather difficult one. How do they cover for sickness, holidays, 24/7 cover?? Are there a 'team' of people sat eagerly awaiting calls for me in between reading magazines? A colleague of mine called a friend yesterday, who uses Moneypenny and was a bit put out as he has called several times,but the Moneypenny operator did not recognise him. In fact, she was more interested in directing my colleague to the sales office of their company after he asked if he was speaking to a call centre! Since my original posting I have been looking into several different companies and their claims. For example, a '24/7' service does not always mean that my calls would be answered 24/7, but would be directed to an automated messaging facility. The above don't seem to be very 'personal' to me! However all is not lost and I am still perusing several websites and brochures. I'd like someone to take my calls, answer and handle them in a professional manner as my own receptionist would do and not tell my callers that they are speaking to an outsourced call centre. Any one out there?

 

[Hannah Roberts]

Hi Hannah,
Thanks for the tip! I read their advertising as being a 'personal' service' and that they provide a dedicated team of operators to each customer.Having been in business before I find the concept of a 'dedicated' team a rather difficult one. How do they cover for sickness, holidays, 24/7 cover?? Are there a 'team' of people sat eagerly awaiting calls for me in between reading magazines? A colleague of mine called a friend yesterday, who uses Moneypenny and was a bit put out as he has called several times,but the Moneypenny operator did not recognise him. In fact, she was more interested in directing my colleague to the sales office of their company after he asked if he was speaking to a call centre! Since my original posting I have been looking into several different companies and their claims. For example, a '24/7' service does not always mean that my calls would be answered 24/7, but would be directed to an automated messaging facility. The above don't seem to be very 'personal' to me! However all is not lost and I am still perusing several websites and brochures. I'd like someone to take my calls, answer and handle them in a professional manner as my own receptionist would do and not tell my callers that they are speaking to an outsourced call centre. Any one out there?

Each Moneypenny clients has their own PA, and each PA sits in a team of 4. This means that unlike a call centre the call never gets bounced around a room full of operators. The PAs get to know their clients and their business really well and its that personal touch that makes all the difference. Shame to hear about your colleague but from my experience the service has always been exemplary. Good luck with your search!

 

[Ashley_Price]

Oops, I forgot I posted more about my services above.

 

[Officebird]

At Offficebird we also offer this service. All rates etc can be seen on the wesite, along with details of how to sign up for a free trial. Check it out at officebird.co.uk