Call forwarding

[mahutchinson]

I used to have a free 0700 number displayed on my website which forwarded calls to my mobile. This worked for years with no problem and was seldom used. The company is now defunct and I need a new number but the websites selling these all seem to have a minimum usage requirement. I'm thinking it's best to pay a small one-off fee for a different type of number, 0870 or 0845, but which is best for a very small business and does anyone know a reliable website for buying them ?

 

[Steve202]

This might be of interest you to:

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

I've got an 0845 number from voip and I can highly recommend them.

 

[VInsight]

I could give you a 0844 or 0871 number for free with an outpayment for each inbound minute.

PM me for more details

Alex

 

[cjd]

I'm thinking it's best to pay a small one-off fee for a different type of number, 0870 or 0845, but which is best for a very small business and does anyone know a reliable website for buying them ?

A normal geographic number is best. Everyone knows what they are and they can be called from contract mobiles. Consumers think that all 08xx numbers are a rip off - even though some of them aren't eg 0845. (0800 numbers are good too, but are expensive and mostly suited to sales lines.)

 

[Terry56]

You can also now get 0333 numbers. These are like the 0800 numbers except they are cheap from landlines and Mobiles. As the above poster mentioned, the 0800 are sometimes frowned upon. Great thing about 0333 numbers is they are new so a lot of good numbers available.

A geographic number is also handy, but you can also get Virtual Geographic numbers. Basically allowing you to have a number with a local code of pretty much any area you can think of, which is then forwarded to any number you wish.

I get my numbers from citynumbers.co.uk they are very well priced and very helpful.

hope this helps

 

[Numbertel]

I would recommend an 0333 number because your customers pay the same as if they were calling an 01 or 02 number and these numbers are free to call with inclusive minutes in bundles for homes and mobiles.

As these numbers are fairly new there are some highly memorable numbers available for a small one off connection charge.

 

[cjd]

03 numbers are a good development but unfortunately the great british public have no idea what they are yet so they're a risk.

 

[mahutchinson]

Thanks for all the info. As my business emails need a number on I should get this sorted. Interesting about the 0333 numbers as I hadn't heard of them. Not sure that it makes sense to say that they are a risk simply because people haven't heard of them - surely a perceived risk rather than an actual one ?

 

[cjd]

Not really a 'risk' I suppose.

The issue is just that if consumers don't know what a number is, they can be a bit suspicious of calling them (see Ofcom research). BUT 03 is being used by the BBC for phone-ins now and most public bodies are turning to them so they are getting known fairly quickly.

Being included in mobile's 'free' call deals is a big advantage too.

I like them, I think they have a good future.

(We sell them for £1.99 per month the same as geos)

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Do you want people to call you? If so, give them a number that they can call and know how much it will cost. No one (apart from you) knew that the 0700 number was free, so no one called it, hence reason it was rarely used. They knew that it wasn't free (because thats 0800), and knew that it wasn't lo-call.....

0845, 0870 etc numbers no one has the foggiest how much the call and so they don't.

Many people are anti 0845, 0870 numbers because they're outside inclusive call plans and tariffs.

if you want people to call, then there are only 2 real options; a normal geographic number (which for most people has no assocaited cost with it), or an 0800 number.

If you don't want people to call then that's a different kettle of fish.

 

[Spapro]

I'm with Boxby.

I would rather call a geographic number than an 0845 and I hadn't heard of 0333 numbers at all so wouldn't have any idea what that would cost !

Something re-assuring about dialling a geographic number, gives a sense that the business physically exists at an actual place (rightly or wrongly).

 

[MANANDVANLONDON]

I changand from a 08 number to a local landline and increased my call traffic by %50

 

[MANANDVANLONDON]

I changed from 08 number to a land line about 8 months ago and incresed my call traffic by %50

 

[Alex@AMB]

<<<Offensive comment removed by Moderator>>>

But no, seriously. 0700 numbers, get with the times.

Free 0800 number, no connection, no monthly cost, online portal for redirection, etc etc. PM me... or risk VOIP (you know I love you all).

 

[Heart Communications]

I agree, 0700 isn't ideal for business use.

A regional or 08 number would portray a better image.

We offer telephone numbers which can divert directly to your landline or mobile, or if you can't answer all your calls yourself, to our live telephone answering service.

See http://www.heartcommunications.co.uk

Amy

 

[sean.browne]

I agree with those that have said go with normal geo number.

I dropped my 0800 number the first time a customer said "Before we begin, is this a premium rate number?" - I thought, how many potential customers passed me by?

Personally, I would not entertain using a 0700,08,03,056.. everyone knows normal geo - why choose anything else.

0800 is a possibility but for me it would be geo all the way.


Sean Browne
AsteriskExpert.co.uk

 

[fairychris]

I know no one has heard much about 03 numbers, but seriously, they are the best numbers about! They will soon be everywhere. The BBC have changed to use them now. This is because they are free to call from most mobiles unlike 0800 numbers which are supposed to be free).

Please note:
0300 numbers are reserved for charities.
0345 numbers are reserved for those who own the 0845 number.

I would grab one now for just £49 from numbersales.com while they are still cheap. Once brand awareness is about, the price will increase.

 

[VInsight]

£49 we give 03 numbers out for free.

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