Choosing a telephone number for your business

[Talay]

It's worth noting that Ofcom are currently prevaricating over whether to make 0800 numbers free to call from mobiles as well as landlines. If they go ahead with this ruling next year, it's likely to undermine the 0300 and 0330 range; 0800 numbers would offer pretty much the same service, with the added bonus of being more recognisable to the general public.

I'm pretty much in this camp as the penetration of any 03 number being cheap, free or inclusive to call is palpable.

 

[Digbeth Court]

The 03 range was a good idea in theory, but unfortunately, far from making call costs more transparent to the general public, it ended up confusing matters for a lot of consumers. The Ofcom study on awareness of non-geographic number charges published in November 2011 found that the number of people who actually knew the exact call charges from a landline phone ringing a business number ranged from just 7% (0845 numbers) to 29% (0800 numbers). The commonly-held view among those who didn't know the precise charges for each type of number was that it was expensive to call.

Can't help but feel that some simplification of the system would be a good thing for most people.

 

[cjd]

The Ofcom study on awareness of non-geographic number charges published in November 2011 ......

Thanks for that, I'd missed it. It's here:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/telecoms-research/omnibus-survey.pdf

 

[Digbeth Court]

Cheers for posting the link; I tried to stick it up myself, but unfortunately as a new member I'm not allowed.

The study really highlights how in spite of Ofcom's efforts to reform the system, people's distrust of 0845 and 0870 numbers persists, and it's only local numbers that the public are more clued-up on. Shame they didn't include data about 03 numbers in the survey.

 

[Talay]

Cheers for posting the link; I tried to stick it up myself, but unfortunately as a new member I'm not allowed.

The study really highlights how in spite of Ofcom's efforts to reform the system, people's distrust of 0845 and 0870 numbers persists, and it's only local numbers that the public are more clued-up on. Shame they didn't include data about 03 numbers in the survey.

People know their geographic area code and if they live outside the large cities, they probably recognise a few nearby codes. Yet people don't understand telephone numbers.

London is not 0207 or 0208 but simply 020. The following 8 digits are the local number you use within London such as 7754 xxxx. We do not dial 0207 754 xxxx and dialling 754 xxxx would get you nowhere. Yet perhaps 80% or more businesses and people call it 0207 and 0208. Add in the newish 020 3xxx xxxx numbers and they are totally baffled.

Thanks for that report link.

It shows 72% of people think 080 numbers are free from fixed lines with another 8% saying it depends.

From mobiles is shows 35% think 080 calls are free whilst a further 17% believe it depends.

A very interesting statistic to me at least is the very low 2% who refused to contact the company either by telephone or via another channel even when they did not know the cost, whereas 88% actually made the call to the 08 number and another 96% contacted the company via some method.

Only 1% actually looked up the price of making the call.

My guess is what advertising is put behind any move to make 0800 numbers free from mobiles (they are free on some plans now) and perhaps just as important, what will the costs be to people who operate 0800 numbers.

I hope they become free and do not end up costing a fortune to operate as I don't see any other number series being able to penetrate public awareness of free or inclusive numbers.

When 0800 came out we had so little to remember that we remembered them being free but whilst then we could remember 100 friends and family telephone numbers in our heads, now we cannot even remember our own mobile number !

 

[KUWTK_91]

Nice opening post.

All I would really like to know is how can I choose my personal number,

I would like an 0207 then the name of my business.

Anyone know the website for this?

 

[Talay]

Nice opening post.

All I would really like to know is how can I choose my personal number,

I would like an 0207 then the name of my business.

Anyone know the website for this?

There isn't a 0207 code in this country.

 

[Digbeth Court]

I think it's the 020 London area code you're after - it''s the main body of the number that begins with a 7. I'll send you a PM to see if we can help.

 

[Zono]

I am about to sign up with a virtual office and looking at voip to start off. Only reason I'm not choosing the virtual office call handling service is what if I move in 3 months ??

initially I would use the standard pc headset and divert my calls to my mobile which is a lot more expensive than I thought at 10P per min !! or potentially to my virtual office, if its possible?

What would be the best option to keep hold of a number in case of future growth or move ? can the voip number with the proper hardware be as good as a standard land line with optional additional lines using the same number? and why is so expensive to get a 0207 number on voip?

 

[cjd]

I am about to sign up with a virtual office and looking at voip to start off. Only reason I'm not choosing the virtual office call handling service is what if I move in 3 months ??

I would recommend getting your number first, then it's your own and (if it's a VoIP number) it can move wherever you go. You can then divert calls to the Virtual call handler from wherever you are.

If you choose Voipfone as your number and service provider you could then choose a call answering service that is also a customer of ours and then all your diverted calls to them are free. Info here:

http://www.voipfoneuserforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3869

initially I would use the standard pc headset and divert my calls to my mobile which is a lot more expensive than I thought at 10P per min !! or potentially to my virtual office, if its possible?

Why not answer the calls directly yourself using VoIP - then there are no divert costs? As above, a divert from our service to any other Voipfone service is free - so pick one that uses our service too. (Several are members here).

What would be the best option to keep hold of a number in case of future growth or move ?

A Voip number can be taken anywhere in the world without needing to tell anyone or pay anything.

can the voip number with the proper hardware be as good as a standard land line with optional additional lines using the same number?

A VoIP number is in all ways better than a standard telephone number, call quality is at least identical - but normally better than a landline or mobile - and provides many more services at a much lower cost.

and why is so expensive to get a 0207 number on voip?

It's not just VoIP - it's all services because 020 7 number ran out in 2005, 020 8 ran out later; they're costly because they are now scarce and hard to find.

020 numbers are the London number now with 020 3 being the latest range available.

 

[SuitNTie]

Wow, thanks for the information. Really useful

 

[ISSMT2]

I understand that revenue share on 0870 will continue until next Summer now.

 

[cjd]

I understand that revenue share on 0870 will continue until next Summer now.

Then you understand wrongly.

 

[uk_biz]

Thankyou very much, great post

Nowadays, most have a mobile phone contract with lots of minutes as part of the package. 0800 numbers are chargeable from most mobile networks so we stick with a 01 number but also have an 0800 number.

 

[Sean John]

Is it possible to buy a london number and then divert this to my mobile?

 

[cjd]

Is it possible to buy a london number and then divert this to my mobile?

Of course. £2 per month, 10p per minute. See:

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

 

[Jet Virtual]

I am about to sign up with a virtual office and looking at voip to start off. Only reason I'm not choosing the virtual office call handling service is what if I move in 3 months ??

initially I would use the standard pc headset and divert my calls to my mobile which is a lot more expensive than I thought at 10P per min !! or potentially to my virtual office, if its possible?

What would be the best option to keep hold of a number in case of future growth or move ? can the voip number with the proper hardware be as good as a standard land line with optional additional lines using the same number? and why is so expensive to get a 0207 number on voip?

If you get a virtual number you don't need to worry about hardware at all ...

 

[Sean John]

Thanks for your advice cjd

 

[Henry Osadzinski]

I was curious about that as well actually - it's still US only but how do you think services like Google Voice would have an impact on this? As far as I'm aware, they allow for more personalised numbers but it may be more confusing than useful (initially, at least).

 

[cjd]

I was curious about that as well actually - it's still US only but how do you think services like Google Voice would have an impact on this? As far as I'm aware, they allow for more personalised numbers but it may be more confusing than useful (initially, at least).

I don't think it'll change anything much - they still need UK numbers for inbound calls and they still need to connect to the telco gateways to send calls back to mobiles and landlines. They may be Google but they pay the same rates as everyone else for those things.......

atm Google Voice just looks like another consumer me-too product.

 

[westpointbusiness]

yeaa i used a website called something like calldiverting .co.uk when i had to buy a virtual number they also had all these option you mentioned that you mentioned, but never actually understood them, thanks for this info, great thread learnt something new

 

[Jet Virtual]

I don't think it'll change anything much - they still need UK numbers for inbound calls and they still need to connect to the telco gateways to send calls back to mobiles and landlines. They may be Google but they pay the same rates as everyone else for those things.......

atm Google Voice just looks like another consumer me-too product.

I just heard there is a US based virtual phone system company called 'Grasshopper' coming over to the uk ...

 

[cjd]

I just heard there is a US based virtual phone system company called 'Grasshopper' coming over to the uk ...

Without looking them up, what do you think a virtual phone company does?

 

[Jet Virtual]

Without looking them up, what do you think a virtual phone company does?

www.grasshopper.com there I made it easier for you to look it up

 

[cjd]

I know who they are, what they do and how they do it.

My question was 'what do YOU think they do?' (Without looking them up).

This is not a trick question, I'm just interested in why you think what they do is in anyway special or different.

 

[margaretsullivan224]

Nice explanation. Thanks for this post.

 

[Talay]

My customers want a human answering the phone, not some menu system and certainly not some multi level menu. Providing that level of service is becoming more difficult but it is an expense which I feel we need to deliver the quality of call handling our customers want.

 

[Jet Virtual]

My customers want a human answering the phone, not some menu system and certainly not some multi level menu..

Our clients agree

 

[Allisdiar1]

Good..even telephone numbers has some purpose. I have not thought about telephone numbers like this, amusing...but can these numbers also represent the business type? Can anybody please clarify??

 

[richard07570348258]

not long ago i had to liquidate a business I am now finding it super hard to get a virtual terminal.. has anyone got any advise.. also and/or is it possible to buy a business that already has a bankaccount and merchant set up?

 

[Jet Virtual]

not long ago i had to liquidate a business I am now finding it super hard to get a virtual terminal.. has anyone got any advise.. also and/or is it possible to buy a business that already has a bankaccount and merchant set up?

Richard what do you mean by virtual terminal?


And is that your real mobile number??

 

[papercupmachine]

Thanks for this post. This is very useful for me

 

[Jet Virtual]

Hi

Thank you cjd for the post.
I am the owner of Ultimate Cleaning Services Ltd (UCS) - London. my business phone number is 02088560931. is it ok or I have to change it. Please suggest.

If you are targeting London business then it is fine but if you want to target nationally then you should consider an 0845 or 0800 number.

Best of luck,

Daniel

 

[cjd]

....or if you just want to spam a forum, it'll do fine.

 

[cjd]

Ok, good. If you're a London business an 020 8 London number is fine.

 

[Azam.net]

Thank you for the excellent advice in this thread.

We're looking for some more numbers and, based on the suggestions, would like to go with a local rate number. As we are based in central London, we would like a local rate central London number, but with the ability to forward the number easily and quickly (e.g. if staff are working from elsewhere for a few days).

(1) Which companies provide 020 7 numbers (rather than 020 3 or 020 8) please?
(2) Are there any companies that have an online interface in which one can easily change the forwarding of these 020 7 numbers?

Would particularly like a company that has provides good customer service. Our current provider (Verizon Business) is a nightmare to work with and requires about ten communications before they reply or get anything done.

If you're not allowed to recommend companies publically on the forums, feel free to PM me please.

Thanks in advance

 

[cjd]

(1) Which companies provide 020 7 numbers (rather than 020 3 or 020 8) please?

Most can give you those numbers but because they ran out back in 2005 you often have to pay an up-front fee for them. With us it's £150 for the 020 7 and £50 for 020 8 (the 020 8s ran out later so they're easier to get.)

There are no up-front fees for 020 3s - most people now recognise 020 as the London now, not the 7,8, 3 etc.

(2) Are there any companies that have an online interface in which one can easily change the forwarding of these 020 7 numbers?

Yes, we do. More info:
http://www.voipfone.co.uk/Call_Forwarding_And_Divert.php

Would particularly like a company that has provides good customer service. Our current provider (Verizon Business) is a nightmare to work with and requires about ten communications before they reply or get anything done.

We have just been shortlisted as finalists in the Institute of Customer Services annual Awards - we think we're good at it

http://www.customerserviceconference.co.uk/finalists.php

 

[Talay]

...... most people now recognise 020 as the London now, not the 7,8, 3 etc .....

The only London codes there have been (in recent times) are 01 / 071 & 081 / 0171 & 0181 and finally 020.

There have never been 0207 or 0208 codes, only those who dreamt up such numbers in their own heads. Yet even today, you will still see advertising as 0207 xxx xxxx when to all intent and purpose, for local people the London number is simply xxxx xxxx with no code at all.

I bet 19 out of 20 London receptionists or others giving out their numbers actually say 0207 and 0208, highlighting the extent of the public's ignorance.

 

[Jet Virtual]

The only London codes there have been (in recent times) are 01 / 071 & 081 / 0171 & 0181 and finally 020.

There have never been 0207 or 0208 codes, only those who dreamt up such numbers in their own heads. Yet even today, you will still see advertising as 0207 xxx xxxx when to all intent and purpose, for local people the London number is simply xxxx xxxx with no code at all.

I bet 19 out of 20 London receptionists or others giving out their numbers actually say 0207 and 0208, highlighting the extent of the public's ignorance.

You forgot 0203

 

[vera199]

I think best to use an 0845 number. Gives your business a UK wide feel.