Extra Phone Line

[Morgan]

Ok following on from my 'am I being unreasonable thread', I've looked into getting an 'additional' phone line with BT but apparently it will be linked to my existing phone line. I wanted it to be completely separate ie, separate bill entirely but the call centre said I must have a business line installed to be completely separate.

For a business line I understand its £106 for installation and then £41 per quarter for the line (+VAT). Anyone know how much the phone calls are for a business line. The additional residential line is £124 and then £10.50 per month.

I'm not sure which option to go for here - I can't see the wood for the trees? Oh, it has to be BT by the way. I have a number that I will be eventually transferring to new line/additional line.

 

[stugster]

One word: vopifone

 

[Morgan]

One word: vopifone

I don't want it on the broadband though and I didn't think I could transfer a specific number over?

 

[Aspect Investments]

Stop going round the houses, just put your ansafone on, when you dont want any more calls.

 

[SimonJBell]

Give Vonage a try. I've been using them for years for my business.

 

[Morgan]

EBA - I will use an answer phone but I need a phone line first.

Feelgr8 - as before I need BT as I need to use a specific number.

 

[Aspect Investments]

Whats wrong with the phone line you got.

 

[Morgan]

I haven't got a phone line and there lies the problem.

 

[Aspect Investments]

You said in your initial post you were looking to get an additional phone line, which leads me to believe you already have one?

 

[Morgan]

In a nutshell I have a number on my residential line. When people ring that extra number it rings with an different tone. So far so good, but when customers ring at 7am in the morning and 11.30pm at night it wakes us up. I can't switch the phone off so the answer is to get a line installed downstairs.

 

[Aspect Investments]

Or take the phone out of your bedroom, and switch an ansafone on.

Whether you have one line or 2 it will still ring.

 

[cjd]

I wrote something a while back about how to get another telephone number - not just VoIP. You can transfer a number onto another network (port) but not if it's the only one you have because it will cease the line.

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=28370&highlight=telephone+number

 

[Morgan]

When I say I can't switch it off, I should have said I won't. Its there if family ring in an emergency.

As I say the second line will be installed downstairs so when it rings it won't wake us.

 

[cjd]

As I say the second line will be installed downstairs so when it rings it won't wake us.

For this sort of problem - VoIP really is the answer. It would cost an awful lot less that a new BT line and do an awful lot more.

 

[Aspect Investments]

You really are making this complicated.

When you go to bed, unplug the phone in your bedroom, put your answer phone on downstairs, to take any calls you dont want to answer.

If you're worried about family calling in an emergency, leave your moblie switched on.

 

[lockie]

The really simple solution is to get a service called "call divert" activated on your bt phone line. It costs about £6 a month and you just type in a code to divert it to whatever number you want.Just divert it to your mobile which is switched off and use that as the answer phone.Ok you will pay for the diverted calls but its a lot cheaper than going down the business line route. I use this system all the time as im always out and about.I get all calls diverted to my mobile when im out and never miss a call.

To divert you just type in *21*then the number want it diverted to then #
This could save you a lot of hassle and only take a call to bt.

 

[Morgan]

You really are making this complicated.

When you go to bed, unplug the phone in your bedroom, put your answer phone on downstairs, to take any calls you dont want to answer.

If you're worried about family calling in an emergency, leave your moblie switched on.

I'm not making it complicated. I can't leave my mobile on as I have the same problem ie customers ring and text and disturb us. It's not just when we go to bed, it's out of office hours when I don't want to answer work calls in general.

I've decided to get another line and then it's simple.

 

[Rapid Dave]

I've used call divert in the past & as you say, you never miss a call. The only problem I found was constant unwanted calls from telesales people, calls which I was paying for....anyone got a way round this, I'd use it again if so!

 

[Morgan]

Thanks for the link cjd - I'll have a look.

 

[Aspect Investments]

LOL! If you feel happier paying for another phone line why the thread? I thought the idea of the thread was to find an alternative.

I have given you a perfectly workable alternative, you just need to put a little thought into it.

Im done here, do what you feel you have to do. Good luck.

 

[lockie]

With the telesales you can almost be 100% its a withheld number so when you get them it doesnt take long to establish if its a customer or not. I just cut them off. The normal script is "can i speak to {insert name here}" then its "how are you today ?" this always gets alarm bells ringing.

 

[Morgan]

LOL! If you feel happier paying for another phone line why the thread? I thought the idea of the thread was to find an alternative.

I have given you a perfectly workable alternative, you just need to put a little thought into it.

Im done here, do what you feel you have to do. Good luck.

No! Thats just it, that wasn't the point of the thread. The point was I was undecided between a BT business phone line and an additional residential line! The decision was already made (on the am I being unreasonable thread) that I need another line

 

[Rapid Dave]

You could always buy another (cheap) mobile, give that number to your family & friends ONLY, then just have it on at night.

 

[Aspect Investments]

Thats too easy Dave. I think Morgan is looking for a more complicated alternative.

 

[Morgan]

Yeah I have thought that Rapid Dave. I still can't switch off/divert the main phone. I'm not the only one in the house who receives calls on it so I can't justify that you see.

 

[Morgan]

Thats too easy Dave. I think Morgan is looking for a more complicated alternative.

I thought you'd gone?!!

 

[Aspect Investments]

God help the dogs and cats, thats all i can say.

 

[Short Time Stationery]

Simple questions, does Voip work when not logged on? Does it have an answer phone facility? do you need a Viop provider? If yes, how much per month? and how do you get the number? does it do cordless too? and how is it connect to existing phone line?

I'm intreged and may have found what I'm looking for if the answers are straight forward....

 

[brownie]

Simple questions, does Voip work when not logged on?

Depends which solution you use, a PC based solution then yes. A TA (Telephone Adapter = box connected to router which in turn you plug your phone into) then no as only your router needs to be on and connected to the net.

Does it have an answer phone facility?

All the ones I've looked at offer this as standard.

do you need a Viop provider? If yes, how much per month?

Yes you need a provider, costs vary I use Vonage and it costs £6 per month, all UK landline calls free 24x7.

and how do you get the number?

The provider supplies it, IMO some try and rip you off by charging extra for a geographical number. For example with Vonage you select your dialing code at signup and a number is assigned to you.

does it do cordless too?

Using a TA box as mentioned above you can plug any phone into it.

and how is it connect to existing phone line?

The majority of services work over your existing broadband connection, there are some services which work over your phone line however I've no experience of these.

 

[richardmk]

Ask BT to put in another residential line rather than a business one - you'll find it's much cheaper.

 

[estwig]

Oh dear we are getting our knickers in a twist aren't we!!!


So we have a Retell 540 answermachine with caller id, after 6 o'clock in the evening it kicks in for numbers it does not recognise and invites people to call back during normal office hours or leave a message, numbers it recognises are allowed through and ring and as normal.
If you call on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday it tells you what day it is and tells you to s*d off and call back at a sensible time. This is all done with an internal clock and different messages set for different times, i.e good evening, after 6, good morning on Saturday morning and s*d off for Sundays.

All works a treat, one phone line, buy direct from Retell for about £100.

 

[Morgan]

Thanks RichardMK that's what I'm swaying towards. Only snag is that you aren't billed separately but hey ho.

Keith I need to stay with BT as I need the same number.

 

[DotNetWebs]

In a nutshell I have a number on my residential line. When people ring that extra number it rings with an different tone. So far so good, but when customers ring at 7am in the morning and 11.30pm at night it wakes us up. I can't switch the phone off so the answer is to get a line installed downstairs.

Are you using BT callsign to allow you to use two different numbers on the same line?

If you are I have the same arrangement as you at home and have solved the problem using a pair of these great little devices:

http://www.rocom.co.uk/top/other/bt-twintalk.htm

They will split your incoming numbers into two different lines. I have built a "poor man's telephone exchange" using them and a simple junction box. I have two different numbers at home. The residential number goes to one phone/answer machine in the house and the business number goes to another phone/answer machine in my garden office.

The advantages you get two separate phone numbers and sets of telephone equipment on a single line (and only the appropriate phone will ring for each call).

The disadvantage is obviously that only one 'line' can be used at a time.

For me the savings of only paying for one line far outweigh the odd occasion when I want to make a 'business' call at the same time as a family member is using the residential line. I can always use the mobile for outgoing calls and BT 1571 takes care of any incoming calls if the line is busy.

Regards

Dotty

 

[estwig]

Thanks RichardMK that's what I'm swaying towards. Only snag is that you aren't billed separately but hey ho.

Keith I need to stay with BT as I need the same number.

Yes me too, I am suggesting you buy a business answermachine.

 

[Morgan]

Dotty - I think I love you. I am using call sign and that sounds great, I'll check it out.....thank you

 

[Morgan]

Yes me too, I am suggesting you buy a business answermachine.

I think what Dotty has suggested has hit the nail on the head.

A business answer phone won't cut it as I have 2 numbers on the one line. So if friends and family ring on a Sunday for example, they will get the 'sod off' message which I don't want.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Dotty - I think I love you. I am using call sign and that sounds great, I'll check it out.....thank you

Glad to be of help.

I got mine from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BT-Twin-Talk-Call-Enhancer/dp/B0001ME2OW

And there is a help page here:

http://www.twintalkhelp.com/

Regards

Dotty

 

[DarrenC]

Sorry Im lazy.

I haven't read the thread, but have you tried Skype?

They offer a very cheap alternative, with a local telephone number.

It's called Skype In.

 

[estwig]

I think what Dotty has suggested has hit the nail on the head.

A business answer phone won't cut it as I have 2 numbers on the one line. So if friends and family ring on a Sunday for example, they will get the 'sod off' message which I don't want.

You need to try and READ what people are writing in an effort to help you!!!

I now hope your phone explodes!!!

 

[Morgan]

You need to try and READ what people are writing in an effort to help you!!!

I now hope your phone explodes!!!

I have read it - you say for numbers it doesn't recognise it goes to answer phone. I have customers whose numbers it will recognise as customers ring me all the time and I still want them to go to answer phone.

Gosh, now who's getting their knickers in a twist. Chill out