Pay as you go virtual answering service

[Neil Allen]

Hi
Could someone point me in the right direction please as I am working in an area without mobile reception.

Thanks

Neil

 

[Ashley_Price]

Are you wanting someone to answer your calls for you? If so there are a number of people on here that can do that. Speak to @Emma Fryer or see her website Answer-it. I used to provide call answering and I sold the business to Emma.

 

[Emma Fryer]

Hi - I heard my name mentioned, may we help you?

 

[estwig]

Hi Emma, I'm very interested, been using PureJam for a couple of years, but lately their costs seem to have risen whilst the customer service I get has got worse.

My spend is approx £150+ per month, I need call answering, read a short script, take a message and email it to me. I use Voipfone (luv you CJD!) so setting up call diverts is easy.

The thing with Purjam is they are 100% reliable, they have never missed a call, I used other services before them which were flaky on catching every single call.

There aren't any prices on your website?

Any more info what I'm looking for would be good.

 

[Emma Fryer]

Hi Emma, I'm very interested, been using PureJam for a couple of years, but lately their costs seem to have risen whilst the customer service I get has got worse.

My spend is approx £150+ per month, I need call answering, read a short script, take a message and email it to me. I use Voipfone (luv you CJD!) so setting up call diverts is easy.

The thing with Purjam is they are 100% reliable, they have never missed a call, I used other services before them which were flaky on catching every single call.

There aren't any prices on your website?

Any more info what I'm looking for would be good.

Hi - I have sent you a PM with more information, let me know if there is anything else I am able to assist with.
Emma

 

[Ashley_Price]

And if you haven't already realised @estwig - I wholeheartedly recommend @Emma Fryer's service.

 

[estwig]

And if you haven't already realised @estwig - I wholeheartedly recommend @Emma Fryer's service.

That's a big bonus, genuinely no sarcasm.

Her website says nothing but call now for your free trial type blurb, I asked a few questions on open forum expecting answers on open forum. I got a PM asking me to contact her. My questions remain unanswered.

Not a good start for something as vital to my business as answering the phone. Maybe forum etiquette is not vital to running a call answering service and I'm being picky. I've used a lot of really cr*p call answering services over the years, before finding the one I use now. These turned out to be mainly one person at home answering the phone, if they weren't shopping, collecting kids or doing other things!

 

[Ashley_Price]

I would always say never judge someone's business by the way they post on the forum.

In the past I've had people ask me about my services (when I had different businesses) on the forum and while I was answering the person's post, I got others telling me I shouldn't be advertising my business.

Give @Emma Fryer a call and have a proper chat with her. Alternatively send her an email.

I sold my call answering business to Emma because, although others had offered me more money, Emma and her team's ethos was similar to my own and would have been the perfect fit for the customers going over to her. None of them were tied into contracts but I am aware that the majority of them stayed with Answer-it at least for the following year.

 

[Emma Fryer]

@estwig

So Sorry - I was unaware I should answer publicly
I thought the questions were all answered
I offer my most humble apologies.
If you'd like me to call you to discuss I am happy to.

Of course we can work to a supplied script and take details and message them. We are also able to do far more than this if required.

With regards missing calls we are contracted to answering ALL calls within 6 rings - generally this is well within 4 rings

Prices I have supplied by PM but as we have no idea of your message volume it's a little tricky to judge the best package for you. Based on a spend with another supplier who may not price in the same way we do.

Do let me know if there is anything else I have missed in answering your queries.

 

[estwig]

It's probably me being difficult, PM's kinda defeat the point of using a forum.

Besides which I was trying to give you the opportunity to tout your wares!

 

[Emma Fryer]

Ahh but have been 'warned' for doing so previously, even though it was just about a local networking event!.

I hope the info is helpful, however I still invite you to call or Email to have a proper chat so we can understand your business better and be able to have an actual conversation about your requirements.

We do offer a pretty bespoke service and are concious a one size fits all approach isn't brilliant.

 

[Ashley_Price]

It's probably me being difficult, PM's kinda defeat the point of using a forum.

Besides which I was trying to give you the opportunity to tout your wares!

Yes, but as I also mentioned in my reply, I've been told off in the past for doing this on the forum as well, even though I was replying to someone's questions.

But now you mention it, if you need any office supplies, don't hesitate to contact me...

 

[estwig]

Don't take no notice of the mods, send 'em this way if they give you any sh*t!!!

I'll 'ave a word!!!!

 

[HazelC]

I just swung by to recommend @Emma Fryer too She's great and I have met a lot of her clients who are very happy with her service

 

[No Missed Calls]

Hi
Could someone point me in the right direction please as I am working in an area without mobile reception.

Thanks

Neil

You can divert your calls to us on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Details in signature or feel free to get in touch.

Emma

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Emma,

if you are asked a question about pricing, especially by such a forum legend, and the response is your offer, this mod wouldn't have an issue.

If, on the other hand, you had only posted a couple times and so did the person asking the question, it would be a different matter!

I also agree with @estwig comment on PM responses!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I could also mention that Your Business Community Premium Members get a fantastic rate for a virtual receptionist.....

 

[serendipitybusiness]

I am glad consultant responded here as this information is useful to others browsing through the forum looking for answers. My issue is that when customers call, they call asking questions about our product range, sometimes requiring rough quotes. How does this type of situation work with a virtual answering service where product information may be needed. Also what is the basic cost for low call volume is there a cost per call or monthly fee or both.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

The issue then becomes how qualified the person answering the call is to respond to the questions asked.

Some VA's can handle this, normally at an increased cost, but what you require normally falls under the roof of call centres rather the VA's or receptionists.

 

[estwig]

I am glad consultant responded here as this information is useful to others browsing through the forum looking for answers. My issue is that when customers call, they call asking questions about our product range, sometimes requiring rough quotes. How does this type of situation work with a virtual answering service where product information may be needed. Also what is the basic cost for low call volume is there a cost per call or monthly fee or both.

Via their portal thingy I supply my call answering service with answers and responses to standard questions, a script to be followed and answers to be given in response to specific questions asked by callers. Outside of the scope of this, they take a message with the callers contact info and email it to me.

I pay per minute they are on the phone, with no other costs, but it ain't cheap!

 

[VirtualVIP]

Hiestwig

Just to give a second opinion call answering costs.

If you are looking for a service to provide answers to common FAQ plus message taking for any follow up enquiries, then you should expect to pay around £0.95- £1.40 per call (that's what we charge anyway). Providers tend to charge a per minute rate for more complex work- usually around £1 per minute.

Hope this helps- Happy Holidays!

 

[serendipitybusiness]

Thank you guys that is very helpful, Steven I will probably be in touch after the holidays once I have myself organised to see if I can set up with you.

 

[VirtualVIP]

Hi serendipitybusiness

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. That would be lovely, speak to you in the new year!

Happy hogmanay when it comes.