Faxes without a fax machine

MSE_Martin
MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272
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Free Fax Receiving For Web Users

For those people who want to receive faxes, it is possible to do so without a fax machine.  

How? Download the software from http://home.efax.com/s/r/FreeUK this should take you directly to Efax Free, but do ensure it is that and not Efax Plus.  You will then be allocated your own number for peopel to fax to.  

How do they make money? The system is completely free for you to use.  The key to the company's revenue raising is the phone number.  The number you are allocated is a 0870 national rate number.

This means whomever is faxing you pays roughly 8p/min during the day, and less at evenings and weekends.

It's therefore a more expensive call than normal, and efax gets a cut of this revenue.  However as a cheap system for those who need to receive faxes on occassion, its a useful tool.
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
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Comments

  • gt94sss2
    gt94sss2 Posts: 5,610
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    http://home.efax.com/s/r/FreeUK is a better/more direct link to sign up for a UK 0870 number and its quite a reliable service

    However, before you sign up please read the "Customer Agreement" carefully.

    For instance, if you receive more than 20 faxes/month they will ask you to upgrade and they will also occasionaly email you adverts.

    Regads
    Sunil
  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272
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    Thanks Sunil - have updated the top post with your link :)
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
    Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
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  • It might be worth mentioningthis link, for those who want to just send the occasional fax, but have no need to receive them: http://www.tpc.int/

    :)
  • An alternative is YAC Number Basic http://www.yac.com.
    As efax but the fax is sent to your email address as either a PDF or TIFF document. This means there is no software to download.
    From their home page choose "YAC Number", then "Try our YAC Number BASIC service for free" icon.
    Depending on how you set it up, this service also offers voicemail to email.
    I've used the free fax to email service for over two years with no problems.
    Steve
  • Please be aware that once your fax/phone number gets out into the real world you are open to junk faxes at all times of the day(and night). No great problem when the computer is on but not so nice at 2o'clock in the morning. We had a spell when the phone rang up to 4 times a night , the computers sending the junk don't give up.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272
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    Thats one of the advantages of this fax. It doesn't ring you it rings your special number and you just get an email so even junk faxes dont wake you up :)
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
    Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
    Debt-Free Wannabee Official Nerd Club: (Honorary) Members number 000
  • how about this one instead?
    It allows you to SEND faxes for free (7day trial) just cancel before the time is up

    the system works by sending emails as a fax message

    https://www.pumafax.co.uk

    Matt
  • derrick
    derrick Posts: 7,420
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    Am surprised at Martin endorsing 0870 numbers :o
    Don`t steal - the Government doesn`t like the competition


  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272
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    Actually I have no problem whatsoever with 0870 numbers. My problem comes with two things

    i. People call them national rate numbers without explaining how expensive that is - i'd prefer them to be called premium national rate numbers

    ii. The use of these revenue making numbers by companies on their customer service lines and complaint lines. Thus meaning if you complain they make money

    In this case it is a totally free service, with no other way of making revenue, i wish they explained it better in their literature, but i don't really have a problem with 0870 in this context, as long as people are aware of it.

    martin
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
    Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
    Debt-Free Wannabee Official Nerd Club: (Honorary) Members number 000
  • I haven't used this Free Fax but it seems it may be useful for those who just want to send a fax rather than receive one.

    http://www.burnham-on-sea.co.uk/fax.html
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