Second line/Business Line

money2008

Hello
I could really do with some help
We run a small online business from home and we are thinking of getting a business line or second home line as this is vital for our business going forward and we do not wish to advertise our home telephone number, obviously cost is a major factor for us, we would appreciate any help or advice with what would be best and affordable.
We are currently with BT
Thanks

bestyman

I recently got a virgin media line, its mostly for incoming calls so call costs not an issue.
£30 install then about £11 a month.
Go through quidco and get £100 cashback .

Debt_Free_Chick

You pay a higher tarriff for a BT business line - usually because you get "priority" treatment if there's fault (or at least, you're supposed to!)

No need for a business line - just a second line. Usual £125 connection fee applies and possibly other charges, depending on the existing line.

They may just split the existing line. I have a feeling this isn't a great solution, but you'll need to do more research on that (try the Phones or Techie Board).

I think - but I'm not sure - that you'll need to have BT put the line in before you can switch to someone like virgin media

scbk

I was looking around before and I think the cheapest I found for a second line was the post office, installation fee was about £10/£20 cheaper and line rental was slightly less aswell. Cost of calls might have been more though, depends how many calls you make. Although I never went for it, I'd have used it mainly for receiving calls

Colin2511

another alternative may be

http://www.switchboardpro.co.uk/

I use this, for our 0844 number, it was free to set up, (not sure if this has changed), I set the opening hours, and after that the calls go straight to voicemail,

I like it because I get the phone nos of any missed calls / answerphone messages, and I get a non geographic phone number

Colin2511

forgot to say, as you transfer this to any number its great if you are not in the office as you can still take the calls, and customer only charged national rate

Chell

With BT you can have two numbers coming through one phone line. I pay approx £1.75 per month for this. I've only one phone line but when the phone rings there is two tones so I know which is ringing.


I got this so I didn't need to have my home number on the website and also so that I know how to answer the phone!

Ypaymore

Colin2511 wrote: »

and customer only charged national rate

Nonsense your customer,s pay a premium rate to phone your 0844 revenue sharing number. Its not included in inclusive minutes and its dearer to call from mobiles.
Your customers effectively pay for your Free? Switchboard facility.

jhp

Using a non geographical number is not the flavour of this month or any other month. Martin MSE is in fact a sponsor of the www.saynoto0870.com site which covers all ngn,s.

maxheadroom

My OH parent run smal business form home and got bt broadband with broadband phone they just use that one for the business now

billsavings

If you wanted a residential line from BT they have a special £29.99p connection offer on at the moment.Its an 18 month contract and you must make at least 10 outgoing calls a month.

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Notice08_boo/2-FrameworkImpl268785.htm

Whether they would allow you to take this offer if you already had an existing BT Residential line i dont know.