Small Business Telecoms Discussion Area

buglawton

Here's my halfpennyworth:

ONE

Get Skype Unlimited Country for unlimited UK landline calls at any time for around £4/month.
Or Unlimited World at around £8.

These beat any inclusive plan or other VOIP offering. You can even use the international part via the inclusive mins on your mobile as there is a Skype 0208 access number. You can convert any Android or Nokia Symbian phone into a WiFi Skype one with a bit of free software or use a computer (hands free, works very well) to make calls. Many people advocate other VOIP services - they are all complicated and need a tech savvy installation. Skype is a doddle.

TWO

Consider getting an incoming fax-to-email and an incoming geographic number for voice. The geo numbers can be chosen to match where you are based. They will be forever independent from the building you work in. Ones from Soho66 for example can have voice diverted to a mobile if needed and to voice mail (in your email inbox with the caller's number) on a time schedule for when office is 'closed'. Missed calls are also acquired with the caller's number, even from abroad. These incoming geo numbers cost a few pounds a month each and have nothing to do with your actual landline provider. If not Soho66 then consider 'Skype IN' for voice.

THREE

For any small home based business, do NOT bother with an expensive business phone or business internet connection. Instead be prepared to use your mobile on the occasions the landline is down or a 3g dongle when the internet is down. Test the dongle from time to time to make sure it works. With backup systems in place you don't need to spend a fortune on a 'business' line. If repairs to the line are needed just be efficient about getting it fixed like a normal domestic line.

Overheads can make all the difference between a profitable small business and one that goes bust!

bridiej

54druids wrote: »

Currently have a local number but want to give my business more nationwide appeal. Can anyone reccommend the best national rate number to use and the best provider to go with. Currently with BT as my provider and need to keep my local number as just spent alot on literature but want a a national number for my website

It's probably too late for you... but I just signed up with this company http://www.numbergroup.com/products/0845-Numbers.html?CatID=&Type=4&show=50&orderby=&Page=

You can actually get a free number and all you pay for is the cost of the calls you receive - I have an 0800 number from them. :T

For general phone calls Skype is a great option, my Australian number cost me AU$80 plus whatever credit I need to make calls (not a lot as in my line of work most communication is via email).

buglawton

Just remember that Moneysavingexperts all know about high call costs to 0845/0870 numbers, and from mobiles even 0800 may be outside of inclusive minutes. A geographic number may give potential customers the most confidence, and one that matches your location is then the best.

Arvigna

Hi,

I'm getting a bit desperate here. I've finally got the keys to my new (2nd) shop, and phoned BT to have the phone connected, only to find they can't reconnect the line for 1 month (17th Dec), which is just a nightmare! They initially quoted 5 days on the phone. I was hoping to have my shop up and running by the 2nd or 3rd of Dec, to catch the Christmas rush. By not getting my phone-line connected my EPOS provider and credit card machine can't get connected, which will just kill my business before I start.

I have come home to phone Virgin and Opal, to find that they only open office hours. Can anybody help?

Thanks

Savvy_Sue

Arvigna wrote: »

Hi,

I'm getting a bit desperate here. I've finally got the keys to my new (2nd) shop, and phoned BT to have the phone connected, only to find they can't reconnect the line for 1 month (17th Dec), which is just a nightmare! They initially quoted 5 days on the phone. I was hoping to have my shop up and running by the 2nd or 3rd of Dec, to catch the Christmas rush. By not getting my phone-line connected my EPOS provider and credit card machine can't get connected, which will just kill my business before I start.

I have come home to phone Virgin and Opal, to find that they only open office hours. Can anybody help?

Thanks

I wonder if you'd get more response on the phones board, even though this is a business enquiry: would you like me to move your post across there?

buglawton

This co that I've dealt with for years has a Chip & Pin machine that works on the mobile phone system:

http://www.adelante.co.uk/product%20pdfs/Chip&Pin.pdf

CharlesWW

How about this for the plot for a new Kafka-esque nightmare movie:

My business calls are due to come back to BT on 22nd November and the BT salesman (Andrew Gates) promised me no contract and no long-standing commitment to BT but strangely promised 500 minutes of free UK calls a month as a welcome back gesture. I made him repeat that there would be no contract or commitment to BT, which he confirmed.

I now have received a letter saying I am on a 2 year One Plan contract with a minimum spend of £200 P/A! Apparently I cannot cancel this order, but BT business will send an internal email to the salesman - Andrew Gates - and he will call me to discuss the problem. Of course he hasn't called me.

I have written to BT Business, recorded delivery, to Durham asking them to cancel One Plan - NO REPLY, emailed [EMAIL="spoc.oneplan@bt.com"]spoc.oneplan@bt.com[/EMAIL] (although I am told that this is just to amend the terms of my plan and not to cancel it) - NO REPLY, called the business help line 6 times and finally managed to cancel the order to move back to BT (big thank you to Clive Rodgers) BUT he advised me that even though the order to come back to BT is cancelled, there are spin off orders putting One Plan on my line that cannot be removed!

How can I be put on a 2 year plan promising BT £400 of calls (+ vat of £80) that I was mis-sold, without having signed anything and which it is impossible to cancel. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT?

Charles

celebsfann

Where do you go for inspiration for small business ideas? I come up with my best ideas from the local public library. I simply browse the shelves to see what books look interesting, check out a few and read them. Currently, Im reading through the Rich Dad series, tons of inspiration there.

Browntoa

Opal are part of Talk Talk......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1346322/TalkTalk-wins-award-worst-customer-service-2010.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

savemoney

There wont be much left the rate Talk talk keep buying all competition up

I hope they dont buy 11866 or Primus, it will be time to move

Browntoa wrote: »

Opal are part of Talk Talk......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1346322/TalkTalk-wins-award-worst-customer-service-2010.html?ito=feeds-newsxml