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New business - getting an 0845 number
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Lifeisbutadream
Posts: 13,102 Forumite
I am in the process of starting a new business and am looking into getting an 0845 number.
Are there any pros and cons to this?
I already run a business from the number that I want to use, so I am hoping that I can set it up so that I can see whether anyone has used the 0845 number so that I can answer it differently.
Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks.
Are there any pros and cons to this?
I already run a business from the number that I want to use, so I am hoping that I can set it up so that I can see whether anyone has used the 0845 number so that I can answer it differently.
Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks.
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Comments
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I'm not sure that 0845 numbers are much of an advantage. So many people have inclusive plans or mobiles where 0845 are charged as extras. It might also look as if you are trying to hide your location0
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You won't be able to see anything different when receiving the 0845 dialled number as this is simply pointing to the 01xxx local number you already have.
0845 numbers are free to obtain (though many charge) and there are many services which can be added to an 0845 number such as voicemail to email etc etc. If you could explain in a little more detail i might be able to help.
By all means pm or email me if you don't want to go into detail on in the forum.0 -
Thanks.
I have looked into getting another landline added but I dont really want to do that as it is a large cost and the business has 3 directors, and although this will be the main office, I do not want potential future problems and would rather have something 'remote' if you like.
Location doesnt matter really as we will be dealing with people all over the country anyway.
Because my existing business is different from the new one, I dont want to answer the phone with 'xxx joinery and construction' (my business now) when it is something entirely different.
Any other suggestions as to what we can do would be gratefully received.0 -
I can give you a consumer's perspective.....
I never phone 0845 numbers. If the company doesn't have a geographical telephone number, I just choose someone that does.0 -
Vomityspice wrote: »I can give you a consumer's perspective.....
I never phone 0845 numbers. If the company doesn't have a geographical telephone number, I just choose someone that does.
Thanks. I did wonder about this, but the number is the same as a local charge so would actually be cheaper for people ringing from further away - from your point of view would that not bother you?0 -
I probably should say we have a specialist customer base - we are offering a service to landlords who live away from their property - the contact number would be for the landlord and for the tenant.0
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Have you thought of using a Skype number? If you get Skype In people can call you on the number - and you can redirect the number to wherever you want, changing where it rings as many times a day/week etc as you want.
When you're offline it takes voice messages too, which can be picked up from anywhere in the world by logging into your account.0 -
PasturesNew wrote: »Have you thought of using a Skype number? If you get Skype In people can call you on the number - and you can redirect the number to wherever you want, changing where it rings as many times a day/week etc as you want.
When you're offline it takes voice messages too, which can be picked up from anywhere in the world by logging into your account.
No I hadnt thought of that - how do I do it? is it easy?0 -
Lifeisbutadream wrote: »Thanks. I did wonder about this, but the number is the same as a local charge so would actually be cheaper for people ringing from further away - from your point of view would that not bother you?
That's the theory but as another poster has commented, the majority of people simply use their mobile phones. 0845 numbers are an additional charge to most calling plans (and were until recently with BT et al!), whereas any geographic number cost me nothing (I have loads of minutes I never use).
The other issue to consider is perception. Do people really like 0845 numbers? or prefer a real fixed landline number? As a new business you want to encourage people to call (offer a 0800 number!), so any reason for someone not to is a potential loss to you.
Have you ever heard someone say, 'I'm not phoning them as they have a normal phone number!'? Probably not, but a quick question to your friends will reveal that 0845 numbers are mistrusted by many. Why alienate your customers?0 -
Vomityspice wrote: »That's the theory but as another poster has commented, the majority of people simply use their mobile phones. 0845 numbers are an additional charge to most calling plans (and were until recently with BT et al!), whereas any geographic number cost me nothing (I have loads of minutes I never use).
The other issue to consider is perception. Do people really like 0845 numbers? or prefer a real fixed landline number? As a new business you want to encourage people to call (offer a 0800 number!), so any reason for someone not to is a potential loss to you.
Have you ever heard someone say, 'I'm not phoning them as they have a normal phone number!'? Probably not, but a quick question to your friends will reveal that 0845 numbers are mistrusted by many. Why alienate your customers?
Never thought of people phoning from their mobiles - actually that is a good point as students often only have mobiles. Dont 0800 numbers charge on mobiles though too?
An 0800 number is quite expensive, so I would probably be as well doing the landline route.0
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