new ironing service, but i'm deaf

aron80

Hi, I have just been made redundant and will be okay for money for a while, but need to keep myself busy. I've been thinking about setting up an ironing service and I've done a lot of research, but the problem is I'm deaf. I can't put a phone number on the flyers or adverts because I can't use the phone. The only thing I can do is ask people to text me or email me but am I right in thinking this will put people off?
I'm trying to do my best and earn money myself, but my disability just makes things so much harder.

Has anyone got any ideas or anything?

Thanks x

Finefoot

Most of these services near me usually have an answering machine anyway, so I think a mobile number would be fine. Just put a note on the flyers - please text me on 07

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good luck!

Owain_Moneysaver

You can get answering services - they usually charge a monthly fee and them something like 50p a message, which they then email or txt you.

You could get voicemail on the line, if a friend would be willing to transcribe for you

You could get a broadband phone number from eg Sipgate or your ISP - usually free - which goes to voicemail, which is then emailed to you or a friend who would be willing to transcribe for you. If you used a separate broadband phone number you'd know your friend wouldn't be asked to listen to personal calls. And they don't need access to your phone line.

When Sipgate etc email you / friend the voicemails they also email (in the message text) the phone number, if it was available, so you could call the caller back using the Text Relay service (formerly called TypeTalk) or if it's a mobile number then txt them back.

paulwf

Have you got in touch with organisations such as RNID? I would expect they are handling questions like that day in day out and will be able to offer you lots of advice. Check out their website and drop them an email.

aron80

thank you for your help, I will do a bit of research into RNID and text relay phones x

danielle1977

Hi
Typetalk (or whatever its now called) I would hesitate putting this number on as sometimes the service I had through them was a bit dodgy. I had a boyfriend who was Deaf (it was back in 2001) and sometimes could here people at the typetalk call centre chatting in the background between calls, I know it wasn't work related at it would stop for a bit why the voice talked about something else then returned to the previous conversation and this might put some people off who have never used type talk. It was back in 2001 so the service might be better now.

I would go with the mobile number, if people leave a message ask someone to interpret it for you and text them back.

Good luck
Danielle

whitewing

In my experience of life most people accept most circumstances if you explain at some point.

I would only wonder how you would handle queries should there be a problem.

danielle1977

There are some people who would be put off by someone being deaf (as I found out working at a Deaf College and have a Deaf boyfriend) but agree most people would accept it. For me so long as the ironing was good then I wouldn't mind if you were a little green alien.

Queries-email, text, maybe the OP can lipread or has reduced hearing and can hear a little bit if its face to face, and in worst situation use the notepad method....

imajica

Good luck and I hope you like ironing My mum did this for a while when she was quite stuck for money and not only got herself out of a credit card hole but also made good long-term friends with a few regular customers.

Neither of us would be put off if you put your email address and phone number but put a little note to text and not call because you're deaf (actually my mum said she'd rather write you a letter! But that is tech-savvy mums for you). All areas are different of course but mum found that after getting two customers from an ad in a shop window they started recommending her to friends and the rest of it came that way anyway.

aron80

thanks for your replies everyone. just a little background- i lost my hearing when i was 4 years old, but by then i could obviously speak so i can speak perfectly now, and wear an hearing aid but have to lipread, so face to face communication isn't too much of a problem.

what i think i will do is put my email address, and a phone number asking people to leave their name, address and when they want the ironing collecting. then if i need to contact them i'll ask my partner to phone them back. do you think this will be ok?

imajica

Sounds fine to me.