Telephone Survey Work with Optimum Contact

System

Well I got my first call passed, yay! Just trying to find out BT call costs now. I see the advice posted by Paul matches that on the BT website, except the calls we make are not classed as 0845 but "indirect access" calls. I have just emailed to clarify the costs of these calls as I can't find the info online. It would be great if these were classed as regular calls as I have an all inclusive package :j

Paul_Varjak

rachelja...

The use of the 0845 number is classed as 'indirect access' by phone providers but I believe that BT are obliged to allow such calls, whereas other providers are not.

The important thing to bear in mind is the BT limit of 150 free 0845/0870 calls per month and the 1,000 minutes of 0845/0870 calls per month. And you only get these free calls if you have a call plan that includes free calls at the time of day you intend doing calls for Optimum Contact.

I would suggest any BT customer doing these survey calls for Optimum Contact really needs to get their own recording equipment.

TallTalk customers can use the 0845 service to record calls and it would also appear that PlusNet customers can do the same.

Paul_Varjak

rachelja...

I have looked into more detail at BT's free 0845 calls. You are correct, if the 0845 number is an indirect access number then the call will NOT be free anyway.

It referred to the Terms and Conditions for more information but I could not find any mention in the full terms and Conditions.

I don't know how BT implement their policy on indirect access numbers so I think it is best to play safe and use your own call recording equipment.

CrazyClum

Those on BT can use Skype, free unlimited calls for four pounds a month and an initial outlay of twenty pounds for recording software.

Paul_Varjak

CrazyClum...

One limitation with Skype is that is limited to 50 inclusive calls/day. Any calls over that limit are charged at the standard Skype rate. I think there is plenty of Skype recording software available for free.

There are alternatives to Skype, mainly offered under one of the Finarea brands. See here for the rates for the various Finarea brands...

http://progx.ch/home-voip-prixbetamax-3-1-2.html

Some of the Skype recording software apparently also works with the Finarea brands. Just do a Google search.

vixxxen

30 minutes of calls and not one person has answered their phone yet....am wondering if I will ever get a survey completed?

Someone please tell me it gets better....:(

white_diamond_85

Don't give up! It depends on the time of day sometimes! Mornings, late afternoons and evenings seem to be better for me. Sometimes you can get a few surveys completed in a row and sometimes you might have to do a fair share of calling to even get through to someone. But keep on trying and it will pay off.

System

white_diamond_85 wrote: »

Don't give up! It depends on the time of day sometimes! Mornings, late afternoons and evenings seem to be better for me. Sometimes you can get a few surveys completed in a row and sometimes you might have to do a fair share of calling to even get through to someone. But keep on trying and it will pay off.

Can I be nosy white diamond and ask what call package you use? You seem to do well out of it, do you do it part time?

vixxxen

I won't give up it's just a bit disheartening.

I tried yesterday at about 4-5pm and got a lot of people answering, but it was the wrong person (the husband or wife of the person detailed on the survey form). And I assume you have to actually talk to the person on the form, not their husband/wife?

Trouble is I have toddlers - one is at nursery 8.30-1pm 3 days per week, the other is home with me all the time so fitting in time to call is hard - I can only really do evenings after 7pm but I'm worried that's too late to call?

white_diamond_85

rachelja wrote: »

Can I be nosy white diamond and ask what call package you use? You seem to do well out of it, do you do it part time?

I am with TalkTalk because they seem to be best at the moment for me.
I have a little daughter who goes to nursery different times and therefore, there are no real jobs that could fit around that time so this is a job which I treat like any other regular job and try and do as many hours as I can. It fits perfectly around my daily schedule - dropping off and picking my daughter up. I can plan my day and do the house chores at certain times.