cheap 0800 telephone answering company

vin200

Hi all,

I am new to posting and apologise in advance if I have posted in the wrongsection.

I am starting a new business. I am having difficulty finding a company whichprovide a free phone 0800 number and a telephone answering service to takemessages (name, number, and message) and send me these by email.

I am looking at approx 100 calls per month but this could change.

Can anyone recommend anyone?

Thanks

Anthorn

vin200 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am new to posting and apologise in advance if I have posted in the wrongsection.

I am starting a new business. I am having difficulty finding a company whichprovide a free phone 0800 number and a telephone answering service to takemessages (name, number, and message) and send me these by email.

I am looking at approx 100 calls per month but this could change.

Can anyone recommend anyone?

Thanks

Lot of formatting in your post!

Anyway 0800 numbers are priced in the number of minutes used and not the number of calls. An average price is £5 - £10 per 500 minutes. You can also get it for free on a PAYG short-term contract where you pay for the minutes used.

phill99

Why do you think you can get a free 0800 number?

There are numerous companies (often local, small businesses) that offer a virtual answering service.

SammenForLivet2

If your looking for a free or lowcost number, I would recommend FlexTel (08 numbers cost a few pounds to buy, no monthly fees and you just buy credit to direct your number to a 01 line [free for 084/0871] or get VoiceMail for free). http://www.flextel.net

Alternatively, I would recommend, http://e-callconnect.co.uk/ - which are giving away free 08 numbers, and their utilities (e.g: Call Whisper, Queue, On-Hold Message, Timers) are brilliant.

I would not be able to comment on a Call Answering Service - since I have never used one. Sorry.

Good luck and do share your experience.

TimBear

I think OP just means a free-phone number, rather than free to them?

Try here - http://www.timico.co.uk/business/telephony/virtual_numbers.

Harryo

Hi Vin200.

Cannot help you in total but following may assist.

I have used Sipgate for a few years now. It has been a good reliable service and I have had no problems with it whatsoever.

It is an Internet based system which I use via a free softphone (3CX) and a USB headset connected to my computer. I have also found the software really good. I have three telephone numbers which I route through the softphone; one being Voipcheap and two ordinary telephone numbers. I also have an internet phone plugged into my router which I can use instead of the headset and also it works when the computer is switched off.

I pay Voipcheap £12 odd every three months and for that I get free UK landline calls and calls to numerous landlines abroad and I use up the payments I make on 0870 number calls, etc.

The two ordinary telephone numbers are standard UK landline numbers but are internet based. Sipgate provide these free of charge. You can also have 0845 and 0870 numbers free but not 0800 (it would be worth checking with them though by email).

Sipgate service is free other than you pay a small amount for each call. As above I tend to use Voipcheap but I also like to give Sipgate the money when I can when I make a lot of 0870, 0845 and 0844 calls.

A great plus for me is that with Sipgate I can set up an answerphone to operate if I do not pick up the phone. An email is also sent free of charge which I pick up when I am out when a message is left. The email incorporates a file attachment of the message that I can listen to over the Internet or I can dial a uk landline number to receive the message over the telephone. I can also check for messages over the telephone as well at any time. You can also divert any incoming calls to any telephone number if you so wish at very reasonable rates. I believ all Sipgate rates are much less than BT.

Overall the system works great for me but the lack of 0800 may be a stumbling block for you. Check with them about that though. They have always been very helpful when i have contacted them over suitable equipment.

HO

buglawton

All those extra call management features are what is missing from standard landlines (never mind the cost comparison). When the incumbent landline operators wake up one day and wonder who ate their lunch, this lack of features, especially when addressed to small biz/home office, will be the cause.

aaron.song

I know there's a company has a very good call answering service. You can ask their experience. I hope it can help you.