I need an additional phone number - what is my best option? Business? Home? 0845?

blue_monkey_2

I need a new number for the house. I am self employed and have worked selling online for about 4 years, have had a website for 3 but in the last month it has picked up and I am getting 4-7 calls a day related to the website. I don't want to answer the home home with my business name (I sell underwear) so people get confused asking 'er, er, is that xxxxx'. So I need an additional line.

I am VAt registered so this is not an issue, I'll claim it back. What do you think is the best option? to get it in as a business line or to get it put in as an additional home line? Either way makes no difference with me being self employed and working from home, but the quartyly rental is slightly more for business. Anyone with knowledge of this know what is better for me in the long run? I think connection is around the same £106.37 plus VAt for business or £124.99 including VAt for home.

I used to have BT highway, will this mean I need the extra line installed? I still have the box on the wall, I have found this on the website:

The charge for fitting an internal extension socket during normal working hours is £166.33 (£50.00 per extension socket plus a visit charge of £116.33. Both prices include VAT).

Does this mean I'll have to pay £166.33 PLUS £124.99??

Is there any other option at all that you can think of?

what about an 0845 number that routes through to my mobile? Any ideas would be appreciated.

SemperFi

I share "on call" with another contractor at work and we use Flextel.com for rerouting calls. Cheap enough/free and works a treat. I just log in on a Wednesday and redirect calls (0845 number) to whoever is on call that week.

blue_monkey_2

I just spoke to BT and you need a business account to get an 0845 number.

However, they have another option. If you sign up to their Feature Line compact on a 5 year term it is free installation and connection for £40.95 a qtr. This would mean over 5 years I pay £962.40.
if I went for a home phone I would need a line put in so I would be paying £291.32 for the phone to by put in and then £11 a month so £951.32. So about the same. I am guessing calls on the business line are a little cheaper than on home lines but I won't really use it for making calls, just for getting them in and then it will make me look more professional as a business. If I had the line for business I would not need the 0845 number anyway as the calls will be routed to the answerphone or phone for me to take the call. Seems like the best idea. Just the 5 year thing is a bit scary but the business is not something I intend on giving up, I only just started making some return on my money.

Is there anything else I need to know about this that anyone can think of. Thanks again.

Heinz

BT Call Sign is what you need.

blue_monkey_2

Excellent, thanks that is JUSt what I need. i already have just 'gone back' to BT just last week (due to start on 18th) so I will give them a call now. Thank you.

blue_monkey_2

Thank you, I just signed up. I should get my other number by the middle of next week and it costs a whopping £1.75 extra a month. It is going to be perfect for what I want it for. I can't thank you enough.