about to get a 0845 number!

dag_2

bbb says

He could give out both his/her business geographical number and the 0845 for any calls outside of his/her office hours. That way his/her customers choose what number to ring.

Yeah but you're missing the point. The point is, Durand runs his business from home, and doesn't want to give out his home phone number, because he doesn't want his customers to disturb his sleep by ringing him in the middle of the night!

Doing what you suggest, giving out both numbers, would completely defeat the point of getting the additional number in the first place - especially since they want him to sign a direct debit form. Why pay for something that isn't of any use to you?

Durand has already said, he'd get an extra phone line, but it's too expensive. He's only interested in getting an 0845 number because it's cheaper than an extra phone line.

You and me both know that a geographic number from Sipgate is also cheaper than an extra phone line - provided you have a broadband internet connection already. But Sipgate and 0845's are not the only options.

So I think the only sensible thing to do is give durand some helpful information about what he's actually asked for: the cheapest ways of getting extra phone numbers. Either 0845 or geographic. If you're able to provide that info - great. But there's no excuse for spiteful comments.

If you only want to diss people for being interested in getting 0845 numbers, and you're not prepared to provide information about realistic alternatives, then your comments are completely unhelpful, and will only rub people up the wrong way.

Sorry to say that. I don't want it to seem like I'm picking on bbb, because I think that Heinz's slightly snotty holier-than-thou comment has been the nastiest of all in this thread so far. However, between all of us, I think that we probably can help durand on this one.

Pricefighter's made some very good points - thanks.

durain

thank you all for your comments. i dont want to rock the boat, but for my situation, i think getting a 0845 is the cheapest option. after all, this forum is about getting something for the best possible "value for money".

first of all, i dont want to give my home fone number. the business is small and just starting. if it goes belly up, at least i wont get people still foning me at home!!!

the service office can provide me with a fone, but charges more than getting a second BT line at home! i had a looked at getting a london 0207 number but that's with monthly fees and i have to pay for the minutes when someone foning me.

i had a look at BT Call Sign, so maybe that is an option. cant believe good ole BT can save the day

pricefighter

For what you say Call Sign appears to be the Best Bet, particularly because it allows you to distinguish between business and residential calls due to the different ring tones,so you do not have to answer business calls if you choose not to.Its also easier to get the number in to the BT Business Directory.

Another important issue on NGN which BBB_UK has already mentioned is that you will shortly be required to show in any promotional/advertising alongside the 0845 no,the true cost of the call at its peak rate eg (CALLS TO THIS NUMBER COST FROM 4p A MINUTE FROM LANDLINES,AND CAN BE DEARER FROM MOBILES.Check with your mobile operator).This is a joint OfCOM/ASA exercise.YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DESCRIBE THE CALL AS A LOCAL RATE.

I dont know how competive the business you are going into is, but this might deter callers.

Good luck with your new venture.

pricefighter

blinker wrote:

take a look at

http://www.contactnumbers.com/0845nums.php

This company use 0871 contact numbers which cost you 10p a min to ring them at all times.Not exactly a money saving company.

blinker

pricefighter wrote:

This company use 0871 contact numbers which cost you 10p a min to ring them at all times.Not exactly a money saving company.

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH - I just went onto their site & on EVERY page it says:

For any further information on any of our products, simply complete the Enquiry form or call us now on:
Freefone 0800 619 2626

now u cant get better than a sales company offering you a FREEFONE number 2 call them on!!


u owe me (or them) an apology mate!!

bbb_uk

blinker wrote:

...
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH - I just went onto their site & on EVERY page it says:

For any further information on any of our products, simply complete the Enquiry form or call us now on:
Freefone 0800 619 2626

That is kind of true but if you visit their Contact Us page, you'll see it clearly does say:-

Contact Us

By Phone: 0871 ...

This can be read here. Therefore your post should have read MOST pages and not EVERY page.

bbb_uk

durain wrote:

...first of all, i dont want to give my home fone number. the business is small and just starting. if it goes belly up, at least i wont get people still foning me at home!!!...

I didn't realise you were running a business from home. I do understand not wanting to give out your house landline number. From an advertising point of view (as mentioned earlier) all these companies will have to mention that call costs can be 4ppm and even higher from a mobile. In fact, it can cost around 30p (approx) from some mobile networks to call a 0845.

I hadn't heard of BT's Call Sign but agree that may be worth considering for £1.75 extra per month.

If you look here for a little more info. Good luck

phrancklyn

bbb_uk wrote:

I hadn't heard of BT's Call Sign but agree that may be worth considering for £1.75 extra per month. Word of caution though I suspect BT wouldn't be happy if they realised it was for business calls so it maybe best to say its for the kids.

Following the link provided by bbb_uk, there's no need for durain to lie as BT itself sees splitting business & personal calls as a good reason to use Call Sign.

See "How does it work?
You can also use it to separate business calls or calls from fax machines."

Best of luck.

bbb_uk

phrancklyn wrote:

Following the link provided by bbb_uk, there's no need for durain to lie as BT itself sees splitting business & personal calls as a good reason to use Call Sign.

See "How does it work?
You can also use it to separate business calls or calls from fax machines."

Best of luck.

Thanks for pointing that out and I have removed that bit from the post as it is inaccurate.

I never read that bit. To be honest I just assumed that BT wouldn't like people (especially with regards to business calls) doing that and would rather have people get a second line as it is more money in their pocket.

Browntoa

or you could subscribe to BT callsign, this gives you a different phone number with a distinctive ring tone so you know which line is ringing...costs about £1.35 a quarter