I think you'll find that you can

divert that call to another number

with an 0845 number also, at MUCHO less cost to us at the other end    Don't get me wrong. If you've been sold it with that purpose in mind, I think you need to talk to the salesman and kick him . . . . .  
I commend you for providing a Geographic number also (for those of us overseas)    Have you provided an alternative for the fax also, or would you provide it if asked, for legitimate customers (not the SpamMan) ??
I know what you mean about

hardly making anything on the calls

. That only happens when you get over a certain call volume, and then it takes a while to cover the rental costs. On a fax line I doubt if it ever would, but the Anti Spam side is an advantage.
Just please try to cover all the bases for us poor souls at the other end of the line that

HATE 0870

So would you prefer me to not answer customer calls at 11pm????

Yes - I do also have an 0845 - but I can't divert that number as easily as the 0870 number.

However it is clear for all callers the standard 01x number - it is just that after 5.30pm it will not get answered by a human.

If there was a system that allowed us to divert 01x numbers for free then we would grab it with open arms - but there isn't.

The problem is firestop - instead of criticising every company for offering a service to the clients - you need to come up with viable alternatives - so that we can offer the same service at a lower cost.

I don't believe you.

Quote:
Well you're probably one in a minority and welcome to your opinion, and you know what they say about those -  

we've all got one

!
If you want the product and the AFTER HOURS service, you can pay more for it, pay extra for insurance, or pay for your call to be put through to an out of hours service provider. Oh, or you could

do without

!!

I'm in the service industry and from my previous poston this subject you can see my views.

The money to pay for it has to come from somewhere, either in higher product prices, higher service charges or you paying extra on the phone call for a service to redirect it to another number.
Stop belly-aching; make up your mind how YOU want to pay. Why should others pay for your service call  ???

This is why I have NO PROBLEM with my ISPs charging premium rates for calls to their support team.

I DON'T USE THEM

so I don't have to pay them !  If I need it, then I have to bite the bullet or use email.

To have a non-geographic number which is connected to local rates is a good idea. However, 0845 seems to have been allowed (by Ofcom) to move away from this.

What's the point in a national rate number even if it is aligned with the cost of a call to a national number? If I'm calling a company which is local to me I expect to pay a local call rate, not a national one, even if the company operates nationally (eg Direct Line)!

Hello DaveM. Thanks for your reply. I think I need to re clarify things a little here. When I said my company, I didnt mean a large company that I work for. I meant MY company.

Its quite small business with me being a sole trader. The freephone number I have is for the benefit of my customers. One is linked to my house and the other is to be linked to an external mailbox for something else Im setting up.

I took the service from Telecom Plus as it was very reasonable, with no setup fee and the numbers didnt cost anything unless I specifically wanted a memorable number.

When I want to change the destination number for either of these numbers, all it takes is a phone call which in fact costs nothing to change which was a factor in my taking up the service.

You said: Where is the money coming from to pay for those calls to your company ?



You said: Is it Customer Service or Product Support that you are providing.

 

You said: Are they answered out of business hours by a someone able to do anything other than take details?



When I got these numbers it was for the purpose of providing a service that was unlike any other company like mine.

No-one in my area who are in the same trade as me provides a freephone service for their customers. I find it is BETTER for business when you do this as you are still able put the whole bill through your books as a tax deductable expense.

Hope this answers your question

01 numbers can be diverted.

Simply purchase a number from a telco for this use and in some cases the divert option is covered by a yearly setup fee of £30 + vat.

they are handy as firms do need to divert them - to other addresses.

0800 numbers can do the same too.

However - using an 0800 number correctly should increase the number of calls by upto 300% - if you use the correct marketing.

I Know as I used to work for a firm selling these numbers.

Typically it was poor business ppl who avoided using 0800 as they thought it was going to cost them money - but it will increase business if used right.

from the many customers we had the ones with the customer care attitude did very well and the neg heads with 0870 were usually in trouble as they needed the revenue to keep alive.

customers have the choice and as this publicity grows they will avoid idiot firms.


G