0800 numbers and professional answer service Qs

0800 numbers and professional answer service Qs

Author
Discussion

Broccers

Original Poster:

3,236 posts

260 months

Tuesday 31st August 2004
quotequote all
Hi,

We're just looking at setting up a Blind company (not visually but the window sort ) and am looking for a bit of advice. My own business utilises 0845 numbers which have been great for the application but I feel we need 0800 for the interior company. The provider I use has offered to supply an Freephone number gratis with no service charge or set up but we pay 3.95p per minute for incoming calls. How does this sound ?

Secondly, my thoughts are that this will be run part time to start off with and therefore could do with a call centre type bod to answer calls in our name and take messages. I know there are outfits out there but again am unsure of which are best value for money ie top notch service and not costing the earth.

Any ideas / experiences welcome.

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
I can recommend a company in Brackley called Telco in Northants.

Their number is 01280 401500. It's a friend's company, but they do the telecoms for some government departments as well as businesses and consumers and I feel happy to suggest them.

Give them a try for the 0800 line, maybe also for the callcentre response.

Damian

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
AllDayPA provide a reasonable service (i.e. no complaints) for this.

The other one I've heard of recently is MissMoneypenny which operates a similar service but takes a bit more time to understand the nature of your business in order to provide a more personalised service.

www.google.com

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
MessagePad I have used in the past. Seem competent enough.

wanty1974

3,704 posts

255 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
Broccers said:
The provider I use has offered to supply an Freephone number gratis with no service charge or set up but we pay 3.95p per minute for incoming calls. How does this sound ?
This sounds actually very, very cheap for an 0800 - I was quoted the same rate for a local-rate 0845 number by BT.

darrent

630 posts

266 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
While on the subject do you guys fancy testing our new website (it's for 08 numbers) - just finished it today and waiting for WorldPay to activate the payment system We did it ourselves as web designers were asking mega bucks.

www.xero8.com

I have not tested it in Firefox so if somebody could do that it would be much appreciated. (Testing in Opera and IE only so far).

All feedback welcome!

wanty1974

3,704 posts

255 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
your website said:
We pay up to £4.5/min for all calls you receive
Might want to change that - under 0871 special rate numbers!

Otherwise, nice website.

darrent

630 posts

266 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
Cheers Wanty!

Small (but expensive) typo!

Thanks
D

Nightmare

5,230 posts

291 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
how about 0898 numbers? I currently have a young lady working for me who (seriously) is intending to set up a 'professional chat' line, as she thinks it would be fun......thoughts?!

darrent

630 posts

266 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
Nightmare said:
how about 0898 numbers? I currently have a young lady working for me who (seriously) is intending to set up a 'professional chat' line, as she thinks it would be fun......thoughts?!


Nightmare - 0898 was phased out many, many years ago - the world works on 09 numbers now! (and yes we run premium rate services too) Hey, if she is that way inclined go for it! Do a get a freebie?

Nightmare

5,230 posts

291 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
well obviously I've never had to call one of these numbers! (was it a convincing cover?!)

thanks for the info - could you give me any idea of cost for a service like this for a year?

Definitely get some free goes - someone has to help with the 'rehearsals'!!

Broccers

Original Poster:

3,236 posts

260 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Thanks for the replys guys - very helpful as always.

darrent

630 posts

266 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Nightmare - email me through my profile...

Muncher

12,220 posts

256 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Nightmare said:
how about 0898 numbers? I currently have a young lady working for me who (seriously) is intending to set up a 'professional chat' line, as she thinks it would be fun......thoughts?!


What's her number (not premium!), if she needs any practice, I can give her a call

dontlift

9,396 posts

265 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
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Well i just placed on 08701 order could do with earning from calls inwards

dontlift

9,396 posts

265 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
dontlift said:
Well i just placed on 08701 order could do with earning from calls inwards



Just a quick recommendation here, just used the service to switch over to 08701 numbers and am impressed - excellent work Darren

darrent

630 posts

266 months

Saturday 4th September 2004
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Thanks Patrick - we aim to please!

nightmare

5,230 posts

291 months

Monday 6th September 2004
quotequote all
Darren - thanks for info - will email you shortly

Night