08XX Telemarketing Numbers: Free Consumer Guide

Welcome to our consumers guide to telemarketing numbers. This report is designed to help you understand everything you need to know about how they work and you can apply them to your own business. Over the last few years this area has become a minefield of confusion and chaos for many consumers who feel that there are far too many different 08 numbers out there without any coherent information to distinguish between them all.

After years of research and direct experience with consumers we think we know the majority of questions people can possibly ask in relation to telemarketing numbers. We may not know all of them but we certainly know more than the average consumer who needs assistance in this matter.

Despite the extensive nature of this telemarketing report, it will not cover the remit of 090XX Premium rate numbers. This area is a huge subject in its own right with legal implications and regulatory requirements that it warrants a separate report on its own. Therefore, we will only focus on the subjects below:

Contents

?  0800/0808
?  0870/0871
?  0845
?  Major benefits of telemarketing numbers
?  Costs for dialing and receiving calls on these numbers
?  Rebates
?  FAQ's
?  How to select the right company
 

0800 Numbers 

0800 Freephone numbers have now been around for a very long time, and are universally the most recognized number range. The vast majority of members of the public understand that 0800 freephone numbers are numbers which you can call free of charge, hence their popularity.

The call charges are paid by the number holder and how much they pay will have already have been agreed at the outset with their service provider. The cost will vary also upon where the call is terminated. If your freephone number is connected directly to a mobile it is more expensive then if it is connected to a landline. The main point to consider at this stage is that it is a free call for your customers.

Over the last few years the cost of maintaining an 0800 number has come down so drastically that it is no longer an exclusive service available only for large blue chip companies. Many companies ranging from small one man operations to medium sized enterprises are now benefiting from this unique product.

There have been some unfounded concerns in the past which relate to 0800 numbers such as:

-Its too expensive to offer a 0800 number>>>>>

Once you investigate the costs involved you will be pleasantly surprised that it can be quite inexpensive to offer a freephone number for your customers. There were times when BT was charging about ?100.00 per quarter for this service with call charges as much as 12p per minute. You can now procure a service about 80% cheaper than that.

-You will attract timewasters

It is true that one or two customers may ring you to waste time because it is free. This should be outweighed by the majority of genuine callers who will be encouraged to call you to do business if it is a free call.

-Staff will use the number to call the office or get their friends to call>>>>>>>>>  

It is now so easy to monitor the incoming calls on an 0800 number on a daily basis that this sort of activity can be very easily eliminated. You can receive daily online statistics and details of calls received.  

0808 Numbers

This code is also becoming more commonly used and it is officially the new substitute for the above 0800 freephone numbers. Ofcom the telecoms regulator is now running out of 0800 prefixes to allocate to all the various networks and carriers. Therefore, 0808 numbers are slowly going to replace 0800 numbers. This will not affect all the existing numbers out there as they will remain unchanged but it just means that in the future all new freephone numbers will begin with 0808 when they completely run out of the 0800 code.

The 0808 numbers are fast gaining recognition with the likes of SKY TV, Granada and other major corporations using them more widely on TV.

0870 Numbers

These are national rate numbers. Irrespective of the caller's destination the cost of the call will remain the same. There are no call charges to pay for by the number holder. The caller will pay the following rates for calling the 0870 numbers:

Peak: 7.9p/p/m

Off Peak: 3.9p/p/m

Weekend: 2.0p/p/m

These rates are based on calls from a standard BT landline

As the call charges are very much fixed for calling an 0870 number, there is a possibility that certain companies will pay you revenue of up to 2p per minute during peak times only. This is something you need to check with individual service providers to see whether you qualify and if there are any terms and conditions that may apply.

Even if a caller is living next door to you they will still pay the full cost of a national rate call as illustrated above.

0871 Numbers

The majority of the features of an 0871 are exactly the same as the 0870 number with the exception of the following:

Cost to caller

Peak: 10p/p/m

Off Peak: 10p/p/m

Weekend: 10p/p/m

These rates are based on calls from a BT landline

As the call charges are very much fixed for calling an 0871 number at 10p/pm at all times, there is a possibility that certain companies will pay you a revenue of up to 3p per minute at all times. This is something you need to check you're your individual service provider to see whether you qualify and if there are any what terms and conditions that apply.

0845 Numbers

Calls to 0845 local rate numbers are charged at local rate as follows:

Peak: 4.9p/p/m

Off Peak 2.0p/p/m

Weekend: 1.0p/p/m

These rates are based on calls from a BT landline

One of the major advantages of local rate numbers is that your caller will only pay the cost of a local rate to call you irrespective of their location. For example, if your company is located in Glasgow and you receive a call from London the caller will pay the fixed costs as illustrated above.

0845 number are fast becoming a very popular choice for many companies. They offer an excellent balance between offering your callers cheaper access to your company whilst at the same time not having to subsidize the call charges yourself as you would with an 0800 freephone number.

MAJOR BENEFITS OF TELEMARKETING NUMBERS

?  Create Memorable numbers

Unlike normal landline numbers that have been allocated to you by the main service provider, you can create a more memorable and unique number with Telemarketing numbers. Which would you remember better?

020 7624 5792 or 0800 007 6000

0161 439 6527 or 0870 061 0000

Subject to availability you can create more memorable and personalized numbers which are pertinent to your business.

?  Hide your Locality

One of the biggest selling points of telemarketing numbers is that they do not reveal your location . Many customers have confessed that they miss out on vital business if the caller realizes that they are not from the same local area as their potential customers. By advertising an underlying landline number your potential customer can quite easily identify your location and this may have a bearing on whether they decide to do business with you. For example, if you are advertising your services as a Plumber using your Wolverhampton telephone number in Birmingham , you may deter some people from calling you because they may assume you are based too far away when in fact you may be able to service them. Sometimes telephone codes change even if areas are a few miles apart.

The technology is now available to connect customers calling from the UK to anywhere in the world via a telemarketing number. The caller may think they are talking to someone in the UK unaware that the call is actually connected to a call centre in California or anywhere in Europe . This is a very powerful concept which allows a customer to dial a 0800 freephone number which will connect overseas without charging the caller the cost of an international call.

?  Portable

As in the point above if these numbers can be connected to anywhere in the world that means that they will also help your business if you relocate. In the vast majority of cases if you relocate you have to advise all your customers of your new numbers and change your stationary accordingly. With telemarketing numbers you are not restricted to any one particular destination and therefore the numbers are transferred easily.

?  Statistics

Most service providers will now provide you with vital statistics relating to all incoming calls on your special telemarketing number. Depending upon how advanced the information is you can now see how many calls you received on a daily basis, sometimes on an hour by hour basis and analyze all the information. This can prove very useful in monitoring all activities relating to advertising and marketing. You don't want to continue running and advert in the press without fully knowing whether it is bringing in the business and is paying for itself.

0THER TELEMARKETING NUMBERS

07000

These numbers were first introduced in the early part of 1996. The original idea behind this concept was to introduce the ?personal name number concept' which is huge in the USA .

Using the alphanumeric keypad you are dialing either the name of the company or the person. The advertising slogan at the time of the launch was; ?Can't remember the number but the name rings a bell, you can now dial the name as a telephone number'. For example:

07000 DIRECT

07000 THE SUN

07000 MORTGAGE

In addition to the memorability factor, these numbers also have the advantages which are applicable to the 08XX numbers. For instance, the numbers are portable as they are not restricted to any particular geographic location.

The 07000 code has up until now remained a niche product rather than take off as the next best thing since sliced bread, as it was first anticipated. One of the reasons that can be attributed to this is the amount the caller is charged for dialing a 0700 number in comparison to its American counterpart. In the US this product was designed as a freephone number so callers will not have to pay anything when they call, hence the success of the product was much greater in across the Atlantic . In the UK the caller is charged a BT standard ?D' rate which is charged as follows;

14.22p per minute at peak times

8.38p per minute off-peak

0700 Mobile Numbers

The primary benefit of a personal 07 mobile number is that it can be the only number anyone requires to stay in contact with you. Unlike normal phone numbers; which are dependant upon network coverage and battery life? These particular numbers can follow you to any landline or mobile. The other big advantage is that you do not have to pay any call charges as the caller pays the full cost of calling you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

?  How many 08?. Numbers can be connected to my landline or mobile?

There is no restriction on how many numbers can be connected to the same target number. You can either have a minimum of one or literally thousands without affecting the underlying landline number.

?  Can 08?.. Numbers go to international landlines or mobiles?

Yes, the facility is now available for 08 numbers to be connected to any landline or mobile in the world. Not every service provider can offer this service.

?  Can 08XX Numbers be diverted to another destination if the first one is busy?

It is now possible to program up to half a dozen different destinations for each telemarketing number. For example, if the first destination is busy it will divert the calls to another destination.

?  Do we have to change our telephone provider?

These 08? numbers are simply connected onto your existing landline or mobile numbers. Your existing service provider will not need to know that there is certain telemarketing numbers connected on top of their lines as they are not affected by this at all, neither will they care.

?  Would I need any new equipment or lines to be installed in order to have one of these numbers?

Calls to your 08?.. Telemarketing numbers will be patched on to your existing lines. Therefore, you will not need to install any new lines or equipment. For example, if you have 10 lines on your main office number and we connect the 08 number to that line, you will then be able to receive 10 calls simultaneously because the original number has that capacity.

?  Would our old numbers still work?

One of the major benefits of these 08 telemarketing numbers is that they will work in harmony with your existing telephone numbers. Many people fear that once they have these numbers they will lose their original landline numbers. If anyone still dials your existing numbers they will still be connected as well.

?  Do these numbers interfere with any outbound calls that I make?

08 numbers are designed purely for inbound calls and have nothing to do with any calls that you make when you dial out from your phone. You will be billed as normal by your current service provider for all your normal outbound calls.

?  Can we use 08 numbers for fax machines?

Yes, we can connect these numbers to your fax line as well so customers can send you faxes by dialing any one of these 08 numbers.

?  Can we divert these numbers when we relocate to our new office?

As these numbers are portable and not restricted to any geographic location you can take them with you to your new destination. Most service providers will offer this diversion facility free of charge.

?  How do we know if someone is ringing our 08 number or our original landline number/

There are currently two methods of how this can be distinguished. Firstly, you can set up a separate landline number designated to the 08 number which will only ring when someone dials your 08 numbers. You will know instantly that this is a business call because no one will have been given your underlying landline number. On the other hand certain service providers like BT will allow you to set up a call sign facility which means that a different ring tone will be designated to all incoming calls on the 08 numbers. This will help you distinguish between incoming calls on the telemarketing number and the normal landline number.

?  How much does the caller pay per minute for dialing these numbers?

0800 Numbers: Free at all times from UK landlines. Certain mobile operators will charge their own individual tariffs for calling a 0800 freephone number. At the time of print only Orange and O2 customers on contracts can call freephone numbers for free. All pay as you go mobiles charge for calling an 0800 freephone number.

0870 Numbers : 7.9p/3.95p/2.00p per minute. Day/Evening/Weekend inc. VAT

0845 Numbers: 3.95p/2.0p/1.00p per minute. Day/Evening/Weekend inc. VAT

0871 Numbers: 10p per minute at all times. Day/Evening/Weekend inc. VAT

12) What will I be charged on my 0800 Freephone number if someone calls me from a mobile?

This is a very popular question that people ask when taking out a freephone number. The common misconception is that if someone calls from a mobile phone than the number holder will be charged a mobile rate as well. The truth is that whatever incoming call rate you have agreed at the outset when the deal was signed, that is what you will pay at all time irrespective of whether the call was made from a mobile or international destination.

?  Can people dial 08 numbers from abroad?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Normally, the person calling from abroad would have to drop the 0 (zero) at the beginning of the number as you would for a standard number and replace it with the international prefix. However, due to the now ever increasing bandwagon of carriers around the world there may be certain carriers who do not recognize these numbers and the caller may not be able to get through. That is why we recommend that for international business you also display your standard telephone numbers. On a positive note more and more international carriers are now recognizing these numbers.

?  What other services can be connected to these numbers i.e., voicemail etc?

There are a host of other services that can be connected to these numbers depending upon the requirements of each customer:-

?  Auto Attendant: This is where the customer hears various options such as press 1 for sales, press 2 for accounts and so forth.

?  Area Link; if you have multiple branches you can advertise the same number but connect the caller to their nearest branch

?  Divert on Busy: If one telephone number is busy the call will be diverted to the next destination programmed into the system

?  Voicemail: A voicemail can be set up directly on the network where you can record your own message for all your callers to hear and leave a message in return. The advantage of this type of service is that you do not require a separate answer phone and you can handle hundreds of calls simultaneously.

Here are some very important tips to consider when choosing the type of Telecoms Company with which you would like to do business. We hope that price is not the only comparison that you do as sometimes when something is labeled as too cheap it may fail to deliver the quality of service you and your business deserve. However, here are some very valid points to consider:

?  How long has the company been trading?

This will help you decide whether you are dealing with an established company or a new start-up. If they have been around for a long time they are most likely to be experts in their field.

?  When you ring them how long does it take to answer the call?

This speaks volumes about a company's customer service. If you find that they are very slow to attend to calls or are constantly on answer phone during business hours then this demonstrates poor customer service. You can imagine the many frustrations you will endure when you need to speak to them during important times such as when you may have an account query or may need help of a technical nature.

?  Will you be assigned to an Account Manager?

If a company has assigned to you an Account Manager this will be very helpful in you future dealings with the company. Rather than being shifted from one department to another and always dealing with a new person over the phone, it helps tremendously to have the same person dealing with your affairs as they will understand you better and thus offering you a consistent service.

?  What services is included in their current charges?

Make sure you ask exactly what you are getting for your money. Many companies charge for certain services which are offered as standard and free of charge with others. For e.g., some companies charge for certain web based statistics and itemized information. It is also known that certain companies want to charge you up to ?50.00 each time you want to divert your telemarketing number to a different target number.

?  What online facilities do they offer?

You will be surprised that even in this information age some companies are still trailing behind in the level of IT support and services they offer. Would you like to receive online billing and will the company be able to deliver that? Some companies can now offer you online statistics and diversion facilities which can allow you to divert you number instantly online 24 hours a day. We still have companies which will take up to 3-4 days to divert your number if you request it through the normal channels.

?  How quickly can they connect/divert numbers?

If they take more than 48 hours to either connect or divert a number it can mean that perhaps they have to go to a third party to connect numbers and therefore do not have total control of the network side of the operation. Just remember in the event of an emergency when you need your number diverted instantly, a delay of one or two days may cost you dearly in terms of potential loss of business. Numbers can now be connected or diverted instantly and ask whether you can do that yourself online.

?  Can they connect any of these numbers abroad?

We are living in a rapidly changing world where customers are always researching new ways of doing business. An increasing number of companies are now demanding that they have the flexibility to transfer their numbers abroad if they decide to relocate the whole operation overseas. Some companies only have numbers which are compatible for UK landlines only, whilst others will allow you to divert the numbers to landlines and mobiles overseas. It is worth asking whether they offer that facility and on which particular numbers.

?  Do they give you a choice of numbers to select from?

Would you like to choose a memorable number for your business or is the company going to select a random number from the computer on your behalf? If it is important for you to personalize you own number make sure the choice is available to you.

?  How long will the company bind you into a contract?

This is one of the most crucial points of this document? Again there is no set standard for the industry. If you approach BT they will make you enter a legally binding contract for a minimum of twelve months. This may become onerous if after six months your business venture has failed and you cannot afford to remain in the contract. However, at the same time certain companies will offer the same service on a minimum term of 1 month only. Therefore, if the service is no longer relevant you will have peace of mind that you are not stuck in a lengthy contract.

?  Do they offer a Direct Debit facility to pay bills?

This is now one of the safest and secure ways of paying bills. In the event of an overpayment or an unauthorized payment you are entitled to a full refund under the Direct Debit Scheme Guarantee Rules.