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Landline telephone numbers-
How important do you think it is to keep the same landline number?
I am not talking about scrapping the landline completely, I feel, as many others will, that it shows your commitment and authenticity as a bona fide business. My problem is that still, after many weeks I am still 3 weeks away from getting my existing, 9year old number transferred. I am seriously considering giving up my number and starting with a new one, but thought I would explore a couple of options, before I really spit my dummy out, lol!My mobile is a very old Blackberry, which is now playing up, but is still forwarding calls from my landline. It’s on Vodaphone PAYG. As I make lots of calls to customers, this is costing a fair bit, but I am wondering whether to continue with the call forwarding for the next few months, until my landline contract ends in October. The get-out of contract cost with the landline provider is £358. After this, as long as I cancel in time, cancellation is free, then I can go with another provider and just pay to transfer the number to another line on the same exchange.
Or, should I buy a new phone (I really fancy the iPhone, as I also have an iPad) on contract, and use that to receive forwarded calls, and make calls. This may be a better option if it were on a monthly contract rather than PAYG?
Or just stay with the existing landline provider, who I have been happy with, but I HATE being railroaded, as I said to them, they have taken away my choice, and that, I detest.
Phew, long rant, very confused, and still no closer to what to do!
I really need some advice please!
😥 Lorraine
By the way, my Blackberry is very old because I don’t usually use it, I am renowned for not having my phone with me, or not charged! It is rarely used, usually.
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11 Replies
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Keep your number!!!
I know most lf my supplier and major customers numbers of my head.
Plus suppose a customer wants a repeat order rings your number on the original invoice and the lines dead? They will probably assume your out of business, and jump on google.
The shop I was at I didn’t own the number, I got a free 0844 number that I directed to the landline, then when I moved I just changed the destination number.
I don’t publish the 0844 number as I like having the local area code.
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David, please tell me more. My brain is addled, what with moving, the pub and upkeep, plus my manager at the pub (daughter) having ‘baby brain’ due in a couple f months, I am at the stage of having to be led by the hand!
Thanks
Lorraine -
Lorraine difficult one but personally I think I would be looking to keep the same number if you have had it for 9 years, like David has said it will be a number that your customers use to contact you & although you could mail shot them all to let them know you have a new contact number I am not convinced that works that well.
Most of my customers have my number stored in their contacts list & if they couldn’t get through may well think I have packed in or gone bust as David says. -
Lorraine if your existing number is been diverted to your mobile I would continue with that option.
I know you said that it is costing a fortune ringing customers, if you’re with 02 it might be worth seeing what bolt ons they have, maybe if you top up £x you get so many minutes or texts?
I’d imagine the landline bill will be through the roof as you pick up the bill for the diversion to your mobile, your customer just pays local rate.
An 0844 number is ok, but might put some public off ringing as its 5p a min.
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[quote="Lorraine Clinch"]How important do you think it is to keep the same landline number?
Iquote]No where near as important as it used to be. Most of my and lots of peoples work comes via email now and when the phone goes it’s mostly sales calls.
If you do need to change it (which I have) I have paid the old provider to give my new number when someone calls my old number, I kept this going for about 6 mths then terminated it completely. (price was about £45 qtr)
Call diversion can be really expensive so consider O2 as they have smart divert which gives you free diverts to your mobile. This is what I have and the best thing I have done.
If it was me and I was unhappy with my landline provider I would start afresh and pay them off ( i persume you could take your number with you)
Get yourself an iphone and look into a landline provider like o2 that can give you free or cheap diverted calls to your mobile.If you can’t take your number or your not over bothered get a new one and use the service I mention above.
Don’t even consider the 0844 or 0800 route as not free from mobiles which probably 80% of calls are made from.Good luck to you Lorranie…all sounds very exciting with your move.
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Thanks for your advice guys, very useful. I have been hearing lots of good things about O2, so I will have a scout around the ‘net, see what I can find out. I am using a 3G mobile broadband thingy for the internet, which now seems to be working well after initial teething problems, although I do need to check on my useage.
Cheers!
Lorraine -
Hiya, Have you seen Vodafones ‘One Net Express’ ?- I’ve just signed up to it as been using my mobile, but thought I should have a landline number.
The deal is this: You get a virtual landline number (calls themselves come through to your mobile), and the clever part, with keying in a number, your customers caller display will show your landline number when calling them!, You can even set up ‘departments’ (press 1 for office, 2 for studio etc).
I found it a great way to have a ‘landline number’ as such, but without having a fixed BT landline 😮 😮 Now I can advertise and it doesn’t look like I work out of my garage…. 😛
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I’m so glad I don’t deal with a phone provider for my landline, they are forever ripping people off and not providing the service that they should!
For my mobile I have gone with T-Mobile business and have had an Sony Xperia S off them, with some brilliant perks in the package, cheaper than anywhere else I looked, and their support is top notch aswell!
With my landline, all of mine is run through VoIP, and it runs like a dream, and you don’t need to pay high prices on line rental either 🙂
Matt
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quote MattTaylor:I’m so glad I don’t deal with a phone provider for my landline, they are forever ripping people off and not providing the service that they should!
For my mobile I have gone with T-Mobile business and have had an Sony Xperia S off them, with some brilliant perks in the package, cheaper than anywhere else I looked, and their support is top notch aswell!
With my landline, all of mine is run through VoIP, and it runs like a dream, and you don’t need to pay high prices on line rental either 🙂
Matt
Matt, If you don’t mind me asking, how does that work? Surely you must have a landline for broadband and for VoIP so you have to pay rental on it.
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Hi Dave,
Basically I’m in an estate for new businesses, with all the mod cons, so I only pay £10 for my fibreoptic broadband, since it’s shared I dont need a landline, so I run my VoIP phone through my computer 🙂
If you need I can point you in the direction of my supplier?
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Im with Martin on this one…I moved 2 years ago and binned my old number…simply because 99% of customers used my mobile…the only ones who generally used the landline were accounts departments wanting copies of invoices and the like….and the other 99% were nuisance calls…ppi…windows…insurance etc etc etc…working from home too…i was getting them at all hours.. 🙄
well rid…If I get nuisance calls on my mobile…I just mark as pest and dont answer them.
Basically its down to you and how much your customers use your landline….
If you have good web contact details…it would be easy to find you if you are a customer…especially in this day of mobile devices….and of course, it would be a good excuse to go around your customers youve not seen for a while to tell them your contact number from now on…
and up sell while you are there…! along with an invitation to come visit your new premisses for a drink and a business warming!
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