Free phone number for life

[Guest123]

I've got a 0844 number which is free and attahed to my existing landline. The advantage of this is that if you move you can take the number with you and it also looks very professional on all printed material, van, website etc. Callers pay a flat rate of 5p per minute and I don't pay a penny. Thought this info might help new starts.

Info here:
Alpha Talk UK: 0800,0844,0845,0871,0709, Freephone Numbers Supplier

 

[so-solar]

How much does the number cost in the first place?

 

[Guest123]

How much does the number cost in the first place?

The number is completely free, the set up is completely free and itemised billing as a PDF via email is also free, letting you know who's being calling you. I've recently moved and took the 0844 number with me so no need to change any of my printing. Their is no charge at all for this number, your callers get billed 5p per minute which goes to the number provider. There is also no additional line rental as the number is attached to your existing number which you also retain.

 

[capitanpugwash]

Only downside is that I almost exclusively use my mobile these days with unlimited calls to landlines but a charge for 0844 numbers, so if I were looking to call a plumber and had 5 local guys I would call the one with a fixed landline first, then the ones with a mobile and finally an 0844. It might be worth having a landline too underneath or a mobile. You can have a mobile number for life too- free for callers!!!

 

[unguided1]

Only downside is that I almost exclusively use my mobile these days with unlimited calls to landlines but a charge for 0844 numbers, so if I were looking to call a plumber and had 5 local guys I would call the one with a fixed landline first, then the ones with a mobile and finally an 0844. It might be worth having a landline too underneath or a mobile. You can have a mobile number for life too- free for callers!!!

I agree with captainpugwash I hate the fact that a lot of manufacturers technical help lines and gas safe use these numbers and when using a mobile it cant half push the bill up

 

[Chrisgy]

I agree with captainpugwash I hate the fact that a lot of manufacturers technical help lines and gas safe use these numbers and when using a mobile it cant half push the bill up

Gas safe have a landline 01256 650005. I tried to ring them yesterday, pay them £430 and they don't open on saturdays!

 

[unguided1]

Gas safe have a landline 01256 650005. I tried to ring them yesterday, pay them £430 and they don't open on saturdays!

Thanks for that Chrisg I knew they had one because it was put on another thread before but like the dumb bum I am i havent logged it on me phone, so I will do it now Cheers.

 

[Guest123]

Very few people will call a mobile first and will only do so if it's urgent. Leaflets with mobile only numbers are frowned upon and mistrusted. The advantage of this 0844 number is that your customer pays for the call and in this case its a fixed flat rate of 5p per minute, which is not expensive and it gives your business a professional image and also allows you to do work in areas outwith your standard phone code. If I went into Edinburgh with a Alloa number, my chances would be slim, but with the 0844 number I stand a much better chance. The number can be taken with you if you move as I have done and without changing all your vehicle lettering and printed matter. Not one person who has called me has complained about my 0844 number and I can honestly say that I've had more calls since I got it due to the more professional image it gives me. I've also got a mobile for life, it's called Pay as you Go on 02! All the old dears won't call it as it they think it's too expensive. Lots of the guys I know round here are getting one, be it plumbers, sparkies or joiners.

 

[WaterTight]

well frankly the proof is in the pudding. if you get lots of calls on it - job done. i like the idea in principle. but i didn't know it was only 5p a minut and do worry most people would presume it's more. there are websites dedicated to listing landline equivalents to premium business numbers so people do worry about it. i don't think i'd like to have that number instead of a landline, possibly as well as. but then it's difficult to see the point.

 

[Guest123]

I put in the print on my advertising "calls cost only 5p per minute, calls from mobiles can cost considerably more" as many companies do. The 0844 number and the landline are the same number and you can print both or use just one. It's free, it's for life and you can take it anywhere. The free itemised billing also lets me know whose called that month, even though the bill ihas no charges for the number or its usage for me.

 

[kevin]

Great info there cheers will keep it in mind for when i get up and running....🙂

Cheers

Kevin

 

[Guest123]

Great info there cheers will keep it in mind for when i get up and running....🙂

Cheers

Kevin

Best of luck to you mate when you do. 🙂)

 

[WaterTight]

i'm undecided. i think it's probably a good idea to have one from a 'looking pro' point of view. but that's not to say having a landline looks amateur. the idea for using it to get in surrounding areas with different area codes is clever. that for me is the biggest selling point.

now if you can wrangle a free 0800 number - that'd be the nuts.

 

[Dannypipe]

Very few people will call a mobile first and will only do so if it's urgent. Leaflets with mobile only numbers are frowned upon and mistrusted. The advantage of this 0844 number is that your customer pays for the call and in this case its a fixed flat rate of 5p per minute, which is not expensive and it gives your business a professional image and also allows you to do work in areas outwith your standard phone code. If I went into Edinburgh with a Alloa number, my chances would be slim, but with the 0844 number I stand a much better chance. The number can be taken with you if you move as I have done and without changing all your vehicle lettering and printed matter. Not one person who has called me has complained about my 0844 number and I can honestly say that I've had more calls since I got it due to the more professional image it gives me. I've also got a mobile for life, it's called Pay as you Go on 02! All the old dears won't call it as it they think it's too expensive. Lots of the guys I know round here are getting one, be it plumbers, sparkies or joiners.

Personally I think its a brilliant idea, and will probably go for it myself. We're moving (hopefully) this year. Different area code despite the fact we only want to move 7 miles.
So anyone who calls my landline won't get me unless BT do some call forwarding?

Cheers.

 

[Guest123]

i'm undecided. i think it's probably a good idea to have one from a 'looking pro' point of view. but that's not to say having a landline looks amateur. the idea for using it to get in surrounding areas with different area codes is clever. that for me is the biggest selling point.

now if you can wrangle a free 0800 number - that'd be the nuts.

Mate, if you can wrangle a free 0800 number, I'd go nuts!

 

[Guest123]

Personally I think its a brilliant idea, and will probably go for it myself. We're moving (hopefully) this year. Different area code despite the fact we only want to move 7 miles.
So anyone who calls my landline won't get me unless BT do some call forwarding?

Cheers.

With a 0844 number connected to your new number you wont need call forwarding and your customers will still reach you. You can advertise your new number too with the 0844 number if you want to. Both numbers are on the same phone line. When I moved, my calls went uninterrupted due to having my 0844 number.

 

[WaterTight]

have you definetly not noticed any drop in calls since switching from having an advetised landline number to an 0844 number instead?

 

[Dannypipe]

With a 0844 number connected to your new number you wont need call forwarding and your customers will still reach you. You can advertise your new number too with the 0844 number if you want to. Both numbers are on the same phone line. When I moved, my calls went uninterrupted due to having my 0844 number.

Trouble is my number is well established with lots of existing clients (My mainstay of work infact). So its a bit of 'closing the gate after the horse has bolted'...good to know for future though.

 

[Guest123]

have you definetly not noticed any drop in calls since switching from having an advetised landline number to an 0844 number instead?

Absolutely not, in fact I think that when my ad appears in the local paper, I get taken more seriously over the others. I've noticed a distinct increase and the itemised billing has shown this. On my leaflets, I use the 0844 number first then my mobile. If you're still having doubts, advertise your 0844 number with your standard area code number and mobile and see what comes out tops? It's free so what have you got to lose?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

I agree with captainpugwash I hate the fact that a lot of manufacturers technical help lines and gas safe use these numbers and when using a mobile it cant half push the bill up

i agree as well o800 and o844 are so annoying when you need to speak to manufacturers i think valiant and heatline are the worst culprits,mind valiant import the heatline tat so theres no surprise there

 

[capitanpugwash]

Very few people will call a mobile first and will only do so if it's urgent. Leaflets with mobile only numbers are frowned upon and mistrusted. The advantage of this 0844 number is that your customer pays for the call and in this case its a fixed flat rate of 5p per minute, which is not expensive and it gives your business a professional image and also allows you to do work in areas outwith your standard phone code. If I went into Edinburgh with a Alloa number, my chances would be slim, but with the 0844 number I stand a much better chance. The number can be taken with you if you move as I have done and without changing all your vehicle lettering and printed matter. Not one person who has called me has complained about my 0844 number and I can honestly say that I've had more calls since I got it due to the more professional image it gives me. I've also got a mobile for life, it's called Pay as you Go on 02! All the old dears won't call it as it they think it's too expensive. Lots of the guys I know round here are getting one, be it plumbers, sparkies or joiners.

Glad it works for you mate. I wouldn't call a mobile only advert as it looks unrooted- fly by night. I will call a landline or a mobile however. Not an 0844/0870/0709. That's all I was saying. If it works for you, then great. Don't spose many people would pick an 0844 number out if it cost them, then call you to complain about it costing them- I certainly don't ;-).

 

[paulnwales]

i haved only ever advertised woth a mobile number and it works fine for me, most of my work is via word of mouth and old contacts, i am not sure how many ppl would not call a o844 number because they may think its a huge outfit and theres always a high cost for work done, it would be interesting to find out if my calls increased tho.. thing is that some weeks im hoping nobody calls as im busy. i suppose there is a good side and bad to it. good info tho . cheers. i must admit if im calling manufacturers i tend to use the customers phone.. cheeky but at the end of the day its there appliance.