0800 freephone numbers

[horsefeathers]

for Uk guys really but i guess other nationalities can add their thoughts on their own countries versions.

For those trading lockies with 0800 numbers, any advice on which company offers the best deals. Google throws up dozens of companies offering this or that tariff. Pay as you go seems ok for me at the moment as I cant see me getting more than 100 calls a month thru this number at present.

On paper it looks neat to have a memorable 0800 number (0800 1230123 for example) but that costs - rather alot. Is it worth it or does any 0800 number do the job. Bearing in mind that most customers are one-off callers - lockouts, lock fault etc.

Or are the other 08 numbers better like 0870?

regards

[TriannaX]

I don't know how calls work in the UK, or how big of an area you serve, and I'm from the US, but I will give you the US version of my input.

An 800 number may be nice, your customers can call you for free, yay! But if you're serving 1 city, or one "local calling area" then the 800 number is not needed, as (at least in the US) anyone in this local calling area can call you for free anyway. It also seems that almost everyone has a cellular phone these days as well, and they could call you from that at their normal cell rate, and they probably havn't used all of their minutes anyway.

There is one instance where an 800 number would be good. (Keep in mind, this is the US answer) Calls to 800 numbers are free from payphones. Meaning if someone locks their keys in their car at a place with only a payphone, they can call you to get the keys out. At the same time though, if I was the business owner, I'd let someone use by business phone for a local call to a locksmith if they locked their keys in their car.

The local locksmith here in my town just uses a local city landline, and has it forwarded to his cellular phone.

A vanity number (one that is easy to remember, or one that spells something) would be great to have, and an 800 number would let you do that, but also look at the local phone company's rates for one too. The local locksmith here has OOPS as the last 4 digits. Easy to remember.

In the end, it's up to you.

[toomush2drink]

Try the utility warehouse ,very cheap.

[Raccoon]

Following a link from ALOA's site to The Ultimate Guide for Security Professionals, I found the company that owns 1-800-LOCKSMITH, and they lease it out to area locksmiths.

Their brochure says "Our small monthly fee varies with the number of prefixes [in your customer calling area]. Refer to the simple chart provided for the exact fee {no chart is provided}. In addition to the monthly fee there is a call charge of 12 cents per minute. Remember that all calls in your territory are routed directly to your local business number."

I decided to call them and an asian woman answered "Locksmith". I asked "Are you a locksmith?" and she replied "Where are you located." I stated my city/state and she said "There are no locksmiths in your area." I told her that I am a locksmith and I'd like some information on getting listed. She took my number and told me a representative would call me back.

I received that call late in the evening from an asian gentalman. He started taking my info and I asked that he simply tells me how it works. He said, "Any calls we get from your area are routed to you. You pay us 25% of the customer's bill." After a momentary pause of shock, I confirmed that what he was telling me was understood correctly. 25% of your gross. I thanked him and hung up.

I tried calling back several times, giving false locations in order to find if ANY locksmith uses their service, and so I can ask THEM if they get charged 25% aswell. The lady remembered my voice and refused to give me a single listing.

[kendale]

Hi
In the UK it seems the only people calling 0800's are advertising companys to tight to phone the local landline # or customers that wont even pay for the call do you really think they want to pay you for the job?
Just dumped all 4 0800's never again.
hope this helps

[spudfoden]

Hi the compnay i pesonally use for all my free phone numbers is Universal Telecom. There is no set up fee, no monthly charge, all you pay is about 9p per min when someone calls you. I have got all mine routed through to my mobile, however they can also do a routing plan which will for example send calls between working hours to your mobile and out of hours to you landline. The hours of the routing plan depend on you. I dont think the charge for the routing plan but as i don't use it i am not 100% sure. If you want to contact them their number is 0800 652 3111. The staff there have always been helpfull too.
Hope this helps.

[Raccoon]

There are companies out there that do 800 number hosting, that provide a service I would be interested in. You can give them a list of all your land phones and mobile phones. When a caller dials your 800 number, ALL of your phones ring simultaneously. The customer is routed to the first phone that answers, and all the other phones stop ringing.

This could be useful for locksmiths with multiple technicians, either on the road or in the shop.

[CaptB]

my personal view on 0800 numbers is that if im looking for someone myself such as a gas engineer etc. I will always go with the one with a local dialing code. Because he is likely to be in my area, cheaper and not attached to a national company that if you have a problem puts you through to a "complaints department".

Thats my personal view. Most of my customers phone me due to being a local number, because i`m in the area so they`ll know i`m going to be literally less than 30mins away.

Thats my personal view.. and the same view stated on an episode of the dragons den on channel 4.

[toomush2drink]

A local number means nothing now as you can get a ghost number which looks like its from a certain area/dialling code but diverts to another number so even though you think your ringing someone local you are not.

[Raccoon]

That is not possible in all areas. In the US for instance, you need a physical location attached to every phone number. This is the policy of every phone company I've done business with; and believe me I've tried.

I wanted to buy a local prefix to attach to my nation-wide cell phone, but the telco required that I get a local land line attached to my residence. From there I purchased Call Forwarding so calls get directed to my cell phone anyway, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without physically living here.

[Raccoon]

Though, there are exceptions for radio stations. In Chicago there's a special prefix that transcends each of Northern Illinois half-dozen area codes. This is so listeners don't have to pay long distance.

[TriannaX]

And the fact that you need a physical location isn't too much to ask, since you can add a second phone line that is the cheapest they offer, throw call forwarding onto it, and route it to a local cell phone.

[CaptB]

Mines advertised with a local number with call divert from BT at £1.80 a month. So no calls are missed.

Biggest problem is telesales..