DSF

This post would be best placed in a general business section of the forum, but there isn't one (unless I missed it)

We're wanting to buy a business phone number 0844/0800, although swayed more towards 0800.

Have any of you done this for your business - either B&M shop, or website?

If you have - who did you go to/where would you recommend?
Was it easy/fast to get set-up and running?
Is there any difference in service/line quality with have this type of number form a 3rd party?
How have you found it in terms of amount of calls coming in?
Any other pros/cons/advice you can give.

NB: I am not looking for a people questioning why we want/need it, or not to get one as they're expensive to call on some call packages - I know these things and am looking for the information that I do not already have. Thanks.

Used Windsor telecom years ago who I know are a large provider. Do you need to have control over where the number is pointed? Some have control panels where you can send them to different numbers and mobiles. 0800 will always be better then the rest if it is b2c. Not all know 0845 is local rate. General consensus is that a local number is better which I have moved toward lately but understand why some may want 08 numbers.

Used uk2numbers for quite a few years without any issues, most other companies are brokers for this site.

Have gone for it - 0800 number purchased, new website set for go live on Wednesday
We're B2B and B2C, and have one main business and a few sidelines, so this number will be used to take calls from them all - just need to work out the best way to answer the phone now!
Gonna be a big improvement of having our mobile numbers listed on websites and Ebay!

just need to work out the best way to answer the phone now!

In a Lionel Richie type voice. "Hello is it pisquee you're looking for" I'll get me coat!

Hi. Probably too late to put in my 2 pennies worth but worth nothing that from 14th June this year (2014) then it is against the law to only provide an 08 number for support/sales lines. You must also provide an alternative local rate number which charges "basic" rate. We ourselves use www.voipfone.co.uk and pay just £2 a month for a local rate telephone number with all calls VOIP based. So basically no line rental and top up credit as you go. Used them for a couple of years now and must of saved a huge amount. Hope that helps.

UK Printed Mugs;91352 wrote:Hi. Probably too late to put in my 2 pennies worth but worth nothing that from 14th June this year (2014) then it is against the law to only provide an 08 number for support/sales lines.

Only support lines are affected, not numbers used for sales.

Yes, you are right! Apologies. Only for post sales and not pre-sales. Although I must admit nearly all the clients we work for (I run an e-commerce agency called OnlineRetailing.co.uk) ditched 08 numbers a long time ago as peoples attitude changed. People wanted to contact companies where they knew the location as they felt more comfortable. Even though in reality a local telephone line doesn't really indicate a companies location. You can buy a London number and pick it up in Scotland. For the time being anyway

As our work is sold across the UK, having a regional number doesn't really have an advantage. If we were still based in London, then we probably would have just used a London number, but now an 01388 number doesn't look as good as an 0800.

Yes you're right it doesn't. I must admit though outside of work then we don't have a landline at home as we all use mobiles and O2 still charge extra for 0800 numbers (20p per min unless I'm calling Crimestoppers and its free! Ha Ha) whereas local numbers come off my minute allocation. Some of our clients have both 08 and 01202 (Bournemouth) numbers next to each other so I must ask about stats. Have super day. I'm off to the mug press. Now that would be a good name for a pub!