0870 bad press

[DannyT]

I was recently at a business networking meeting and met a telecoms guru who told me some interesting facts from a recent ofcom survey (I have not personally researched this so please feel free to contradict/correct where relevant).

The most relevant information was that on average people percieved 0870 numbers to cost 36p per minute and 70% (i think that was the figure) were reluctant to call them. I know they do not cost this much but thats pretty concerning awareness for people who do have 0870 nos.

My feeling is this is a pretty big wall around your business, I'm aware there's a couple of telecoms wise people in these forums and wondered what other people's views on national numbers were. I personally am not ashamed of a regional code as i would not choose one company over another based on their phone number.

I am as aware, as i believe anyone is, that national numbers are easy to obtain and dont qualify you as bigger/better service. It doesnt feel like a barrier to national custom but does feel like a comfort factor for local customers.

Would you agree?

[JamesSmith]

Personally I dont base any decision on the phone number. I'm quite happy to call an 0870 number. We use an 0870, but will be switching over to an 0800 free phone number soon.

[Brian Turner]

When I went looking recently, I opted for a 0845 number, on the grounds that it's seen as a low cost option for the caller.

I've heard it suggested from others than a 0800 encourages customers to call for a chat, not business, because it's free.

[RWA]

Originally Posted by Brian Turner

When I went looking recently, I opted for a 0845 number, on the grounds that it's seen as a low cost option for the caller.

I've heard it suggested from others than a 0800 encourages customers to call for a chat, not business, because it's free.

Remember that BT advert with Maureen Lipman, ringing a company up just because it was a freephone number?

[TWD-Tony]

I have recently partnered with a telecoms company to sell (well actually give away) a virtual switchboard using 0870 numbers, to me they seem the ideal number for sales lines - although I think that support lines should be local or free numbers.

OFTEL have recently released plans to stop the revenue sharing on these numbers - which will see them become worthless to either the user or the telecoms companies... But as with most things, it will take at least 2 years for anything to come of this and there will be new types of numbers available by then.

[portlandbill]

To get a feel for what Joe Public think of 0870 pay a visit to the website

saynoto0870 its a dot.com site

You can also find alternative 01/02 geographic numbers there,which might save members some money.

[John Cage]

Personally I don't like 0870 numbers. I know that when I phone 0870 I get charged national rate and that the company probably makes a small amount of money from me for me phoning them. I find that annoying. However, as I have a package on my phone that I can phone any normal number - ie 02 or 01 - for free then I also begrudge phoning even more and this includes 0845 numbers

[michael74]

Unfortunately many more people are getting wise to the telecom deals available especially these "over-ride" providers where you dial a prefix before a local/national call and you then receive that call, in some cases, free.

Coupled to this and what I feel caused these survey results is certain sections of the media branding 0870 numbers as premium rate.

I must admit that I now always try and get a geographical number to call where ever possible.

[Steve-H]

We use 0800 and 0845 numbers and always give our standard geographic numbers on our contact pages (primarily for overseas callers).

Although some people do take advantage of the 0800 number it is worth doing to remove as many barriers as possible for a potential customer.

We implemented the 0845 numbers about a year before moving offices to simplify the move. My understanding is that most people consider an 0845 as a local rate call which should be less off putting.

From a business perspective the 08 numbers allow us to bounce one phone number over several lines at no additional cost to us (this may differ depending on your provider). Not sure if you can do this so easily with a standard number.

[bizal]

If having an 0870 number puts even a few people of calling why bother and not just have an 0845?

part of selling is making it easy to buy so we would recommend an 0845 number every time.