Telephone Systems

[bad company]

I just had a call from these guys http://www.4com.co.uk/ Apparently I can get 2p per minute for incoming calls, cheaper outgoing calls and a fancy new system for less than I am paying now (using NTL Semtrex which the equivelent of BT Featureline).

My feeling is that it sounds too good to be true so probably is - Does anybody know anything about and the pitfalls?

[AAT1981]

Hey, my company also sell Centrex Lines (BT Featureline Equivelant)which is what you have been offered. It is a NTL Telewest business product that gives basic functions such as hold and transfer.

There is no payment for recieving incoming calls back to the customer as this does not exist at the moment with any network that I know of. So watch out, they may be reffering to accepting calls on a NGN number (0800, 0870, 0871)

In all honesty, if you are looking for something decent wait a few months for IP Centrx or Hosted IP, IP Centrex is similar to Centrex Lines but with more features, will be cheaper and more scalable for a business need/requirement.

If you want any advice, give me a call 07943 241241

[kryten]

There is no way they can offer you 2p/min to receive calls on a geographic number so they must be talking about some sort of NGN.

Its likely they're on about 0870/0845 numbers but the revenue share on those is changing (0870 at least, once Ofcom decide)

0871 might make customers think you're ripping them off (even if its a lower cost than 0870 rate because people don't realise what they cost).

Unless you _need_ the revenue, I'd stick with normal geographic numbers

[bad company]

kryten said:

There is no way they can offer you 2p/min to receive calls on a geographic number so they must be talking about some sort of NGN.

Its likely they're on about 0870/0845 numbers but the revenue share on those is changing (0870 at least, once Ofcom decide)

0871 might make customers think you're ripping them off (even if its a lower cost than 0870 rate because people don't realise what they cost).

Unless you _need_ the revenue, I'd stick with normal geographic numbers

Thanks for that. No I would not use an 0870 or even an 0845 number. I have stopped everybody at my office from calling these numbers. You actually don't need to. Whenever I tell a firm we are dealing with that we don't call 0870\0845 they offer the normal geographic number - easy really.

Thanks for the help guys.

[benoli]

bad company said:

I would not use an 0870 or even an 0845 number. I have stopped everybody at my office from calling these numbers. You actually don't need to.

if someone doesn't want to give you their normal no. just use http://www.saynoto0870.com/

[bad company]

Further to last I received a reference request for a former employee today. Always happy to oblige but they actually wanted me to reply by fax to thier 0870 number !!!!

[kryten]

Do bear in mind that they may be using an 0870 (especially for fax) because they can get it free and not to make money out of you.

Companies (mine included) have been doing 0870 fax-to-email numbers for years - the person using it doesn't get anything but the incoming revenue covers the costs of the kit needed to receive the faxes etc.

This is often true of smaller companies using 0870/0845 numbers for voice calls as well because a) they wanted to 'look big' by having an 08xx number and b) they can route it to varioues places and not end up paying to receive the calls.

[bad company]

kryten said:

Do bear in mind that they may be using an 0870 (especially for fax) because they can get it free and not to make money out of you.

Companies (mine included) have been doing 0870 fax-to-email numbers for years - the person using it doesn't get anything but the incoming revenue covers the costs of the kit needed to receive the faxes etc.

This is often true of smaller companies using 0870/0845 numbers for voice calls as well because a) they wanted to 'look big' by having an 08xx number and b) they can route it to varioues places and not end up paying to receive the calls.

All of which is very good reason for me refusing to call or fax the 0870\0845 number. Why should my firm pay for a premium rate call to the recipient can cover the cost of some kit? We have a capped call plan for geographical and mobile numbers and everybody has been told to use those numbers only.

[kryten]

bad company said:

All of which is very good reason for me refusing to call or fax the 0870\0845 number. Why should my firm pay for a premium rate call to the recipient can cover the cost of some kit? We have a capped call plan for geographical and mobile numbers and everybody has been told to use those numbers only.

These are NOT premium rate! They were created, many years ago, to match up with the cost of making a 'national' or 'local' call - been under review for ages by Ofcom since the charges got somewhat out of step. They're also now inclusive in some provider tariffs.

Obviously its up to you who you call and on what number - at the end of the day, someone has to pay and if you're a customer then at the end of the day its you - whether they do it via the phone number or increasing margin elsewhere so they can give you a freephone 0800 to call...

[bad company]

kryten said:

bad company said:

All of which is very good reason for me refusing to call or fax the 0870\0845 number. Why should my firm pay for a premium rate call to the recipient can cover the cost of some kit? We have a capped call plan for geographical and mobile numbers and everybody has been told to use those numbers only.

These are NOT premium rate! They were created, many years ago, to match up with the cost of making a 'national' or 'local' call - been under review for ages by Ofcom since the charges got somewhat out of step. They're also now inclusive in some provider tariffs.

Obviously its up to you who you call and on what number - at the end of the day, someone has to pay and if you're a customer then at the end of the day its you - whether they do it via the phone number or increasing margin elsewhere so they can give you a freephone 0800 to call...

I think we have to agree to disagree on this one. I prefer to know what my call is costing and expect suppliers to make their profits from the products they are selling.

I am just booking a holiday to the Channel Islands and immediatley write off operators expecting me to call an 0870\0845 number. That's just the way I am. I think it's honest\straight dealing.