Toll free Numbers Are Not Out Of Style
August 23, 2010
With all the new technology out there, some are abandoning the old reliable toll free number for the new VoIP Market Expansion lines prematurely. Prices are at an all time low! Toll free numbers are well known, reliable, and easy to work with. I say don’t throw out the old, just gain understanding on both and make a wise decision. Let me tell you about toll free numbers…
In this day and age, businesses are constantly looking for ways to get an edge over their competition. Many companies have found the use of a toll free number, commonly called an 800 number, is a simple yet extremely effective method of doing so. Callers aren’t charged a fee for calling the number, and it creates an easy-to-remember way to provide diligent customer service 24 hours a day. If a toll free phone number is integrated properly into a business’s everyday protocol, it can be a lucrative tool to attracting, pleasing and maintaining customers.
The concept of the toll free phone number is pretty easy to understand. While the name pretty much says it all, it’s good to understand the basic logistics. A toll free phone number typically begins with a three-digit prefix, 800, 888, 877, or 866. Consumers are extremely familiar with these prefixes and will immediately associate them with a toll free number. The cost for any calls made to this number is charged to the business or person being called. This means a business with an 800 number in place will be able to offer service by phone nationally at no cost to their clients.
The basics of what these numbers are is easy to understand as is the process of acquiring one. First, a company must find a provider, sometimes also called a Responsible Organization. These organizations maintain a database containing toll free phone numbers that are available. Finding a provider is pretty easy. Your local phone company can provide you with a toll free phone number as can many online providers. Your budget and the features that you would like to have will determine who the best provider is for you. Most local phone companies can offer basic toll free phone numbers with forwarding while online providers offer a much more robust service, especially when integrated with a virtual pbx system. Both services are usually affordable and within a small business budget.
In some cases, companies may wish to receive a vanity 800 number. This sort of number uses the digits of the number to spell out the company name, an acronym or specific word. For example, a florist might choose 1-800-FLOWERS so the number can be easily remembered and recognized by customers and potential customers alike. Businesses often find these sorts of toll free phone numbers a useful marketing tool. The number is easy for consumers to remember, making it simple for them to pick up the phone and call anytime the associated service is necessary. When contacting a provider, a business will be able to see if the number they wish to have is available, and have it assigned to them if it is.
The FCC is the governing body over 800 numbers. One set of strict rules involves the hoarding and brokering of toll free phone numbers by a business. The restriction on hoarding means that a business can’t reserve more numbers than it can use merely to keep them from being used by a competitor. Additionally, before activating their number, an business must be aware that it is considered unlawful by the FCC for them to sell that toll free phone number for a profit.
Subscribers who hoard and sell toll free phone numbers are subject to penalties. There is another ruling that the FCC has laid down that actually helps businesses using 800 numbers. That ruling states that because the business is paying for the call, they have a right to know who is calling. This means that the business will be able to capture the caller id of their callers even if they are blocked or unlisted. Many businesses take advantage of this for lead generation.
Once these steps have been taken, the number will be activated and a business will be able to receive calls. These calls, however, go through a much different process than just an average phone call. Most 800 number calls are long distance. So, when the number is initially dialed, a local exchange company contacts the SMS/800 Database to find the long distance company designated to handle the number’s calls and transfers it. The long distance phone carrier then picks up the call and records the data necessary for billing before routing it to the connection. The connection process seems complicated, but it is what makes a toll free phone number free for the consumer and it happens so quickly and seamlessly that neither the caller nor the business receiving the call even notices.
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