For directory
enquiries call 118 502 now
How to pick the right 118 for your business
At 00.01am on 24 August, the traditional directory enquiries
number 192 will be replaced with a raft of new numbers to dial,
all with the prefix 118 (for example 118 502). An amazing 407
different directory enquiries numbers could potentially become
available to business and consumer users.
On average, up to an estimated 4% of a company’s phone
bill consists of calls made to directory enquiries. This might
seem like a small proportion, but advanced information services,
such as multiple number search and onward call connect, offered
by some 118 numbers could cause this figure to rise if businesses
do not take control of the numbers their staff are using.
How can businesses in areas such as recruitment, sales and
research, which make regular use of such services, navigate
the wealth of new numbers to their advantage?
There are two courses of action available - take time to
select the 118 numbers appropriate for your business and educate
your employees about your chosen approach, or allow employees
to dial any of the 118 services on offer.
Crosby advises: take control before you lose control of directory
enquiries spending. Remember:
· Avoid ‘spaghetti spending’ on hundreds
of different numbers
Evaluate the 118 numbers that would be most cost-effective
for you, and choose a selection of useful numbers to be used
by the whole office. Different 118 numbers have different
capabilities, ranging from the cheapest basic services such
as a single number search, to more advanced multiple number
searches with optional call connection and international number
searching facilities. Many business providers offer a selection
of capabilities that can be tailored to an organisation’s
needs and budgets.
-
Extra services are great
Accessing cinema times and train information is a real value-add,
but if all your employee is looking for is a phone number,
they should not be paying the premium rate charged by a more
advanced service when a cheaper, more basic service exists
elsewhere.
-
Employees are consumers too
Not all new 118 numbers will be advertised to the public,
but those that are may appeal to different people, each of
whom may have a preference for a different 118 number. By
selecting particular directory enquiries numbers for use by
your business, you can reduce the complexity of your spending
and likelihood of multiple calls to an uncontrolled number
of 118 services.
-
Beware of hidden extra costs
Directory enquiries services that appear cheap initially may
not really be such a bargain upon closer inspection. For example,
services charging "per call" sometimes add high
cost-per-minute charges to advertised call rates. Mobile operators
may also charge a surcharge if users dial certain 118 numbers.
-
Evaluate the real price of onward call connect facilities
The capability for instant connection is a real advantage
when on the move, but connected calls are often charged per
minute or per second at a higher rate than an average call.
Directory enquiries services that appear cheap can charge
customers at premium rates for using the onward call connect
facility they offer.
Cheap doesn’t always mean cheerful
Services that appear to undercut their competitors dramatically
may do so at a price to the customer: not all number databases
are of the same quality. This could result in incorrect numbers
being distributed or in the customer having to make a second
call to access the correct number.
With so many 118 numbers offering an array of different services,
it is easy to become overwhelmed by the directory enquiries
choices available to businesses.
For those who find the thought of reaching the entire workforce
with details of your company’s chosen 118 services a
little too daunting, there is the option of working with your
telecoms provider to reroute calls made to 192 or any 118
number to your chosen 118 numbers. This option provides the
best of both worlds, allowing you to select the right 118
number for you, without necessitating a drastic change of
dialing habits across your organisation.
Crosby operates its directory enquiry service on 118 502
charged at 50p PER MIN at all times with a lookup of 2 searches
per call, and as a business, for your protection call completion
is not available on this service meaning that when using our
service you are not going to put through to other numbers/services
at an extortionate cost. Simply put 50p per min is the only
price you will pay when using Crosby Directory Enquiries.
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