What Is An 0845 Number?

What Types Of Companies Use 0845 Numbers?

There are many uses for 0845 numbers and many companies use them for a variety of reasons, usually when no contact with a person has to be made, for example, some popular uses for 0845 numbers may be:

• A delivery service

• A tracking service

• Event booking or ticket management service

• Conference call providers

• Information Lines

0845 numbers are reserved for commercial uses but they cannot be used for customer service purposes. In 2014, it was made illegal for businesses to use an 0845 number for customer service purposes due to the costs associated with 0845 numbers and this being deemed unfair for the caller. Customer service organisations must use a standard rate number such as 03, 01 or 02 numbers.

This ban was originally only applicable to retailers, traders and transportation services. However, this changed in 2015 and the ban was widened to include the financial sector

Are 0845 Numbers Free?

0845 numbers are reducing in use due to the costs that are associated with them. The cost of calling an 0845 charge is the sum of two charges, a service charge and an access change.

The service charge is determined by the company you are calling and will be between 1p-7p per minute. The access charge is determined by your network provider and you'll be able to find more information about this charge on their site as the charge is usually individual to each network provider.

Usually, 0845 numbers are used when additional funding is needed. For example, in the case of booking or delivery services the additional charge will cover the costs of operation.

Why Should I Choose An 0845 Number?

Despite the limitations of 0845 numbers some businesses still use them due to the benefits they offer, such as the low costs of owning an 0854 number and the fact that you can retain this number forever.

0845 numbers can also be re-routed meaning that if you move abroad you can keep your 0845 number regardless of your location making them a good choice for businesses looking to expand internationally.

What Are The Benefits Of An 0845 Number?

There are many benefits of having an 0845 number associated with your business for example:

• Generating Authentic Leads - Due to the costs involved in calling an 0845 number you are unlikely to encounter any customers who don't have a genuine query or interest in your business, which makes having an 0845 number a really good way of attracting leads via genuine callers.

• Can Be Used Worldwide - An 0845 number can be re-routed so once you adopt an 0845 number it's yours forever and it can move with you and your business anywhere in the world.

• Creates A Strong Company Image - An 0845 number can be used by any business regardless of size or structure but they often give the impression that they belong to larger corporations so choosing to have an 0845 number is a great way of quickly strengthening your company image.

• Anyone Can Call The Number From Anywhere In The World - 0945 numbers can be called from any location as they aren't associated with any one location and so in having an 0845 number for your business, international customers can also contact you.

• Provide An Additional Source Of Income - Owning an 0845 number can help you to cover additional costs such as operational costs due to the service charge being payable to your company.

Should I Answer An 0845 Number?

In recent years, 0845 numbers have fallen out of favour among UK businesses due to their limitations and the fact that 0845 numbers have fallen foul of many scams which has given them a much more negative reputation among callers and businesses.

You should check the details of the company you are calling to ensure that it is a legitimate number and business before making any calls to an 0845 number.

Can You Call 0845 Numbers From Abroad?

All virtual phone numbers fall into one of two categories, they are either geographic or non-geographical. 0845 numbers are non-geographical meaning that when you call an 0845 number you won't know where in the world the owner of the number is located.

This can be an added benefit for 0845 numbers for some businesses as having a national number can help a company to create the illusion of being a much bigger institution than they are.

How Can Virtual Landline Help?

If you are considering choosing an 0845 number for your business, get in touch with Virtual Landline today and we can help you with setting up your new 0845 number.

Virtual Landline is fantastic for users who want a number that is not associated with any physical address or location which is perfect if you are relocating and you want to keep your old number. We provide a much cheaper solution to help you cut the costs of a fixed line rate and avoid a full 12-month contract.