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02 access charge soon to be 45 pence per minute

Admin 30th July 2015

On the 1st of July Ofcom introduced a highly significant change to the way we get charged for making certain telephone calls.

All calls to service numbers (that’s any number beginning with 084, 087, 09 or 118) are now charged differently: There’s an access charge (set by the network provider) and a service charge (set by the company you’re calling). More on service charges

O2 are set to bump up their access charge after initially setting it at 25 pence per minute. The new charge of 45 pence will come into effect on the 17th of August, and brings O2 closer to its competitors. When the new charging system was introduced by Ofcom, networks were given the freedom to set their access charge on a provided range, hence the variation in access charges seen between major UK networks. But as competing networks have revealed their charges, it seems some have been left tempted to adjust things.

It’s looking like if you’re on an O2 mobile contract, you may not have got away with paying less for calling service numbers after all.

Check your mobile networks website for tariffs that detail the call charges that you’ll incur for calling service numbers.

How common are service numbers?

Service numbers are used for a range of purposes by different businesses and organisations. These services used to include customer helplines, telephone banking, utilities, government departments; but now more and more firms are making the switch to a ‘basic rate’ number. So as time goes on, we can expect service numbers to become less common. In fact, it’s now illegal for most organisations to provide service numbers for calls that concern existing contracts between the customer and the business. However, when a service is a stand alone offering, such as a conference calling service, it’s still common (and legal) to see service numbers being provided. That’s one of the reasons we’re proud to offer the WHYPAY? conferencing service, as we provide an 03 number for dialling into our conference rooms. This means calls are included in any available bundled minutes (applies to mobiles and land-lines). WHYPAY? callers can make genuinely free conference calls!

The FCA’s (Financial Conduct Authority) recent ban will stop financial organisations from providing other than ‘basic rate’ numbers for customer services lines, furthering the general trend away from service numbers for many firms. Keep an eye out for the numbers companies provide you to contact them on for different services. Geographical (01, 02 and 03) numbers are one of the cheapest options for mobile and landline callers alike. Free phone numbers (0800, 0808) are now free to call from mobiles, and are always the best option if available.

Should you hold conference calls or a video calls?

Admin 12th March 2021

A lot of us often wonder about whether to choose conference calls or video calls. There are big benefits on both sides, and some shared across the two. After all, there’s no doubt that advancements in call technology have paved the way for new communication methods at work. They allow us to host keynote presentations from across the world, offering inclusivity to those with accessibility needs. Any type of group phone call also provides a sense of connection when teammates are working apart – something particularly valuable through COVID-related lockdowns and social distancing.

But while jumping on a video call has become a knee-jerk reaction for many, it’s not without its drawbacks. Video brings some complications that traditional conference calls simply don’t have. If you’re wondering whether to organise a conference call or video call, don’t forget that sometimes just picking up the phone is the better option.

How do you make a conference call more fun?

Admin 11th February 2021

It’s Tuesday afternoon and you’re already four conference calls into the week. Of course, conference calls are important for so many businesses. But making conference calls more fun should be a bigger priority. Otherwise, they can become tedious and repetitive, and morale and productivity will drop.

Whether you’re working from home and need to catch up with colleagues, or you’re calling clients, these tips will help to make your next conference call more fun.

Conference Call Tips, Remote Working

How to improve unspoken communication on a conference call

Admin 3rd February 2021

Verbal signals are an important part of all communication. But conference call communication depends on verbal and non-verbal signalling. In the age of teleconferencing (and seemingly its glory year!), they’re vital signs into how successful an interaction is. You may be pitching to a prospective client, it may be your weekly team catch up, or you may be a director presenting to an entire department. No matter the purpose of the call, if you are trying to deliver an engaging conference call, getting clued up on non-verbal and verbal signals is crucial. They can indicate that somebody is losing interest. Picking up on these feelings gives you the chance to try and improve things.

Read through our guide about some of the ways to improve communication on a conference call, by reading signals that call participants aren’t invested. We’ll also advise on what to do to turn things around.

Business Conference Calls, Business Tips and Advice, Conference Call Tips

02 access charge soon to be 45 pence per minute

How common are service numbers?

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Should you hold conference calls or a video calls?

How do you make a conference call more fun?

How to improve unspoken communication on a conference call