Answering Your Business Phone

[Rich]

We are talking about a business telephone answering service, I have never been called by a minor asking me for a quote.

Alan, if your kids had even been groomed, then it is highly likely that the groomer is well known to you, either a family member or a close friend.

In your thinking then anyone that isn't you is a susspect. When did you allow your kids to move out of the house, and did you accompany them every moment of their childhood?

[arfur mo]

We are talking about a business telephone answering service, I have never been called by a minor asking me for a quote.

so was i all along, the principles involved and i see some risks as stated, your service will answer any call put through to it and i have given a perfectly clear scenario, go back and read please

Alan, if your kids had even been groomed, then it is highly likely that the groomer is well known to you, either a family member or a close friend.

OFCS's not MY kids please read what i have said - all of it (and before i get flammed for long posts ) the neighbours daughter was 'groomed' not my sons.

i had 3 boys, all taught not to talk to strangers or accept lifts, don't pick up the phone (incase it was a client) but listen to the answerphone screening first, if for them they picked it up - if not they left it alone. so that hapilly dealt with any groomer type or pest callers as well, although it did not seem so prevalant back then.

In your thinking then anyone that isn't you is a susspect. When did you allow your kids to move out of the house, and did you accompany them every moment of their childhood?

hmmmm! sorry i just don't see how we jump to that idea, we are talking about telephone contact in the context of using answering services and what i see as a possible unwanted risk's, we are not talking about walking in public area's or or inviting strangers into our homes. but if you want to discuss perranting skills and child safety guidance advice, by all means please open an appropriat thread. i'm only an amature perrant (of 3) and a grandad of 6 (so far) doing my best not to ruin any of them.

now lets stay within the realms of the threads question.

a telephone conversation is a semi private affair (as it can normally only be heard from one side), so a child may respond to cunningly posed questions, with what seems innocent replies and even giggles. but you (as a gaurdian) do not hear those questions. i do not have to spell out every possibility, just google 'chat room grooming' to get the general idea of how these scum operate.

grooming is just one problem as i see it, you also have to concider should an operator make an inappropriat remark, perhaps racial or even swear at a 'hyper' client, it will reflect badly on you and your company and you don't even get to sack the culprit.

i don'y knock anyone for using answer services if it suits you i'm pleased, i just never see it for me though. and nobody has answered about CRO vetting which is strange. surely it is an issue for all the registered companies to be aware of? after all your always saying your staff are all fully CRO vetted in the registerd/non-registered battles, so what about your agents and even 'cable monkey' subbies then?

regs

alan

[BASS]

We always use a company called ALLDAY PA you get an 0845 number but we just divert our office calls to it any other calls the I/E emergancy alarm receiving centre or remote resets the customer have another number to call anyway and they get put though to the ARC who will deal with them and call our mobile for call outs but as to sales and enquirys if theres no one they get though the allday pa who will handle the call for us and forward us the message and details.

[Guest]

We always use a company called ALLDAY PA you get an 0845 number but we just divert our office calls to it any other calls the I/E emergancy alarm receiving centre or remote resets the customer have another number to call anyway and they get put though to the ARC who will deal with them and call our mobile for call outs but as to sales and enquirys if theres no one they get though the allday pa who will handle the call for us and forward us the message and details.

Bass

What do they charge for this? (PM if you want)

Dave

[norman]

Google is your friend

[arfur mo]

We always use a company called ALLDAY PA you get an 0845 number but we just divert our office calls to it any other calls the I/E emergancy alarm receiving centre or remote resets the customer have another number to call anyway and they get put though to the ARC who will deal with them and call our mobile for call outs but as to sales and enquirys if theres no one they get though the allday pa who will handle the call for us and forward us the message and details.

Hi BASS,

what you do seems an ok way to operate to me at least, i do think in an emergency a client (or child of) will ring the 1st one they see or remmember in a panic, they don't normally to deal with an emergency but will remmember an 0845 number having spoke to sales or accounts and use it expecting to be transfered, perhaps thats just life. i'm sure then the call centre would advise of the correct numbers (as per your pre-agreed script) but a 'groomer' could use this to extend a conversatio for his/her own ends (while i look up the number for you what is your........).

to move on what about this scenario, a client calls in gets the blurb stating they will receive a call back, for what evr reason it don't happen. they call again a bit annoyed and get a totally different operator, who despite whats on her screen will perhaps add in a bit in and ask for futher clarifications (incase the service operator messed up). if you have ever phoned a large utillity you will know exactely what i mean - can be very frustrating repeating over what you need several times.

perhaps its just me, every time a get a call service i have so little faith that my message will be understood or afforded any importance (as a client, if my call was that important the firm would be there to answer it), and far less it will be transmittted by a third party and understood.

perhaps i feel in my old fashioned way its just bad manners, if you are offering to buy from me, it is not then good manners to ask you to take an elongated route to get to me is the best way i can think of putting it. it's got to be said, when asked to fight my corner against the big guys, i state you always will either get me, or if driving my answerphone and i call you back when safe, not an answer service manned by tranee morons who have been distiurbed for reading OK mag. now that may be harsh, but i score big points with it and all is fair in love war and buisness sales tactics.

regs

alan

[Rich]

perhaps i feel in my old fashioned way its just bad manners, if you are offering to buy from me, it is not then good manners to ask you to take an elongated route to get to me is the best way i can think of putting it. it's got to be said, when asked to fight my corner against the big guys, i state you always will either get me, or if driving my answerphone and i call you back when safe, not an answer service manned by tranee morons who have been distiurbed for reading OK mag. now that may be harsh, but i score big points with it and all is fair in love war and buisness sales tactics.

The point is people wont leave messages with answer phones, and generally we are talking about potential new customers here, the fact is as soon as the answering machine picks up the caller can tell and will hang up.

Order of preference would probably be

Pick up yourself - likely to get new custom

Call gets diverted to your mobile - likely to get custom

A member of staff picks up and takes a message - likely to get custom but time restricted

A call answering service picks up and takes a message - likely to get custom but time restricted

Engaged - High chance the customer will try again in a few minutes if still engaged custom lost

Answer phone providing an alternative number set by you - possible they will listen to message and try alternative number

Answer phone with the default message of the machine - hang up on answer and custom lost completely

[arfur mo]

The point is people wont leave messages with answer phones, and generally we are talking about potential new customers here, the fact is as soon as the answering machine picks up the caller can tell and will hang up.

Order of preference would probably be

Pick up yourself - likely to get new custom

Call gets diverted to your mobile - likely to get custom

A member of staff picks up and takes a message - likely to get custom but time restricted

A call answering service picks up and takes a message - likely to get custom but time restricted

Engaged - High chance the customer will try again in a few minutes if still engaged custom lost

Answer phone providing an alternative number set by you - possible they will listen to message and try alternative number

Answer phone with the default message of the machine - hang up on answer and custom lost completely

Hi Rich,

thats not my experiece as mosy people use the mobil first call but then its a lot different for me, most my custom is repeat/recommendation. human nature usually means they wil go with the 'devil they trust'. it's a bit like swapping banks, yes its more advantagous, yes its open saterday morning, yes it will save me money - but i know my branch and i like that nice short person with a big smile.

so not for me, i have got most my customers trained to call between 8am -8pm (other than emergencies), and they all use the mobil. i think whatever trade you are in, if the client knows you as mall firm they do not expect you to in the office 9 - 6 for beck and call.

bigger firms obviously a different requirement, still worry about CRO checks

regs

alan

regs

alan

[Guest]

We always use a company called ALLDAY PA you get an 0845 number but we just divert our office calls to it any other calls the I/E emergancy alarm receiving centre or remote resets the customer have another number to call anyway and they get put though to the ARC who will deal with them and call our mobile for call outs but as to sales and enquirys if theres no one they get though the allday pa who will handle the call for us and forward us the message and details.

BASS on your recomendation we binned our current answering service as yours has more scope. However I am quaking in my boots as I received an e-mail from the company founder to welcome me, his name is Dr Reuben Singh. PPPPPPLLLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEE tell me it's not what am thinking!

Dave