 |
Frequently Asked Questions | ||
 |
What is the Switch Virtual Office? The Switch Virtual Office is a call and phone management system that provides all the phone facilities you might expect from a traditional staffed office, including call redirection, audio greetings, voicemail, fax-to-email, etc. The Switch Virtual Office comes FREE with all numbers purchased from Switch. More information Additional advanced services including call recording and voice menus are also available as upgrades. |
||
|
Can I route my number to a mobile? Yes you can. Please note that there is a one-off administration fee of £10.00 and call routing costs are 9-10p per minute on average (Prices quoted exclude VAT). |
||
|
Will having a non-geographic number affect the way I make and receive calls on my current number? No. Your outbound calls and provider are not affected. You will receive incoming calls on your direct number as you do now. |
||
|
Do I need to get another line installed to receive calls on my 0845/0870/0800 number? No. We route the number to your existing line; callers can dial either your normal local exchange number or the new non-geographic number (NGN). Both ways you will receive the call as normal. |
||
|
How much do calls cost from an 0845, 0870 or 0800 number? This is a common question that we're asked - outgoing calls cannot be made on a non-geographic number, they only carry inbound traffic, so you will not receive a bill from us for making phone calls. |
||
|
How many times can I redirect my number, and is there a fee to do so? With The Switch Virtual Office you can change your numbers at any time online. If you would prefer you can call customer services directly or email numbers@switch-tele.com and we will make the change normally within the hour. |
||
|
Can I have voicemail? Our Switch Virtual Office has a myriad of features including a voicemail, an opening greeting for callers, time based scheduling and fax to email |
||
|
What about international callers? Ofcom have requested that all international carriers allow our 01,02,03 and 0870 numbers to be called from overseas, but it is up to the international carriers to do the work involved to make this possible; therefore we can offer no guarantees with regards to receiving calls from overseas. |
||
|
How much does it cost to send calls to the different types of number? When you send a call to a geographic number (01 or 02), the costs are 1.75 pence per minute, at all times (peak, off-peak, and weekend). Calls that we connect to your mobile are charged at between 9p and 10 per minute on average depending upon the network. Prices change each month and we will always bill at the lowest possible rate, all calls are charged per second billed monthly in arrears with no minimum charge or connection fee. International destinations vary, please call for the current rate for your required destination. |
||
|
Are there any other charges that I should know about? Our charges are completely transparent. Your annual service fee covers all of your administration. The rates to upgrade your number and for additional services are shown in your web console. Routes to mobile numbers or international destinations may incur monthly call costs. |
||
|
Will the pricing change for my numbers? We guarantee that as long as the agreements set up by the regulators OFCOM stay the same, we will not change the pricing on your numbers. However, the industry regulator is always reviewing the UK numbering plan and how numbers are being used in the UK, so you can expect things to change in the future. On the plus side, we are normally given notice of changes and should be able to give you plenty of time to take any necessary steps to review the changes and take decisions before they come into effect. |
||
|
Will having a non-geographic number affect the way I make and receive calls on my
current number? No. Your outbound calls and provider are not affected. You will receive incoming calls on your direct number as you do now. |
||
|
Can I port my existing phone number from another provider to Switch? Yes. In most cases we can port numbers in from other networks. However, there is normally a fee for doing so. |
||
|
Can I port a Switch number to another provider? Porting out is possible where a Service Establishment has been raised and completed by the Gaining Party. Please contact us for further details. A fee will apply. |
||
 |
Glossary Of Terms | ||
|
NTS (Number Translation Services). This means that when a caller dials your NTS number, we simply route their call on to your chosen destination, e.g. your office, mobile, or VoIP number. |
||
|
CLI (Calling Line Identifier). The telephone number of the phone that is placing a call. |
||
|
DDI (Direct Dial Inward). A specific number within a group usually used to describe a direct dial extension within an organisation. |
||
|
Non-Geographic Number This is the term used to describe a freephone or 07, 08, or 09 type of number where the geographic location cannot be determined by the dialling code. |
||
|
City Numbers These are geographic numbers but in looks only. They have prefixes such as 0121 Birmingham or 0117 for Bristol but can be directing to any UK number. This gives allows a company to have presence in a city location whilst actually receiving calls in another part of the country. They have all the functionality that can be applied to one of our Non Geographic Numbers including The Switch Virtual Office. |
||
