
10.01.2023 |
Good customer service is the key and has a major influence on customer satisfaction and with it the success of a business. What is absolutely essential is a service hotline that allows customers to contact the company free of charge. This is exactly what 0800 numbers provide.
In order to simplify the way to your own service hotline as much as possible, we would like to clarify the most important questions in our 0800 Freephone Guide: What value do 0800 numbers offer? Are 0800 numbers free of charge? Who offers 0800 numbers? How can I order a 0800 number? And how quickly can 0800 numbers be activated?
- What is a 0800 number?
- What are the advantages of 0800 numbers?
- How to request a 0800 number?
- How long does the activation of a 0800 number take?
- What does a 0800 number cost?
- Are 0800 numbers accessible from abroad?
- How long is the contract period for 0800 numbers?
- Is it possible to port an existing 0800 number?
- How to find the right 0800 number provider?
What is a 0800 number?
0800 numbers are numbers that can be contacted by callers free of charge. They are frequently used by companies as service hotlines. Especially popular is their use for support and consulting inquiries. They are also known as freephone or freecall numbers. The connection costs are paid by the company providing the freephone number. The predecessor of the 0800 freecall number is the 0130 number, which was switched off in 2001.
What are the advantages of 0800 numbers?
- Free accessibility for callers
- Low provision costs and per-minute rates
- Optimal for order and service hotlines
- National presence with uniform phone number
- Routing functions with announcements, IVR menus, etc.
- Call number is easy to remember
- Professional company appearance
- Strong competitive advantage
There are many reasons for using a 0800 number in customer dialogue: By providing a 0800 hotline, companies meet the service need for a free contact option and remove the cost barrier for callers. This can sometimes be a decisive competitive advantage. 0800 service numbers make companies appear serious and suggest a level of expertise that extends beyond regional borders. Depending on the provider chosen, the numbers offer the possibility of integrating intuitive call routing, which quickly leads the caller to the destination and thus offers an optimal customer journey.
How to request a 0800 number?
0800 numbers can be requested directly online. Most 0800 providers offer the option of selecting available numbers directly from an existing number pool. As a rule, the application is made via an order form. If the desired number is not available, it is possible to request it directly from the provider. The provider checks availability with the Federal Network Agency.
How long does the activation of a 0800 number take?
The activation of an 0800 number is usually done within a few hours if booked through a service provider and is ready for use in no time. If a desired number is requested, activation is delayed until the availability check has been completed..
What does a 0800 number cost?
Calling an 0800 number is free of charge for callers – both from fixed and mobile networks. For companies, booking an 0800 number is possible starting at € 7.50 per month, depending on the provider. The minute prices start at 1.9 ct/min for calls from the fixed network and 7.9 ct/min for calls from the mobile network. Some providers also offer trial versions that allow users to test the service and range of functions in advance.
Are 0800 numbers accessible from abroad?
Since 0800 numbers are national toll-free numbers, they are only available in the country in which they are registered. This means that a 0800 number registered in Germany is only available within Germany. A solution for globally active companies can be the activation of international freephone numbers in the respective business countries. Service number providers such as TENIOS offer numbers in over 100 countries.
How long is the contract period for 0800 numbers?
This differs from provider to provider: While some providers offer contract terms of 12 or 24 months, other providers promote flexible number offers that can be canceled on a monthly basis. The offers also differ when it comes to the minimum purchase of 0800 numbers.
Is it possible to port an existing 0800 number?
When switching providers, it is possible to keep the existing 0800 number. Providers such as TENIOS even offer the porting service free of charge. This gives companies the flexibility to simply move their 0800 number, which may have been in use for many years and is already known, if a better offer is available.
How to find the right 0800 number provider?
To find the right number provider, companies should always compare. The offers can vary strongly in terms of price, range of services, runtimes or minimum turnover. Reputable providers can be identified, for example, by the fact that calls are billed on a per-second basis. Flat rate offers for 0800 numbers are often the more expensive alternative, since the call volume usually cannot be accurately estimated. There are also major differences in the range of functions. For example, modern 0800 providers offer extensive routing options in addition to just providing the service number. These make it possible to integrate announcements, voice selection menus or even voicebots for service automation into the call routing, for example. To provide an initial guide, we have compared some freephone providers:
0800 Provider Comparision
Telekom | TENIOS | dtms | Servicenummern Shop | |
Product | Freecall 0800 smart |
0800 Freephone |
Freephone 0800 S |
Freecall |
Set-up | 0.00 € | 0.00 € | 9.90 € | 0.00 € |
Monthly fee | 6.95 € | 7.50 € | 9.90 € | 9.90 € |
Connection rates | ||||
fixed lines | 0.07 € | 0.019 € | 0.045 € | 0.019 € |
mobile lines | 0.22 € | 0.079 € | 0.14 € | 0.099 € |
Billing rate | 30 seconds | 1 second | 30 seconds | 1 second |
Call forwarding | inclusive | inclusive | inclusive | 0.029 € for german fixed lines |
Contract term | 24 months | 1 month | 1 month | 1 month |
SETUP & BASE FEE 0800 PHONE NUMBER
A comparison of the four 0800 providers shows some significant price differences. While the setup is free of charge for three of the four providers, dtms charges 9.90 € for it. The lowest basic fee is offered by Telekom.
MINUTE PRICES 0800 NUMBER
But Telekom is unable to maintain this price advantage when it comes to per-minute rates: At 7 ct for calls from the fixed network and 22 ct for calls from the mobile network, Telekom is well above the price level of its competitors. The cheapest provider for 0800 numbers in terms of per-minute prices is TENIOS.
BILLING RATE, FORWARDING AND TERM OF CONTRACT FOR 0800 NUMBERS
Only two of the providers offer a per-second billing. Forwarding costs for incoming calls are included by all providers, except for Servicenummern Shop. In regard to the contract term, Telekom offers the most inflexible package: Upon conclusion of the contract, the customer is bound for 24 months, while the other providers score with a monthly notice period.
Book 0800 number at the price-performance winner
As the 0800 price comparison shows: The cheapest and most flexible 0800 provider is TENIOS. In addition, TENIOS offers extensive features for optimal call control and automation when booking a freephone number. A small selection of the range of functions:
- Advanced routing options
- Welcome announcements
- Waiting loops
- Call forwarding
- Call recording
- Intuitive IVR menues
- AI voice services
- VoiceBot integration
- and many more
Get your own 0800 number fast and easy – with TENIOS
Register your desired phone number with TENIOS today and experience our unbeatable conditions for freephone numbers. We will be happy to provide you with a 30-day trial version.