
About 0845 numbers
0845 numbers are low call numbers for your customers if they are ringing you from a UK landline. This means that they should be paying around 3 – 5p per minute to make a call to you.
You do not pay anything to receive the call if your 0845 number is pointed to a landline. However, you do have to pay if you choose to point your 0845 number to a mobile phone.
0845 numbers are generally good for businesses, as they mean that potential customers are more likely to pick up the phone and give your company a call without having to worry about facing a large phone bill, as would be the case if they were calling a premium number. The more calls your company has therefore, the more likely they are to convert into sales.
0845 numbers are also non-geographic numbers, meaning that the area code doesn't indicate one specific place, thereby giving the impression that you are a nationwide company.
0845 numbers also show good customer service to your existing customers, as if they have a problem they can phone you at a low call rate, rather than being charged an extortionate amount as some companies choose to.
The number itself is pointed to an existing phone, so doesn't involve installing expensive equipment. It is just routed to an already active landline or mobile phone. You can usually change where the number is pointed to quite easily, which is helpful if you change business premises, are out on the road or away from your desk for a while. This means that you can just give out one phone number, but pick it up on different phones. HOWEVER, always check when searching for 0845 number providers what their policy is when it comes to changing where your number is pointed.