Blog

Almost every smartphone can detect who is calling, and more recently landlines have been able to do the same as well. But what if you want to how to make a private call? Is there a way to hide or block your caller ID when making calls? The answer is yes.

“No Caller ID,” “Scam Likely”: What Are Private Calls?

One way to display caller ID is to save contacts of people you know on your device. This usually applies to family and close friends and any other important people or businesses. However, that is not the only way caller IDs work. Most phones will also be able to notify you of the caller’s ID if their business or organization is registered. This way, you almost always know who is calling you. But what of those “No Caller ID,” “Private Number,” or “Scam Likely” calls?

Most phone carriers notify you about potential spam calls by displaying “Scam Likely” when you receive a suspicious call. Android users who have their “Caller ID and Spam Protection” on can see information about callers and business numbers not in their contacts. This is enabled to warn them against potential spam callers. Global Call Forwarding has a feature called “Black and White Lists” which allows you to white list (approve) and black list (block) calls.

However, private calls are made by hiding one’s caller ID. This is when a person or business willingly hides their contact information to ensure a call goes through. In some cases, this may work even if they are on the caller’s no-call list. This is usually the route taken by telemarketers doing illegal business or angry exes or creepy stalkers trying to get in touch with you. It is safe to ignore these calls as anyone important will leave you a voicemail to get their message across. If you think it may be important, it is also possible to call-back a restricted call.

Related: How to Prevent Your Phone Numbers from Being Marked as Spam

How To Make A Private Call: Block Your Caller ID Permanently or Temporarily

There are a few different ways to hide or block your phone number from being displayed on the receiver’s screen. Let’s look at how to make a private call either on your own or through your phone number provider.

You can temporarily deactivate your number to make it appear as a private number by dialing ‘*67’ before the number you are calling. For example, if you wish to block your ID when calling 698-334-5647, dial *676983345647. Calls made this way cannot be called back. However, you must contact your phone service provider to block your ID permanently by requesting a line block. Before you do this, remember that when you block your number permanently, it cannot be reversed. It is important to remember, however, that calls made this way remain traceable by police services.

Hide Your Caller ID Through Your Phone’s Settings

The other way to mask your caller ID is by turning certain phone settings on or off. Most Android phones and iPhones provide caller ID settings. Below is the process of how to make a private call from an Android phone and iPhone. Note, however, that the process varies depending on the phone’s model and software version.

To block your number when calling from an Android phone:

• Go to the ‘Phone’ app
• Tap ‘Settings’
• Then, click on ‘Call’
• Tap ‘Additional’
• Select ‘Caller ID’
• Select ‘Hide number’ or ‘Show number’ to turn the Caller ID on or off

To hide your number when calling from an iPhone:

• Go to ‘Settings’
• Tap ‘Phone’
• Then, click on ‘Show My Caller ID’ and turn it on or off

For Business Reaching International Clientele, Local Numbers May Be A Better Option

Users generally hesitate to answer calls that display “Private Number.” If you are an international business trying to expand your clientele and are choosing to contact them by hiding your foreign number, we may have a solution for you. Global Call Forwarding has local numbers in over 140 countries which are meant for local and international businesses. Purchase a local number for the country or state you want to extend your business to. A local number will make your customers more comfortable with answering a call from your business because it is a number they recognize. Don’t get lost in all the “Private” or “Scam Likely” call your prospective client is receiving. Purchase a business number from Global Call Forwarding today and stand out among the virtual crowds!

Want an efficient solution for your corporate call center? Interactive Voice Response (IVR) can help reduce your company’s costs and improve productivity.

IVR systems are basically automated systems that are voice-activated. For example, one of your customers simply wants to pay an overdue bill. They dial into the system, choose from a menu of options using their voice as an indicator, then pay their bill over the phone. The information gathered from IVR systems is stored in an electronic database you and your teams can access anytime.

It’s not just inbound calls, either. IVR systems can make outbound calls to a pre-chosen list of clients. Once you install it, IVR can dial multiple consumers at once to offer surveys or relay important information. In fact, IVR is frequently used by drugstores to automatically let people know when their prescriptions are in. Since IVR systems handle thousands of customers much faster than a real person, your company can manage large volumes of calls while saving money on labor and payroll.

What Are The Cost Saving Features of an IVR System?

Before calculating the costs of an IVR, it’s fair to point out the cost-saving opportunities this system will afford you. A flooded call center overcrowded with simple inquiries burns employees out easily. If you’re using a team of real people in your current call center, you don’t have to worry about completely replacing them. In fact, an IVR system only replaces the more mundane calls. This frees up your live team to handle high-value transactions and potential sales calls. Not only that, but your organization can also better prioritize customers through customized routing.

Here are some of the other cost-saving features of an IVR system:

• Voice prompts: A consumer will clearly hear and understand all of their options. There’s no time lost from miscommunications.
• Call scheduling: Calls can be conducted before, during, or after business hours. Your staff does not have to go into overtime to make these calls.
• Call statistics: Being able to analyze call center data can give you valuable metrics for the future, along with truly understanding a client’s level of satisfaction.
• Call transfer: If the IVR system cannot handle a special request, a caller will be directed to the appropriate agent.

How Much Does an IVR System Cost?

The actual cost of the IVR system will vary based on the size of your company, the number of lines needed, and the features you want. There will be upfront, one time fees as well as monthly and ongoing fees. And as your business grows, you will need the system to be scalable and to grow with you, which may mean an increased cost. However many organizations will offer volume discounts for loyal clients.

Usage Fees

Usage fees are typically monthly fees. They include the actual “use” of the IVR platform, as well as the infrastructure’s initial build, ongoing security, regular maintenance, and the use of enhanced services. This fee will also include keeping the IVR in compliance with your industry’s standards, if that is one of your requirements. An IVR provider will offer you an enterprise contract outlining all of these details and what they entail. The longer the contract, generally speaking, the better the rates.

We’ll start with the base monthly fee, which is a flat fee for up to 100,000 minutes of usage per month, for example. This rate does not change and gives you an allowance of minutes. Sometimes providers will let you “roll over” extra minutes into the following month, and some will not.

In addition to the flat monthly fee, you may also be charged “per minute”. So the cost of a usage fee can be as little as one penny per minute, a few cents per minute, or as much as twenty-five cents per minute, depending on call volume.

Usage fees will depend on whether you as a consumer choose to be a Client Of Record (COR) or Non Client of Record (NCOR) for the phone company. It’s normal to keep an existing contract with a telecommunication provider if they offer you a special deal. However, IVR providers also get special rates and have the ability to pass those savings on to their clients.

Professional Service Fees

Companies will have different names for this, but they all fall under the umbrella of “professional service fees”. Professional service fees cover the initial setup of your system. So of course, the more complex the system, the more you will be charged.

Larger organizations will need to pay close attention to the “flow” of their configuration. This requires great planning. For instance:

• The IVR answers a call from a customer.
• The IVR plays a message asking the caller to confirm their information.
• If the information is incorrect, Step 2 will be repeated.
• If the information is correct, the IVR system will take the caller to the next step.

If your configuration needs are quite great, such as integrating text to speech features, then this will be included in your professional service fees. Some fees are one-time, while others are rolled into a monthly charge.

Professional service fees can range from a few to several thousands of dollars, depending on your system’s complexity. It’s best to clear up what these charges will be moving forward in your contract.

A Trusted IVR System Vendor

Now that you know all of the costs associated with an IVR system, you’re ready to make an informed decision. Before choosing a vendor for your company, write down a list of questions you may have first. This way you can easily evaluate what’s best for your situation.

Not only that, you must know all of the services a certain vendor offers and for what prices. This is why transparency is key before you get started. Hidden fees and charges have no place in a standard IVR contract. That’s why Global Call Forwarding is a leading provider of IVR systems across small, mid-size, and large businesses seeking growth. We let you know exactly what features we offer and at what price points.

The costs don’t have to be complicated. Give our team a call for all of your IVR system today.