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9th November 2017 blog, Call Management

Call Recording Laws

9th November 2017 blog, Business Insights

What is the Do Not Call Registry?

8th November 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

10 of the Best Vanity Phone Numbers

1st November 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Building Credibility With Toll Free Numbers

24th October 2017 blog, Business Insights

Phone Calls and the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act

23rd October 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Where Can I Buy A Universal Toll Free Number?

19th October 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

International Toll Free Number Providers

12th October 2017 blog, Cloud Telephony

How to Forward Calls with T-Mobile

Call Recording Laws

Jomo Meritt 9th November 2017 blog, Call Management

Are you interested in recording a phone call with someone? Did you know it might not be that easy, depending on where you live? Yep, that’s true: whipping out your phone and pressing record may not be entirely legal in all situations.

For example, if the jurisdiction you are living in says that you must have an agreement from the individual or individuals that you want to record, then you must comply.

Otherwise, you will be breaking the law.

So, what are Call Recording Laws?

In case you’re wondering, there are Federal laws that allow recording of telephone calls and in-person conversations. However, this must be done with the permission of at least one of the people involved.

To Record, or not to Record? That is the Question

Call recording laws are tricky. This is because the rules are different in each state. Now, this begs the question of which state administers the law when you are talking to an individual in a different state. You see, what you might be able to get away within one state, might be different in another state because of the laws.

For instance, Georgia might require the consent of all parties to the conversation, while in California laws may be much more relaxed, or even more stringent. All you may need is the consent of one party and you’re good to go. However, it is important to understand that it is not always clear whether state or federal law applies, and if they do which of the two appropriate state laws controls them. If this is something you’re looking into, it would be wise to have all of your information understood ahead of time to ensure you’re not running into any legal issues.

Here’s something you can keep in mind; a good rule of thumb is that the government of the state in which the recording device is found will apply. A few states, however, might decide to adopt an alternate strategy while tending to the issue. There is always the possibility of a twist being thrown in, and having the law enforced from the state in which the individual being recorded is found. Sounds confusing?

In situations in which recording a call with parties in different states may be taking place, it is best to conform to the strictest laws that may apply, or just take things the easy way, and get everybody’s permission. It is, most certainly, by and large, lawful to record a discussion where every party involved in the gathering agrees to it.

Laws on Recording Conversations

Recording conversations might sound fun, but you need to exude caution. As mentioned earlier, laws on recording conversations are different everywhere. Now, the confusing part comes in when, unfortunately, it is not always easy for you to tell which code operates towards communication, particularly a phone call. For instance, if you’re in Florida and the person you are recording is in Alaska, then it is hard to say in advance whether state or federal law applies. Plus, suppose state law does apply; which of the two applicable state laws will control the circumstances at that point?

If that’s the case, if you decide to record a phone call with people in more than one state, then, you might want to play it safe and get the appropriate permission from everybody. Afterward, once you and the individual you are recording are both situated in the same state, at that point you can rely pretty surely on the law of that state.

Who’s Responsible for Authorizing the Recording of a Phone or In-Person Discussion?

Government law grants recording phone calls and in-person discussions with the assent of no less than one of the parties. See 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(d). You might recognize this as the “one-party consent” rule. Under a one-party assent law, you can record a telephone call or conversation; just make sure you get permission from the other party, and you will be good to go. Moreover, on the off chance that you are not a party to the conversation, a “one-party assent” law will enable you to record the discussion or telephone call since your source gives permission and has full information that the conversation will be recorded.

At What Point Must you Get Consent from Everyone Required Prior to Recording?

So, are there card recording laws in your state? If you are living in one of the ten states that require the permission of every party to a phone call or discussion to make the recording legal, keep it mind that permission from just one party will not suffice. These “two-party consent” rules have been approved in the following;

California
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Montana
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
and Washington

Although they are known as “two-party assent” laws, permission must be acquired from each member of a telephone call or discussion if it includes more than two people. In some of these states, it may be sufficient if all gatherings to the call or discussion realize that you are recording and continue with the correspondence at any rate, regardless of the possibility that they don’t voice expressed permission.

Can you Record a Call or Discussion Without Consent from One of the Members?

It often does not even matter, whether a state or federal law governs the circumstances, it is almost always unlawful to record a private conversation or phone call to which you are not a party, do not have consent from a person involved, and could not have overheard the conversation naturally. Moreover, government and many state laws don’t allow you to secretly bug or use recording gadgets on the phone, in a home, office or eatery to covertly record a discussion between two individuals who have not agreed to do this.

Is there any Difference for the Government?

Now, when it comes to government issues, things are a little different. This is because discussions that cross with government-related business matters or problems conceivably influencing national security have a provision of laws that contrast from discussions being recorded between typical individual subjects or non-government organizations. Wiretapping additionally incorporates the reconnaissance or potentially recording of PC utilization, email trades, and remote correspondences, and it is often quite unlawful.

So, there you have it! A mini crash course on call recording laws!

What is the Do Not Call Registry?

Global Call Forwarding 9th November 2017 blog, Business Insights

The National Do Not Call Registry is a compiled list of phone numbers belonging to people who do not wish to receive calls from vendors or telemarketers. The registry is administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is the United States’ consumer protection agency.

Created in 2003, the National Do Not Call Registry is designed to give consumers freedom of choice when it comes to receiving telemarketing calls. Only personal numbers can be added to the register. Business numbers and fax numbers are not covered. Once added, telephone numbers will remain on the registry until they are disconnected, reassigned, or until the consumer decides to remove their number from the list.

What Types of Calls are Covered by the Do Not Call Registry?

The ‘do not call’ regulations of the Telemarketing Sale Rule (TSR) cover any campaign, program or plan to sell services and goods through phone calls. This includes calls made by telemarketers who are acting on behalf of third-party vendors and vendors who are providing or offering services and goods to consumers in exchange for or as part of a telemarketing transaction.

The Do Not Call Registry’s provisions do not cover calls from charitable foundations, political organizations, telephone surveys, or companies with which the consumer already has a business relationship.

Organizations which are Exempt from the Do Not Call Registry

Your organization may be eligible for exempt status from the Do Not Call Registry if it is a non-profit organization or an organization that only makes calls for one of the following reasons:

A message that is purely informational is being delivered. For example, the call is being made to inform a consumer about the delivery status of an order.
The call is being made for the sole purpose of conducting a survey, which is not part of a plan to solicit purchases of services or goods.
The call is being made specifically to promote a political party or candidate.
The call is being made from one business to another business in order to solicit a purchase.
The call is being made in an attempt to solicit a charitable donation.
The call is being made to a consumer who already has an established business relationship with the organization making the call.

Calls may also be made to consumers who have given their written consent to receive calls from telemarketers.

Who Has Access to the Do Not Call Registry?

The only people who can access the Do Not Call Registry are telemarketers, vendors, and other service providers.

The numbers on the Do Not Call Registry may not be used for any purpose other than preventing telemarketing calls to the numbers listed on the registry. Use of the numbers for any other purpose could result in legal action being taken.

You can access the Do Not Call Registry through the telemarketing.donotcall.gov secure website. You must sign up and set up a profile by providing information about your organization. If you are accessing the registry on behalf of a vendor client, then you must also provide their information.

If you are required to use the Do Not Call Registry, then you must update your lists to match the registry every 31 days. Your access to the registry is only for the area codes for which you have paid.

Your access is unlimited until your annual fee has expired.

Paying for Access to the Do Not Call Registry

For organizations who wish to access the registry, information for up to five area codes is free. For subsequent data, there is an annual fee of $62 per area code, up to a maximum fee of $17,021. The fee is paid on an annual basis. The fee covers a period of twelve months following the first day of the month in which the subscription was paid. Exempt organizations may access the registry without paying a fee. An organization that pays the fee with a credit card will receive immediate access to the registry.

An organization that pays the subscription fee by electronic transfer of funds will gain access once the payment has cleared. Organizations that want to access information from more area codes than originally chosen may do so, but charges will incur if the total number of area codes is in excess of five. Additional charges of $62 per area code will be made during the first six months of the annual period. During the second six months, the organization will be charged $31 for each new area code.

Organizations’ Compliance and Liability

An organization that is a vendor or telemarketer may be liable for making telemarketing calls, even to numbers that are not listed in the Do Not Call Registry, if the vendor has not first accessed the registry and paid the appropriate fee. Each call that is made counts as a separate violation. Each violation can incur a fine of up to $43,792.

It is against the law for a vendor or telemarketer to call any number listed in the Do Not Call Registry unless the vendor or telemarketer has already established a business relationship with the consumer or the consumer has provided written consent to be called.

It is also against the law for a vendor or telemarketer to call a consumer within a given area code unless the vendor has first subscribed to the section of the Do Not Call Registry covering that area code. You can obtain more detailed information about compliance in the online guide Complying with the Telemarketing Sales Rule.

If you are thinking of trying to draw new business with a call campaign, before you dial, make sure you are aware of the National Do Not Call Registry rules and regulations.

Otherwise, you may end up on the receiving end of some heavy fines and your phone number might get marked as spam. Remember, it’s okay to call a client if you have an existing business relationship, or if you are taking a survey, but you must be aware of state Do Not Call lists.

10 of the Best Vanity Phone Numbers

Jomo Meritt 8th November 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Vanity Phone Numbers

Are you be considering a vanity number for your company? This might be a very good business move. Why? Well, a vanity number is not just an ordinary number. In fact, it will not just help your business sound more qualified, but it will also look more qualified as it bears a number that is at once, instantly recognizable.

You might not know this, but a vanity number is what can put any business at the top of their game. Wait, let’s slow down here. Maybe you’re not that familiar with vanity phone numbers. Okay, let’s pretend nobody knows. A vanity number is a toll-free or local telephone number for which a subscriber desires a specific sequence of numbers for marketing purposes. Starting to ring a bell? They are specifically chosen phone words (for example, 1-800-Battery or Food or 1-800-Flowers), that enable you to use your number as part of your branding, because they represent the wording of your company in some way or another.

phone keys

These vanity phone numbers did not just pop up out of the blue. They have been around since the early 1990s. Thus, a lot of standard vanity phone numbers have been taken and utilized.

Now, you might see numbers that end with digits that repeated themselves (such as -1111) are intensely publicized by taxi and food delivery corporations; for example, the pizza chain that has trademarked 967-1111, a local number in Toronto. If you get a vanity toll free number, it will more than likely have a word or a phrase, which is connected to your company. A lot of the times, it will be the name of your product, or business or service. So, your clienteles can recognize who you are and what kind of service you are bringing to the community.

You might not know this, but there are numerous benefits of a significant contact number. They are clear in expressions of branding your enterprise, but at the same time, they do hold possibly dozens of other advantages for your advertising and processes. They are memorable; they enable customers to instantly correlate your business with a specific industry, which gives you precedence in their psychology when choosing a brand; they are fun, which also helps customers to recognize you, apart from others who all sound the same.

With that said, keep reading and learn about 10 of the Best Vanity Phone Numbers in existence!

800-Giant-Men

If you are looking to do some moving, then this is the number you’ll want to call. The Gentle Giant moving company sure distinguishes how to grab your attention. Now it’s a massive, Boston-based moving and storage and, the word on the street is that they get the job done, big-time.

800-Virus-No

The is a famous number that you might have seen around once or twice. It is evident that McAfee uses this number to make it known just what their product is supposed to do. It may be a little backwards in language structure, but you still get the point.

800-Junk-USA

This may or may not be a number that you are familiar with. However, it’s a vanity number that has been out for quite some time. Apparently, it involves College Hunks Hauling Junk who discovered just the right 800 number. Their marketing scheme makes it completely memorable for those in need of the service.

800-44-Store

Now here’s a number that sounds like it comes in handy. This public storage company might not have obtained the correct vanity number they were initially after, but nonetheless, you get the point, and it’s something that is just easy to remember at the end of the day. Anyway, if you’re looking for packaging and storage of goods then you might want to give them a call!

800-905-Geek

If you’re intrigued by vanity numbers that remind you of your nerdy high-school days, well this is it. Now, Geeks on Call are the people who will help you get your computer, or IT matters taken care of in a jiffy. More significantly, they aren’t shy to tell you that they are geeks; their 800 number is proof of their pride!

1 800 Go Fedex

The best vanity phone number will be a memorable phone number like 1 800-Go-FedEx. Now, this is a number that will always keep you on the top of your client’s cognizance.

1-800-HURT-NOW

Talk about a number that sticks out like a sore thumb, well this is definitely one! If you have a personal injury, you might want to give these guys a call. A vanity number like this one delivers an extra branding muscle and a memorable substitute. This is just one of numerous examples of how vanity toll-free numbers can increase business for legal authorities.

800-RU-Mouse – Mouse Systems Corp

Now, if you are having a bad day and you want to get a giggle or two in, vanity numbers like these will get you a laugh in. This company completely understood the idea of a catchy vanity number because this one does this trick when it comes to marketing purposes.

800-Dog-Poop

Now, if you are looking for a vanity phone number that will make you die laughing, this one will do the trick. If you have a dog and you’re looking for somebody that can help you with getting rid of the extra bowel movement lying around, then these are the people that you will want to get in contact with. Yes, if you haven’t already guessed it, they are a poop-scooping business.

800-IGo-HoJo

If you are still looking for laughs, then you’ve got to see this number. Apparently, Howard Johnson’s hotel franchise has a sense of humor as well because this number will get you on the floor, laughing out loud. You must admit that the creativity and the marketing for the vanity phone number are not bad at all.

These ten best vanity phone numbers are the kind of numbers that will make any business well-liked among their prospects and clienteles. This is because they can think of them and can with no trouble remember their business at the time of their necessity. Vanity phone numbers are precisely what you need to prosper in the business world.

Give your marketing efforts a boost with a vanity number today!

Building Credibility With Toll Free Numbers

Valerie Stitt 1st November 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Business Credibility

A business can succeed in creating the perfect product or may have found the perfect solution that a market needs, but still struggle when it comes to credibility. Customers can be very skeptical when it comes to being offered new products and services, especially from a new company or start-up.

When new businesses discover new markets where they can offer their products and services, they often spend more time strategizing on how to convince prospective customers about their offerings and how they will benefit from them. However, the major challenges that they face are often related to credibility and how prospective customers will perceive new products and services. More importantly, customers want to know more about these new businesses that are offering these solutions.

The skepticism of customers towards a new business is rational even when they are impressed with the products being offered. They will always ask questions about the business and the products being offered to them. Therefore, it is the duty of new businesses to build some level of trust in order to win customers over.

For large businesses that already have a well-established reputation through many years of quality products and service delivery, selling a new product is a lot easier as they can resonate better with customers. Over their many years of existence, large businesses have developed numerous ways of building credibility and one of such ways is using a toll-free number.

In this article, we will focus on how businesses build credibility with toll-free numbers.

Toll-Free Numbers are Essential For Building Business Credibility

There are a number of factors that influence how customers perceive or assess the credibility of a business. One of such factors is the presence of a business near a customer’s location or the sense of it. Having toll-free numbers is one of the methods that businesses use in order to establish their presence. Toll-free numbers help businesses to extend their presence to as many places as possible, thereby building solid credibility.

It is often true that a business may offer a better product or service to prospective customers, but it may lack the presence that a bigger business has, which is often a key factor to consider in a competitive market. Bigger companies will always leverage on credibility when the issue of reputation is raised, while smaller businesses often play catch up in that area. However, the playing field has become quite level with the development of toll-free numbers; allowing smaller businesses to establish a business presence without having to be physically present.

Bigger businesses are better funded, which means that they can afford to buy or rent a new office structure in any country that they have identified opportunities within. Many years ago, it would have been impossible for smaller businesses to compete because there were no methods of establishing a business presence in a country of interest without having a new office or at least a few personnel. Today, smaller businesses can now compete for a share of the customer base easily due to technology.

When businesses utilize tools such as international toll-free numbers, their credibility becomes stronger and customers are able to trust them even better. Having an international toll-free number is another way of showing your customers that your business is closer to them rather than being a foreign brand, trying to sell them products and services. With the benefit of toll-free numbers, your business can be seen as international with a local presence.

A toll-free number through which customers can call your business is a very effective way of proving to them that your company can deliver. Customers are more comfortable with patronizing businesses that have toll-free numbers because they need the assurance that they can contact them should they have any inquiries or complaints. Also, they get to call without incurring any long-distance call charges. Therefore, a small business that is serious about establishing a presence can benefit from toll-free numbers.

A business can portray itself as a local brand or an international brand depending on the type of toll-free number that it is subscribed to.

International toll-free numbers are ideal for businesses looking for an international appeal while being easily accessible to customers in multiple countries. Businesses with a specific country of interest can leverage on country-specific toll-free numbers such as USA toll-free numbers, Italy toll-free numbers, and so on.

In order for businesses to fully maximize their toll-free numbers, they must place their 1-800 number on all their advertising platforms, such as handbills, billboards, flyers, radio and TV ads, newsletters, social media, and so forth. This way, prospective customers have your contact information available to them at all times.

Vanity Numbers

Vanity numbers are also a great way to make your toll-free numbers memorable by interchanging digits for letters. A vanity number also provides a great opportunity for branding. A business can interchange numbers with a word that resonates with the brand for better results.

How Do I Sign Up for Toll-Free Number Services

Global Call Forwarding is a leading toll-free number provider that offers services for businesses. Signing up for a toll-free number is very easy. All you need to do is visit the Global Call Forwarding website. They offer different plans depending on the volume of incoming calls that your business receives monthly, as well as other plans like minute-based packages. They also offer additional services like SMS forwarding, roll-over minutes, international toll-free numbers, and many more to boost your business’ communications.

Other Benefits Of Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers allow businesses to centralize their operations. Because toll-free numbers can be used from any location in the world, businesses with employees in multiple countries can communicate using just a single number.
Due to the portability of toll-free numbers, your business can retain their toll-free numbers even when they move from one network provider to another. Global Call forwarding ensures that your business enjoys uninterrupted services.
Global Call Forwarding offers additional features such as call forwarding and voicemail, all of which ensure that you do not miss a call even when you are on the go.
Your business can take advantage of toll-free numbers in generating leads. Because toll-free numbers are free to call, they help increase customer engagement.
Toll-free numbers are great for tracking customer location. If you have dedicated toll-free numbers for each of your marketing activities in different countries, you can easily identify where calls are coming from and where you need to increase marketing efforts.

Phone Calls and the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act

Mikayla Posk 24th October 2017 blog, Business Insights

What is the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)?

In the beginning of 2017, a reported 73% of United States citizens who died, passed away with some form of debt (credit, auto, mortgage, personal, or student). With such a large number of people living with debt, it is reasonable for people to want to understand their options because in reality, debt and finances are a daily part of our lives, and it can have so much determination on our individual quality of life.

So what is the FDCPA, and how can it help me?

The Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was set in place to protect individuals from being harassed by debt collectors. Harassment in this case would include repeated, inconvenient, and frequent calls through which the debt collector aims to annoy, bully, or threaten an individual into making a payment. The FDCPA has laws to limit the frequency of phone calls a debt collector can make to ensure that no individual falls prey to unfair debt collection practices.

The FDCPA is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure that collectors are not using abusive debt collection practices. A debt collector is an individual who is affiliated with a collection agency, a law group, or a company that buys debt off of debt collection agencies. The FDCPA does not protect against original creditors in each state, although there are some states, like California, that try to protect their citizens from the original creditors. The FDCPA aims to lay out explicit guidelines for fair debt collections practices, and avenues for those in debt to protect themselves against harassment, or false debt accusations. There is a system in place which allows those in debt to validate information given to them by the debt collectors to ensure the information is accurate and not fraudulent. There are also instances where individuals have a right to dispute the debt that they owe, which we will discuss later in this post. The FDCPA’s overall purpose is to protect all parties involved in a fair, and equal way.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

While the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act intends to protect all involved parties, it is still important to know the full scope of your rights in case of an error on their part. Additionally, there is a whole industry of lawyers popping up to defend debt collectors, who spend their days trying to find loopholes to make you (the consumer) pay, regardless of any wrongdoing on the part of the debt collector. Having your own back in this situation, and doing the appropriate research will allow you to avoid falling into any traps.

It is sometimes advantageous to talk to them at least once to better understand the situation and know the exact debt(s) that they are calling to collect. Sometimes, it may even be a mistake that you are on their list, and one phone call would suffice to eliminate the problem. If however, you do actually owe the debt, but still think it is a mistake or you cannot pay it back, you do not have to endure endless phone calls and debt collectors parading themselves through your life. You can send them a notice to end all contact. This must be done via mail, and the only contact they are allowed to make is either to tell you that there will be no further contact, or to file a lawsuit. If they file a lawsuit to sue you for the amount owed, you will not want to ignore the lawsuit. You may try to handle it yourself, but you are entitled to an attorney. If you have hired an attorney, the debt collectors can no longer contact you directly, but must only contact your lawyer.

In order for the claim to be valid, the collector must send a written confirmation of the amount owed, and who the creditor is within the first five days of contacting you. They must also explain the process for you to follow if you believe it was sent in error. If you send the letter explaining why it is an error, the collector must not contact you again until they send proof of the amount owed.

Additionally, if you make a payment toward your debt, if you owe more than one creditor, you can tell the collector where to apply the money, and they must comply with your request. They especially cannot apply any amount paid to a debt that you have explicitly claimed that you do not owe.

If at this point they sue you for a debt that you are not paying, and refuse to accept responsibility for, the court can garnish your funds. Garnishing means that the court can tell the bank to withdraw funds from your account, or they can apply any income straight to the debt. This is legal, if the debt collectors win in court, however they can never garnish money from federal benefits such as social security, or veterans benefits.

Any time a debt collector calls, make sure they identify themselves with their name and their role as a debt collector, they announce who the original creditor is, they notify the consumer of the right to dispute this debt, and that they offer validation of the debt upon request. If they eventually file for a lawsuit, they must do it in accordance with FDCPA laws.

When is debt Collection Illegal?

Here we will examine a list of unfair and abusive debt collection practices that may be used in court as evidence of harassment.

Hours of contact: Debt collectors may only contact you between 8am and 9pm unless you state otherwise. If you tell them that they are not allowed to call during work hours, or if you have a night shift, they may only call during the allotted times.
Continued Communication: After the consumer sends written notice to cease all communication, debt collectors may not contact the consumer again other than to notify them of the cessation of contact, or that they will proceed with a lawsuit.
Frequent calls with intent to annoy: calling over and over again which harasses the consumer.
Contacting place of employment: Debt collectors may not call a consumer’s place of work if they have been directed not to.
Contacting consumer, and not their attorney (if they have one)
Misrepresentation or deceit: Regarding the debt, or the identity of the debt collector (posing as a law enforcement officer).
Publicly publishing consumer’s name or address without their consent.
Threatening legal action
Aggressive or threatening language/ cursing
Sharing information about your debt with third parties
They cannot contact you by shaming you: For example, they cannot post anywhere, especially through mail that you are being pursued by debt collectors.

A consumer can provide each of the elements from the list above as evidence in court against a debt collector if they feel the standards set forth by the FDCPA were not met. Consumers should not dispose of any voicemail, email, mail correspondence in case the situation ever escalates to court.

The FDCPA will defend consumers who have the right to dispute any debt that you think is not legitimate. You do not have to suffer through repeated, and annoying phone calls and debt collectors, and you do not have to fall victim to abusive debt collection practices. You can also hire an attorney to handle your case who is an expert in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act such as GM Law Firm. GM Law Firm has detailed some information about what your rights are, and what to look out for on their website.

Know the signs, now your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and know that you do not have to subject yourself to this kind of treatment.

Where Can I Buy A Universal Toll Free Number?

Valerie Stitt 23rd October 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Toll Free Number

A toll free number, also known as a “free phone,” is a phone number in which all charges are incurred by the subscriber for receiving incoming calls. All calls placed to a toll free number are completely free for the caller. Toll free numbers can be used by both landline and mobile phone subscribers. Rates may vary depending on the device.

Toll free numbers are often used by businesses to allow their customers to make inquiries or transactions without incurring any costs. Toll free numbers usually have a 3-digit prefix such as 800, 0800, and 1-800. The 800 prefix is common with most toll free numbers, however, the service access numbers may be country specific.

The modern toll-free services that we have today were upgraded from the traditional electromechanical switching systems when computerized systems were developed. However, toll free services like Global Call Forwarding largely make use of both traditional phone systems and computerized cloud systems.

Toll-free numbers are readily available to anyone who need them for business or for personal uses. There are well over a dozen known toll-free numbers provided by call forwarding providers who offer different packages depending on the volume of calls that you are expecting. Being in business for over 20 years, Global Call Forwarding is one of such companies with flexible offers, and excellent prices for subscribers.

What Are Universal Toll Free Numbers?

Universal toll free numbers are similar to regular toll free numbers in the sense that the calling party bears no cost for making a call. Unlike regular toll free numbers, universal toll free numbers can be dialed from anywhere in the world at no cost. Universal toll free numbers also feature a 3-digit 800 prefix followed by an 8 digit dialing code. This code allows customers from anywhere in the world to contact businesses via phone at no cost. Global Call Forwarding currently offers toll free services in more than 150 countries across the world and this has become a very useful tool for businesses and individuals alike.

Universal toll free numbers are essential for all types of businesses. Businesses that are looking for an opportunity to establish a presence in different countries without setting up a physical office can benefit from universal toll free numbers. For businesses with international clients, a universal toll free number is a unique way of establishing global connections between them and their customers.

To get a universal toll free phone number for your business, you must choose a service provider, after which you will be required to select a plan. Choice of plans include minute-to-minute formats or an inclusive payment plan. Global Call Forwarding offers flexible universal toll free number service plans for all users.

Are Universal Toll Free Numbers Real?

Universal toll free numbers are definitely real! This is indicated by the number of multinational corporations that make use of this service to make their businesses more accessible to their clients and prospective customers abroad. However, a number of people are quite skeptical about these numbers; it just seems too good to be true!

If your business has a specific requirement to have a universal toll free number set up in one or more countries, Global Call Forwarding is a call forwarding provider that services clients across more countries as compared to other service providers. Once you are signed up on their website, you will be provided a free trial that offers you first-hand experience in operating your universal toll free number.

The idea of a universal toll free number is a very practical one. Imagine if every business were required to have a contact number for every country where they operate, or where their goods and services are being offered. It would be quite difficult to centralize customer service activities in this manner. Today, a business in the UK can receive calls from their customers in New York through a universal toll free number. This is where Global Call Forwarding comes in by providing this service to businesses quite conveniently.

On the part of the customer or person initiating the call, it does make a lot of sense to be able to call a company in another country for free. Customers feel more comfortable and reassured about a business that has a toll free number through which they can give feedback about products and services or to make inquiries.

How Do Universal Numbers Work?

The process is very simple from when the call is initiated to the receiver. When a customer initiates a call to a universal toll free number, the call is at no cost to the customer. For the receiving party, all calls will be charged based on the selected plan. Customers are aware that 0800, 800, and 1-800 numbers are toll free, unlike local numbers that do not have these prefixes and are often charged at regular local and international rates when called from within a country or from abroad. With Global Call Forwarding, exceptional call services are guaranteed with a subscription.

Universal toll-free numbers make use of both cloud and traditional telephone systems even though most services provided are cloud based or virtual. Global Call Forwarding offer their subscribers full control of their account management with a very easy-to-use platform that gets you connected.

Where Can I Buy Universal Toll Free Numbers?

For businesses looking to get a universal toll-free number, Global Call Forwarding is a leading company that provides access to flexible package plans that are tailored to serve your business and personal uses.

Subscribers are provided the opportunity to buy universal numbers at very affordable rates. When it comes to additional features, Global Call Forwarding offer a suite of features to accommodate your phone number needs. More importantly, their services are seamless as subscribers are provided with very reliable and efficient support.

Buying a toll free number from Global Call Forwarding is very easy as they have put in a lot of effort to ensure that you will have your toll free number ready to use in a matter of minutes. Their website has been optimized for mobile use so that you can have easy access to your account at any time, wherever you may be.

When you choose a Global Call Forwarding plan, you get more than just a telephone number for your business. You will get additional features like a virtual assistant, sms forwarding, rollover minutes, voicemail, advanced call forwarding, and much more!

International Toll Free Number Providers

Valerie Stitt 19th October 2017 blog, Business Phone Numbers

There are a lot of business owners who are hoping to expand their business in the international market but they do not know how to begin. Taking a look at international toll free number providers and all of the services and features they offer will be ideal because it can help business owners reach more customers. At the same time, these services will make it easier for customers to contact the company they need to connect with.

You should always do a search of the best companies for toll free numbers to be sure that you are getting the best services for your business needs. Once you seek the help of an international toll-free number provider, you will then be given a toll-free number for international customers to call whenever they need to reach you.

Does Your Business Need Services From Toll Free Number Providers?

There are lots of small businesses that are popping up in 2020. It will be hard to compete with all of them because you may be offering similar products or services to what they have.

You can use this technology in order to become more present in the eyes of your customers, offering an additionally beneficial channel of communication in regards to customer service. You will make them feel that you are near even if your office is actually located in a far away location. The uses of a toll-free number can also give you access to various features and tools that will be beneficial for your business such as account management, select country forwarding, black and white lists, and much more!

5 Benefits of Choosing a Reliable International Toll-Free Number Provider

Global Call Forwarding is one of the top-rated international toll-free number providers in 2020. They have been in business since 1996.

Being accessible to your customers is one of the major factors to consider in having a successful business. If your customers are not able to connect with you, they will look at your competition instead. You will lose sales and your customers in the process, especially if they inform the people they know that your company cannot be trusted.

When you use toll-free numbers for your business, your customers can reach you whenever and wherever you are located globally.

Some of the benefits of using toll-free numbers are as follows:

1. You can provide excellent customer service.

What is the one reason why people keep on choosing a certain brand? When they see that the company is always willing to answer their questions, they will be more than willing to recommend that same company to the people that they know. You may have different toll-free numbers for different locations depending on the people you want to reach.

2. You will allow yourself to be present in various locations all at once.

Your physical location may be in a place outside the country that you are trying to target. With the use of toll-free numbers for business provided by international tollfree number providers, your target market will not feel that you are far away. You may come to a point that you are so focused on your international customers that you overlook the customers who are in the same area as your actual office’s location. Make sure that your customers are aware of your presence no matter where you are, whether they are international or local.

3. You do not have to spend a lot of money to get this service.

One of the misconceptions about the services that are provided by international toll-free number providers is that the service is expensive. This is not true at all. Surprisingly, toll free numbers provided by Global Call Forwarding are indeed affordable and you do not have to worry about expensive international calling rates. Aside from the basic toll-free service that you can get, there are some added features that you can use with your number to improve the customer connection even further.

4. You allow yourself to become more flexible.

Since the toll-free numbers you get are very versatile, you can forward the calls to your landline number at home or you may forward them to your phone so that you can still be reached even when you are outside of your office. Since toll-free numbers are portable, they would not require contacts. You can use them with any telephone carrier. Just imagine how convenient this can be to your business! You can be traveling and still attend to your customer’s needs without the barrier of distance.

5. You manage to improve your reputation.

If there is one thing you should realize as a business owner, it is that you have to improve your reputation so that you can reach even more customers. The more positivity about your reputation spreads, the better it is for your business. Buy toll free international numbers and use them when creating various pages throughout social media sites and people will leave their reviews based on the products or services provided from you. International toll-free number providers such as Global Call forwarding will be sufficient for your business needs.

Why Should You Choose Global Call Forwarding As Your International Toll Free Number Provider?

Now that you know some of the benefits that it can provide for your business, you still need to know the reasons why it is ideal to get the services provided by international toll-free number providers such as Global Call Forwarding. Here are some of the benefits that you can expect:

You will come across as a company operating in a specific country, city, or state.
You will be able to centralize incoming calls that you are going to receive. You may not realize how important this is until you start getting many calls from various customers.
You can make your business appear larger than it actually is; sometimes this is important, based on your business strategy.
You can make your business more accessible to different people.
You can also eliminate people’s concerns about calling a number from another country.

Based on all of these reasons mentioned above, do you see how international toll-free number providers such as Global Call Forwarding may actually offer you something that may be immensely beneficial? International toll free numbers can be an excellent move for your business in 2020, especially as companies transition to remote work. The earlier that you invest in it, the higher the rewards are going to be in the future.

Toll Free Number Providers

Samantha Stevens 12th October 2017 blog, Cloud Telephony

How Toll Free Numbers Can Save Your Startup

According to Forbes, 90% of startups fail. That’s a staggering number, considering how many new companies try to get off the ground every year.

In the United States, startups are becoming more and more common. There’s a lot that goes into these businesses, too. Finding the right products, creating a marketing plan, securing funding, and exacting a location can take months or even years to prepare. Many people choose to leave the stability of their “9 to 5” job just so they can chase this dream. This is why it’s so important to make sure every detail of your startup is just right.

Sometimes new entrepreneurs feel like they’re constantly fighting an uphill battle to become profitable. Not only are they competing with other startups and mid-size companies, but they are going up against large organizations with greater resources. All of them are clamoring for the same customer base.

As a startup you have to establish an advantage for yourself, otherwise you may face a shutdown, or even worse, bankruptcy. So how can you differentiate yourself in the market and get clients to spend their hard earned money on your products and services?

Small Brand, Big Branding

Your brand is small now, but you don’t want to be seen as small. That’s why it’s all about brand recognition. You may have heard it said that a consumer needs to hear your company’s messaging at least seven times before finally making a purchase. One way to do this is through having an easy to remember toll free number. It doesn’t matter if you’re only one person working the business or a group of twenty, an 800 number shows that you’re a small company that means big business. By fielding client inquiries and making sales calls from a toll free number provider, you instantly increase your “presence” and make yourself look like a real organization.

You may have heard of vanity numbers before, which can be a local or toll free number. For instance, 1-800-FLOWERS, 1-800-PET-FOOD, and 1-800-ATTORNEY are pretty popular ones that come to mind. Vanity numbers help people remember your name faster than your competitors’! You can choose a vanity toll free number that works just as well for your startup, allowing you to give the impression of being well established. Your vanity number should be a word or short phrase that’s catchy and relates to your industry. Toll free number providers can conduct a search to make sure your perfect number hasn’t already been taken.

An 800 toll free number is also great for startups that provide products and services all across the country regardless of location. So for example, if your main startup office is based in Miami, Florida, you don’t want Los Angeles, California clients to know your Miami area code. They may think you’re too “small” or too far away to give them what they need. Toll free numbers show that your company is accessible from literally anywhere.

Get More Client Satisfaction

One of the biggest struggles a startup can face is how to achieve customer satisfaction. Even just a few unhappy customers at the beginning of your business can really hurt your company, especially if they leave unhappy reviews online for others to read. People associate toll free numbers with credibility and professionalism. There’s an aesthetic appeal that comes with getting an 800 number. They give everyone the impression that you’re in it for the long haul and are dedicated to excellent customer service.

Toll free number providers help connect your toll free numbers to the lines of your choice. So no matter where you are, everyone can reach you on a portable 800 number without needing to change your extension. If your startup has a call center overseas, then toll free number providers give people a way to reach your brand twenty-four seven. They can call no matter what time of day it is, whether it’s 2pm or 4am, and anywhere in between. No one has to face an answering machine and can get their issues resolved quickly.

Make Your Job Easier

Startup owners have many uneasy responsibilities when growing their company. They must make difficult decisions that can change the course of their entire business model. Just one of these decisions is properly understanding how to make the most out of their limited marketing budgets before they run out of funding.

As we stated earlier, toll free numbers are also digital. This means each 800 number you receive can be tracked for sales and marketing purposes. So for instance, if you set up several lines in one city, you can test them against each other and see which ones serve your startup best. If a line just isn’t working out, you can cut it with no further issues.

Toll free number providers can also help you scale your startup correctly. You may have one working line now, but what happens when you have a sudden and unexpected surge of callers? Your company needs to have the right infrastructure to make it work. So if you’re fine using a personal cell phone line for now, this method will not hold you for long. Otherwise customers will always get a busy signal or answering machine when trying to connect with you. When paired with just the right amount of manpower, toll free numbers scale your business by handling a much larger call volume.

Want to take a break from the office life? Even startup owners need a vacation now and then to refresh their creative side, and you don’t have to feel guilty about doing it. Toll free number providers can help you forward the 800 number to any landline or cell phone. Customers can freely call any other member of your team and you won’t have to be bothered if you’re out of town.

Contact Global Call Forwarding

Are you ready to give your startup the push it needs to be a part of the thriving 10% to success? Global Call Forwarding is a toll free number provider with years of experience helping startups turn into large businesses and international corporations. Contact a member of our team today for assistance if you’re interested in purchasing toll free numbers for all of your business needs or order here on our website for a free trial and instant activation.

How to Forward Calls with T-Mobile

Ned Isaacs 10th October 2017 blog, Cloud Telephony

This article discusses the forwarding of incoming calls and text messages to T-Mobile phones. It also gives background on T-Mobile and information on international call forwarding services in general, and the many benefits available.

T-Mobile is one of the most well-known mobile phone companies in the world, and their services are often highly praised for its great quality as well as affordability. Among the many conveniences, they offer their customers, call forwarding is one of the best, enabling their users to route calls as needed. To make things simple with T-Mobile call forwarding, a variety of codes can be utilized for fast, efficient access.

Self-Service Short Codes

Mobile users, with monthly and prepaid T-Mobile accounts, can use self-service shortcodes to activate plan features such as call forwarding. However, non-T-Mobile codes do not work with the Simple Choice Plan with No Credit Check. The process for using self-service shortcodes is straightforward. First, locate the code from the following table. Then, dial the code on your mobile phone and hit the call button.

Short Code	What the Self-service Short Code Does
##004#	Cancel call forwarding
*21Phone Number#	Turn on unconditional call forwarding (CFU) to a number
##21#	Turn off unconditional call forwarding
*61Phone Number#	Turn on call forwarding if no reply (CF NRY) to a number
##61#	Turn off call forwarding if no reply
*62Phone Number#	Turn on call forwarding when not reachable (CF NRC)
##62#	Turn off call forwarding when not reachable
*67Phone Number#	Turn on call forwarding when busy (CFB
##67#	Turn off call forwarding when busy
*6118056377249**seconds# Insert the desired number of delay seconds	This changes the call forwarding delay time from five to 30 seconds. For example, dialing *6118056377249**12# sets a 12-second delay.
*43#	Turn on call waiting
#43#	Turn off call waiting

Forwarding Calls Using Cell Phone Menus

Mobile phone users can set call forwarding options using the menus on their phones. Each brand of phone is different, and their menu options vary. Below is an example of activating or deactivating call forwarding on an Android HTC One S phone.

To activate or disable call forwarding, do the following:

Touch the “Notification” bar and slide down.
Tap the “Settings” icon.
Scroll to “Phone” and tap “Call.”
Tap “Call Forwarding.”
Tap “Always Forward” to enable or “Disable” to disable call forwarding.

The T-Mobile support web site featured the above example.

Forwarding Text Messages

T-Mobile lacks provision to forward text messages. However, the T-Mobile website offered the suggestion of using a 3rd-party app.

Background on T-Mobile

T-Mobile US has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Its majority shareholder is a German company, Deutsche Telekom (DT). T-Mobile provides wireless voice and data services in the United States to 73 million customers as of the first quarter of 2017. T-Mobile began as VoiceStream Wireless PCS in 1994. After a spin off, a buyout, and a merger, it became T-Mobile in 2013.

T-Mobile operates a 4G LTE network that can reach over 312 million potential subscribers. The term LTE stands for Long Term Evolution (a technical process for high-speed mobile devices), and 4G stands for fourth-generation wireless standard. T-Mobile has roaming agreements with several mobile network providers. It also markets T-Mobile HotSpots, which consists of public and private Wi-Fi networks.

Products and Services

T-Mobile ONE

T-Mobile ONE will be the only rate plan offered in the future while T-Mobile phases out Simple Choice. The plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messaging, high-speed data (32 GB/ month), High Definition (1080p) video streaming, and 10 GB of High-Speed Mobile Hotspot data at 4G LTE speeds. Beyond the 10 GB limit, Hotspot data slows to 3G speeds

Simple Choice

The Simple Choice plan was part of T-Mobile’s Un-carrier initiative. The plan dropped contracts, subsidized phones, overage fees for data, and early termination fees. T-Mobile no longer offers the Simple Choice plan to new customers although existing subscribers can keep their plans.

Capping Unlimited Data Users

Some users, with unlimited data plans, have been violating T-Mobile’s Terms & Conditions regarding tethering. Tethering is the sharing of a mobile’s internet connection with other devices. This has created speed issues for all other customers, and as a result, T-Mobile is removing user access to unlimited plans and substituting tiered plans.

T-Mobile InReach Program

The InReach Program provides free cell phone service with limited voice minutes for income-eligible families. The Universal Service Fund sponsors the program in some states as well as Puerto Rico.

MetroPCS

MetroPCS merged with T-Mobile in 2013, but continues to offer prepaid wireless services under the MetroPCS brand.

GoSmart Mobile

GoSmart, a branded T-Mobile service, offered no-contract wireless services to “Authorized Dealers.” In 2016, TracFone Wireless bought the brand the accompanying 326,000 GoSmart Mobile customers.

T-Mobile Reviews

One area T-Mobile has gained a tremendous amount of applause for is speed, as their speed in populated areas is superior to that of its competition. Furthermore, T-Mobile offers large amounts of data for very low prices. There are no contracts or termination fees, and they offer a payment plan for phone purchases. Help and support has also greatly advanced in recent years, as it has become a necessity for companies like T-Mobile to offer customers the best support possible. The one major drawback is abysmal rural coverage.

Call Forwarding, Another Perspective

Global Call Forwarding (GCF) provides international call forwarding services. Businesses that purchase those numbers often have offices in other parts of the world but desire to maintain a virtual presence in other locales. These ITFS numbers function as described below.

The caller dials the number.
GCF forwards the call to a programmed destination.
Your business receives the call on a landline, mobile, or PBX system.

GCF also offers many forwarding features with its toll free numbers.

Sequential Forwarding

Sequential ring delivers calls down a list of programmed phone numbers, which is essential for many businesses. For example, if a person is away from their desk, the next number in the list receives the call. The user can set the ringing time for each destination, and the call sequence can have four additional destination numbers.

Time of Day Routing

Time-based call forwarding routes calls based on the time of day or day of the week. For example, from 9 AM to 5 PM, your office number may ring. From 5 PM to 6 PM, you may direct calls to your mobile phone and from 6 PM to 10 PM, to your home phone. You may direct all late night calls and weekend calls to voicemail.

Failover Forwarding

Businesses can program multiple phone numbers or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) accounts that use different Tier 1 carriers. If the first number or SIP account is busy, the system forwards the call to the next number or SIP. Failover forwarding prevents dropped calls.

Advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

IVR establishes a computer greeting system that receives incoming calls. It interacts with callers via prompts and directs calls based on voice or keypad responses from them. The cloud IVR solution can be customized to meet your business needs.

Select Country Forwarding

Select country forwarding directs calls to numbers based on the caller’s geographic location. Therefore, if a person is calling from France, a French-speaking attendant will receive the call.

Forward Fax

This feature receives and forwards faxes to an email address as image files.

SMS Forwarding

Unlike T-Mobile, GCF provides plans to forward SMS messages to your email address. Users must subscribe to an SMS enabled phone number. Users can view the details of SMS messages on the GCF online control panel.