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Category: Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Toll-Free Number Porting

4th April 2022 blog, Call Management
An image of our toll-free number porting guide.

Locked in a low-quality toll-free service provider? Tired of paying high monthly bills? Want to add advanced call management features to your phone system? Thankfully, you’re not stuck with your …Read More »

Domestic Toll-Free vs International Toll-Free: Understanding the Difference

31st March 2022 blog
An image of a comparison between domestic toll free numbers and ITFS numbers.

You’re probably wondering – aren’t toll-free numbers obsolete in today’s technology-driven business environment? While toll-free numbers have existed for decades, they are still relevant to this day. In fact, most …Read More »

Why is VoIP Geo-Redundancy a Top Business Priority?

30th March 2022 blog
An image of VoIP Geo Redundancy.

We live in a highly-connected and online-obsessed economy, leading to the expectation that individuals and businesses should always be available. So what happens when your business suffers an outage or …Read More »

9 Themes and Takeaways from Enterprise Connect 2022

25th March 2022 blog
Enterprise Connect 2022 Themes and Takeaways

Enterprise Connect (EC) 2022 just took place from March 21-24, 2022. This year’s expo was fantastic with a wonderfully decorated floor plan, an absolutely stacked speaker panel, and cutting-edge technologies …Read More »

What is VoIP Termination and Why Do You Need it?

24th March 2022 blog
An image of how VoIP calls get connected and terminated.

Dropped calls, inaccessibility, and high calling costs are unacceptable when it comes to enterprise communications. Without high-quality voice, your business will have a hard time connecting with essential customers and …Read More »

Inbound vs Outbound Call Center: Definition, Features, Differences

21st March 2022 blog
This image shows inbound vs outbound call centers.

When you’re running a call center, managing calls effectively is of the utmost importance. But, to successfully manage calls, you need to determine the type of call center you are …Read More »

Call Center Regulations

28th November 2017 Learn, Tips

Customer call centers are the bedrock of large businesses’ customer service. Many businesses set up call centers to take incoming calls from customers who need help or have questions about their products or services. While some businesses only use their call center to receive calls, others also use it to make outbound calls for the purpose of soliciting new clients.

Call Center Laws

It is important to know that there are specific federal laws that affect the operation of call centers. These include the Telephone, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Consumer Protection Act, and the U.S. Department of Labor Hourly Worker Requirements.

While some of these may seem surprising, it is important to know that many call center managers are not aware they can be in violation of call center regulations.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act

Call centers that are making outbound calls to solicit sales must follow the regulations mandated by the TCPA. This body regulates the times that telemarketers may call and their persons they may call.

  • Call centers must not call residential numbers before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • During each call, the customer service agent must tell the recipient which company he or she represents and must also give his or her name and phone number.
  • Call centers must abide by the regulations of the Do Not Call Registry.
  • Auto-dialed and automated or pre-recorded calls may not be made for telemarketing purposes without the recipient’s written consent.

The TCPA permits individuals to file lawsuits and claim damages if a call center violates the regulations.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

All the main U.S. health insurance companies utilize customer service call centers. Their purpose is to handle inquiries from current or prospective insurance policy subscribers as well as dealing with provider inquiries, verifications of eligibility, and claim authorizations. All call center workers dealing with patient information must at all times adhere to the regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA was passed in 1996 and mandates the privacy of each individual’s health information. The act is designed to protect patients and their medical information. Call center staff are not allowed to discuss the details of private patient information with anyone other than the patient or a person whom the patient has authorized. Any call center that violates HIPAA regulations is subject to legal action and penalties on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Contractual Requirements

Each individual client to whom a call center provides service is classed as a separate contract. Call centers must, at all times, follow federal mandates for these clients, as well as following the client’s specific requirements. For example, a contract may specify that calls are to be answered live instead of being routed through an automated system. Another contract may request that calls are answered within a specific time frame. If a call center is unionized, it is also required to meet union regulations as well. All specific contractual obligations must be followed at all times.

U.S. Department of Labor Hourly Worker Requirements

Usually, call center employees are paid at an hourly rate. For call centers in the United States, the U.S. Department of Labor administers the Fair Labor Standards Act, which states how workers who are paid hourly must be treated. The employer is required to pay at least the national minimum wage unless the state minimum wage is higher. Furthermore, hourly employees who work more than 40 hours per week must be paid an overtime rate, the amount of which should be of one and a half times their normal hourly wage.

It is up to the call center manager to ensure that there are enough people in the call center to handle the expected call volume at any given time. Call center managers often use virtual software to predict how many call center agents will be needed to handle the projected volume in half-hour increments. This helps ensure that workers get their required break times.

Regulations Regarding Recording Customer Calls

If you record customer calls and you are taking information about the customer’s credit cards, then you need to know that this is against PCI-DSS standards, which prohibits the storage of the CVV2 number (the three- or four-digit number listed on the back of the card). This number may not be stored at any time or in any form even at a high level of encryption. If your company is recording calls and you are not stopping call recording when the customer gives out the CVV2 number, then you are violating PCI-DSS regulations. The simple solution to this problem is to pause the voice recording when the customer is inputting their credit card details so that the call center agent can enter it manually and it will not be stored in the recording.

Regulations Regarding Outbound Calls

Many companies have a recorded announcement stating that incoming calls may be recorded for the improvement of customer services.

However, few organizations provide this information when making outgoing calls to customers. And even fewer take into consideration that they are recording their employee’s conversations as well as those of their customers. At this point, it should be noted that if you are going to record a telephone conversation, all parties must be notified before you commence recording. To avoid legal action, your call center must advise all parties that they will be recorded, and give them the opportunity to opt out if they so desire. It must also be clear that in order to opt out they should hang up. In order to avoid any legal complications with this issue, the easiest option is to ask your employees and contractors to sign a notice of consent form agreeing that their calls may be monitored and recorded.

Network Regulations

You also need to ensure that your call center network system is secure enough to be compliant with PCI guidelines. This means not only having an effective firewall and router but also implementing internal processes that will provide additional layers of protection. You should impose restrictions on all traffic from networks which are considered to be unsafe and never permit direct access between network components containing customer data and the internet.

To make sure your call center agents are aware of security protocols and call center regulations, you should add these issues to the employee training program, and make sure to update your team regularly so that they do not forget to keep all calls 100 percent compliant.

How to Turn On Call Forwarding with AT&T

21st November 2017 How To's, Learn, Tech, Tips

AT&T’s Device Support Tutorials

Access the Call Forwarding Device Support tutorials website to learn how to turn on call forwarding with AT&T. The following process shows how this is accomplished.

  1. Go to “https://www.att.com/device-support/selector/.” This site lists the brands of cell phones and tablets.
  2. Then, select the device manufacturer.
  3. Select the device model. If the device is not found, select Load More Devices and then select the device.
  4. Under Search device support, type call forwarding. If that does not get the tutorial, go to Additional Support.
  5. Select Learn How to Use.
  6. Select Calling.
  7. Select Call Forwarding.

Setting Up Call Forwarding on Different Cell Phones

The following sections give the AT&T call forwarding tutorial steps for a variety of popular cell phones and softphones. This is just a sampling of the available tutorials. Follow the above procedure to find a tutorial for a specific phone not shown here. Note that there is not a tutorial for the Google Pixel phones.

AT&T Tutorial for Samsung Galaxy 8

  1. TURN ON CALL FORWARDING: Select the Phone app from the home screen.
  2. Select the Menu icon and then select Settings.
  3. Select More settings.
  4. Select Call forwarding.
  5. Select Always forward.
  6. Enter the desired Forwarding number and then select TURN ON.
  7. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notification bar.
  8. TURN OFF CALL FORWARDING: Select Always forward from the Call forwarding settings menu.
  9. Select TURN OFF.

Note: To change the call forwarding number, edit the number, then select UPDATE.

AT&T Tutorial for Apple iPhone 8 & 8 Plus

  1. To set up Call forwarding on the device, from the home screen select the Settings app.
  2. Scroll to and select Phone.
  3. Select Call Forwarding.
  4. Select the Call Forwarding switch to activate Call Forwarding.
    Note: You must be in range of the cellular network when you set an iPhone to forward calls, or calls will not be forwarded.
  5. Enter the desired forwarding number.
  6. Select Back to return to the Call Forwarding screen when finished.
  7. When Call Forwarding is active, the Call Forwarding icon will appear in the Status Bar.
  8. To change the Call Forwarding number, from the Call Forwarding screen select Forward To.
  9. Enter the new desired forwarding number and then select Back.To turn off Call Forwarding, from the Call Forwarding screen swipe the
  10. Call Forwarding switch to off.

AT&T Tutorial for LG V30

  1. TURN ON CALL FORWARDING: From the home screen, select the Phone App. Select the Menu icon, then select Call Settings.
  2. Select More.
  3. Scroll to and select Additional Settings.
  4. Select Call Forwarding.
  5. Select Always Forward.
  6. Enter the desired forwarding number and then select TURN ON.
  7. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call Forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notification Bar.
  8. TURN OFF CALL FORWARDING: From the Call forwarding screen, select Always Forward then select TURN OFF.
    Note: To change the call forwarding number, edit the number as desired then select UPDATE.

AT&T Tutorial for Huawei Ascend XT2 (H1711)

  1. TURN CALL FORWARDING ON: From the home screen, select the Dialer app. Select the Menu icon, then select Settings.
  2. Select Call Forwarding.
  3. Select Always forward. Enter the desired forwarding number and then select ENABLE.
  4. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call Forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notification bar.
  5. TURN CALL FORWARDING OFF: From the Call Forwarding screen, select Always Forward then select DISABLE.
    Note: To change the call forwarding number, edit the number then select CHANGE.
  6. AT&T Tutorial for Motorola Moto Z2 Force Edition (XT1789)
  7. TURN CALL FORWARDING ON: From the home screen, select the Phone App. Select the Menu icon, then select Settings.
  8. Select Calls.
  9. Select Call Forwarding.
  10. Select Always Forward.
  11. Enter the desired forwarding number and then select TURN ON.
    Note: To change the call forwarding number, edit the number then select UPDATE.
  12. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notification Bar.
  13. TURN CALL FORWARDING OFF: From the Call Forwarding settings screen, select Always forward then select TURN OFF.

AT&T Tutorial for Alcatel ONETOUCH ALLURA (5056O)

  1. To forward all calls to a different number, from the Phone App, tap the Menu icon.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Call Settings.
  4. Tap Call Forwarding.
  5. Tap Always Forward.
  6. Enter the Desired Forwarding Number.
  7. Tap ENABLE.
  8. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call Forwarding icon will be displayed in the notification bar.
  9. To turn call forwarding off, tap Always Forward.
  10. Tap DISABLE.

AT&T Tutorial for ZTE Maven 2 (Z831)

  1. TURN ON CALL FORWARDING: From the home screen, select the Phone App. Select the Menu icon and then select Settings.
  2. Select Call Settings and then select Call Forwarding.
  3. Select Call Forward-Unconditional. Enter the desired Forwarding Number and then select TURN ON.
  4. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call Forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notification Bar.
  5. TURN OFF CALL FORWARDING: From the Call Forwarding settings screen, select Call Forward-Unconditional then select TURN OFF.
    Note: To edit the call forwarding number, select Call Forward-Unconditional. Edit the number as desired, then select UPDATE.

AT&T Tutorial for AT&T Fusion 3 (Y536A1)

  1. From the home screen, tap Dialer.
  2. Tap the Menu icon.
  3. Tap Call Settings.
  4. Tap Call Forwarding.
  5. Tap Always Forward.
  6. Tap the Number Field to edit the number to which calls will be forwarded.
  7. Tap Enable.
  8. Call Forwarding is now enabled. While call forwarding is active, the Call Forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notifications Bar.
  9. To disable Call Forwarding, tap Always Forward.
  10. Tap Disable.

AT&T Tutorial for Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G (R800at)

  1. From the home screen, press the Menu key and tap Settings.
  2. Tap Call Settings.
  3. Tap Call Forwarding.
  4. Tap to select the desired forwarding option. To forward all calls, tap Always Forward.
  5. Enter the desired forwarding number and then tap Enable.
    NOTE: Follow the above steps to return and Disable Call Forwarding or Update (Change) the forwarding number.
  6. AT&T Tutorial for BlackBerry KEYone (BBB100-1)
  7. TURN CALL FORWARDING ON: From the home screen, select the Phone App. Select the Menu icon, then select Settings.
  8. Select Calls.
  9. Select Call Forwarding and then select Voice.
  10. Select Always Forward.
  11. Enter the desired forwarding number and then select TURN ON.
  12. When call forwarding is turned on, the Call Forwarding icon will be displayed in the Notification Bar.
  13. TURN CALL FORWARDING OFF: From the Call Forwarding settings screen, select Always Forward and then select TURN OFF.
    Note: To change the call forwarding number, edit the number and then select UPDATE.

Related: 5 Ways Call Forwarding and Automation Can Improve Your Phone System

Business Telephone Etiquette

21st November 2017 Learn, Tech, Tips

Whether your business deals with local or international clients, understanding and practicing business telephone etiquette can ensure your business maintains professionalism and communicates effectively with its clients. Let’s learn how to practice proper business phone etiquette.

Business Telephone Communication

As easy as making and receiving telephone calls can be, many still do not know that rules guide telephone conversations, especially in the professional or business context. Business communication is a critical dimension of every organization. It can set the tone for many business activities involving clients and customers and other businesses such as closing deals, onboarding new customers, or offering customer support. Business calls play a major role in the day-to-day operations of many businesses. Companies need to contact potential customers, clients, and vendors and receive calls from customers about product inquiries and assistance.

The Importance of Proper Business Telephone Etiquette

Having good business telephone etiquette is beyond your ability to speak fluently and offer pleasant greetings. It is more about leaving a good and lasting impression on the person on the other end of the line. Since your next phone conversation could be your initial contact with a client, customer, or even your superior, you are presented with an opportunity to make a good connection and build a relationship.

Having the proper phone etiquette for business calls is necessary for every business that takes its professional image seriously. Have you ever contacted a business’s customer care department only to be greeted by a rude or uninterested representative? Did that response and interaction make you want to take your business elsewhere? This is where having stellar business telephone etiquette plays an important role in supporting your sales and customer support services. When a poor first impression is given, many businesses suffer, which often leads to a loss of customers and low sales conversions.

How a business communicates with its customers and clients will determine how they will be perceived. Therefore it becomes essential that businesses invest in training their employees to answer or initiate telephone calls. They also need to be aware of international business phone etiquette and how to connect with global customers effectively.

Furthermore, they must identify when a telephone call is the best means of communicating with a client, customer, or business contact. Employees must understand their audience and the most appropriate method to communicate with them. This depends on the type of business you run and what the interaction with the customer is about. In some cases, customers may prefer email or SMS contact instead of phone conversations.

11 Tips For Efficient Phone Etiquette for Business

So, what are some key phone etiquette rules? Here are 11 practical tips for business telephone etiquette that every employee should exercise when communicating with clients, customers, business contacts, and vendors:

  1. When answering a work or business phone, do not allow the phone to ring for too long. Three times is the ideal number of times that a business phone should ring.
  2. Ensure that you identify yourself at the beginning of every call. When answering the phone: “Hello” or “Good morning; customer support department, XYZ speaking.” When placing a call: state your name and the name of the person you are calling.
  3. Hold the phone at a distance of about 2 fingers from your mouth for clarity. Do not keep repeating the same thing over and over again; the other party might become uninterested and hang up.
  4. The tone of your voice can tell the other party a lot. Ensure you maintain a friendly yet professional tone. Avoid sounding nervous or aggressive. Speak with confidence and authority. Sit up in your chair when receiving phone calls to maintain your composure. Stand if it will be more comfortable.
  5. Prepare for a call before dialing the number. Ensure that you have thought through what you want to discuss. Write your talking points down on a notepad, so you do not leave anything out. This will help you to be direct and precise should your calls be forwarded to a voicemail.
  6. Listen to the other person without interruption. Under no circumstance should you interrupt them while they are passing on their information.
  7. If you must transfer a call, inform the caller before doing so. Explain why you need to transfer their call. First, confirm that the person you are transferring the call to is available to attend to the customer. Also, let the customer know who they are being transferred to.
  8. If you have to put a caller on hold, ask their permission first. You can also give them the option to leave a voicemail message. When you resume the call, ensure that you thank them for their patience.
  9. Always turn off your phone/ringer during a business meeting or call. It is not polite if your phone rings in the middle of a business decision.
  10. If you are expecting a call about the same time you enter a meeting, inform the caller beforehand about your meeting and that you will return their call as soon as you can.
  11. When speaking to a client or business contact on the phone, keep a distance from anything that can be a distraction. These include office desk noises, keys jingling, rustling papers, eating, or chewing. If you have to take a phone call while driving, ensure that you use a hands-free device or a speakerphone for your car. Giving your caller your undivided attention translates to treating them with respect, which is the most important business telephone etiquette foundation.

Invest in Business Phone Services

The importance of business telephone etiquette explains why many businesses invest heavily in their communication department regarding personnel and equipment. Both small and large businesses invest in call forwarding services to enable them to keep the lines of communication open at all times. Call forwarding companies like Global Call Forwarding make these services available to businesses globally. They offer various business communication solutions like SMS forwarding, virtual assistants, and much more for seamless business communications.

Call Recording Laws

9th November 2017 Learn, Tech, Tips

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?

9th November 2017 Learn, Tech, Tips

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

8th November 2017 Learn, Tips

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!

Phone Calls and the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act

24th October 2017 Learn, Tips

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Frequent calls with intent to annoy: calling over and over again which harasses the consumer.
  4. Contacting place of employment: Debt collectors may not call a consumer’s place of work if they have been directed not to.
  5. Contacting consumer, and not their attorney (if they have one)
  6. Misrepresentation or deceit: Regarding the debt, or the identity of the debt collector (posing as a law enforcement officer).
  7. Publicly publishing consumer’s name or address without their consent.
  8. Threatening legal action
  9. Aggressive or threatening language/ cursing
  10. Sharing information about your debt with third parties
  11. 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?

23rd October 2017 Learn, Tips

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

19th October 2017 Learn, Tips

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.