How 0845 Numbers Work

0845 telephone numbers are 'virtual' meaning they sit on an existing landline or mobile, which is why they deliver the great benefits listed above. For many customers with inclusive minutes with BT, calls to 0845 numbers are completely free!

With fixed line BT 01 and 02 numbers you rarely get the chance to choose your own number. With Windsor Telecom, you can choose from thousands of highly memorable 0845 numbers, helping customers to easily remember you and standout from the competition. One of our customers, a recruitment consultants with offices in London and Hertfordshire, uses our highly memorable 0845 460 0 460 number to create standout in an extremely competitive market. Thousands of organisations across the UK use 0845 numbers, including Jobcentre Plus, countless local county councils, charities such as the Alzheimer's Society and The Samaritans, as well as numerous travel brands like Butlins.

When a customer dials your virtual 0845 telephone number, the call is instantly routed to your existing landline or mobile number (referred to as your 'target'). Conveniently, you can change this target number at any time online using My Windsor, or via the phone with our Instant Call Rerouting service. 0845 numbers can be set up quickly and you don't need to install and maintain any software or hardware.

Diverting To Mobile

Add 250 minutes of talk time to your mobile routing facility for £10 per month. This works out at just 4p per minute instead of the Pay as you go rate of 9.95p. Another benefit of this popular package is that any extra minutes used over the 250 limit are charged at just 6p per minute. You can purchase Divert To Mobile 250 as a customer via My Windsor, our online portal. View Mobile Divert Costs.

Fax To Email

You can also choose to use a 0845 telephone numbers as a Fax to Email line, where faxes are received via your email. This is a great alternative to having a fax machine, which is traditionally expensive what with the on-going maintenance and material costs. What's more, you don't need a physical landline if you choose Fax to Email, again saving you a lot money.

Key Benefits of 0845 Numbers

• Reassure potential customers your organisation is established and professional
• Attract new customers from outside your local area
• 0845 numbers are completely trackable and you can access call stats showing you how many calls you're receiving and from where in the UK
• Reroute your incoming calls to any landline or mobile phone instantly
• 0845 numbers are non-geographic so people won't judge you by your location
• Keep your 0845 number for life (even if you relocate)
• Your callers will be able to recall your 0845 number with ease (which is great for referrals) and it will look great on your website and promotional material
• Built-in disaster recovery in any emergency - reroute your calls even if your landlines go down!

0845 Costs

• No connection charges!
• From £15 monthly service charge per number
• Free unlimited calls when 0845 routed to a UK landline
• Route to mobile or international. See divert charges
• Caller pays 0ppm to 3.36ppm depending on operator and call plan
• Caller pays typically 10-20ppm from UK mobile
• Please visit the OFCOM website for information on the cost of calling 0845 numbers.

0845 Free Call Handling

 

0845 numbers, some Frequently Asked Questions

Businesses who neglect their telephone communications are neglecting a surprisingly large number of potential customers.

While the move of business online seems to march inevitably onwards, it’s perhaps surprising that at the end of 2011 the Office for National Statistics reported that 16.3% of UK adults had never used the internet. And those who are using it do so in very different ways. According to projections from eMarketer, by the end of 2016 only 78.2% of us will use the web once a month or more frequently.

Much of Britain is still stuck using slow dial-up connections and many people have real concerns about the security of spending online, which is why the rules on new .uk addresses have been tightened up to restrict them to businesses that have a genuine presence in the UK.

And, the really striking growth in internet use is not from desktop computers but from handheld devices, many of which are phones.

An easy to remember phone number is a great way to speak to customers and your customers to find you.

What is an 0845 number?

0845 numbers are virtual numbers which allow their owners to choose a single, memorable point of contact for customers. These numbers are bought and sold and are not attached to a specific location. They are popular with large businesses like banks.

Why should I buy an 0845 number?

These numbers are easily recognised by the public and associated with large organisations. By choosing a non-geographic number your organisation will not be limited by a particular location. You will appear to have a national presence even if you operate from just one base. Calls are known to be charged but the charges are not considered to be dishonest or linked to premium rate scams.

Can I choose my new 0845 number?

Yes, you can. These are virtual numbers which are linked to your own phone by the provider. As long as the memorable number you would like to use isn’t already in use then you can take your pick.

Will an 0845 number locate my business on Google maps?

Unfortunately not, and any company that says you will is misleading you. Google has tightened up the rules on how it allocates addresses on Google maps. To qualify for a flag you will need to set up an address, something you can do with virtual office facilities.