Take over disussed phone numbers

[walnut]

Hello,
Looking for advise from any telecoms experts.
I have recently started back as a sole trader and have discovered a number of similar companies that are no longer trading, their phone numbers would be great for me to have, give me coverage in new areas.
I have contacted BT regarding a particular number and they have confirmed the number is no longer in use and available.
The number is in a different exchange to mine so BT have suggested the following setup.
setup a line with the number, pay for diversion service and have calls perminantly diverted to my mobile.
Before I shell out the expense I was wondering if anybody has had similar experience or knows of a better solution?

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Take over disussed phone numbers

I can’t advise on the ways to go about this as I’ve never done it but a couple of things spring to mind (sorry to be a bit negative):

If the companies concerned have only recently (within the last few months) gone out of business you would also pick up their complaints, not that you would be liable, but the hassle factor may be a pain 😉

You may be tarnished with any “bad reputation” the previous phone number(s) owner(s) had through no fault of your own.

Personally before going down this road I would research the old owners reasons for no longer being in business 🙂

Dave.

[cornwell40]

Re: Take over disussed phone numbers

Going through a house move at the moment so I’ve just priced up BT’s divert. It costs I think £150 to set up, plus a quarterly payment, plus each call is chargeable to you for the diverted portion. That could get costly, and as Dave said is it worth the hassle?

Tony C

[admin]

Re: Take over disussed phone numbers

I have had a ghost sheffield number for years, which diverts to my Rotherham number. BT line rental is extortionate although the call divert costs are ok.

It was well worth it when one phone book covered the whole of South Yorks and North Derbyshire, but BT have eroded the value of the number by splitting up the phone areas into 4 books, which with the demise of volume chargeable work is the death nell of that form of advertising.

So, unless you get volume calls to the divert it’s not worth the line rental.
I keep it now because so many old customers have it as their contact number, but even they are beginning to drop off.

Kevin

[walnut]

Re: Take over disussed phone numbers

I did some digging and found out that the number has been advertised in the Yellow pages since 1992 until last year.
The Guy who used to own the number seems to of disapeared, even his home number and mobile are out of use.
I visited his house, the lights where on but no answer.
Does anybody know what happened to E Herbert of Skem ?

[robbra]

Re: Take over disussed phone numbers

Go back in the daytime and see if the lights are still on.he may have curled up his toes and nobody knows.
Rob

[Author]

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