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Andrew Loyal user 285 Posts |
I've searched for an answer to this question in the archives, but haven't found it...so here goes.
Today I received our phone bill for our only phone service and found that they have started charging $10.00 a month extra and the title of the bill was made out in the name of my magic business rather than my personal name. After calling the phone company, they informed me that since I used this phone number on my business cards, they could legally charge this as a business phone. I was contacted last year by the phone company and told that they would like to list my business in their yellow pages. I responded that this type of advertising was not worth the charge, but the gentleman insisted that the listing was free. Apparently they learned of my business (which I have been in for over 10 years) and the contact was merely for the purpose of verification. So, the question I have is this: Have any of you heard of this before and I've just been ignorant or am I being conned by the phone company? The lady I spoke with was very patient, but insisted that even if I withdrew my listing from the yellow pages, I would still be charged as long as I used my number on cards or any other form of advertisement. Thanks for your help! Andrew |
MagicalPirate Special user Shamokin, PA 828 Posts |
Yup, that would legally make it a business use and qualify for a business line charge. Residential phone service is simply that a personal line for use as a personal line. You had a free ride for 10 years because they hadn't yet realized what you were doing with your line. I would imagine most home based entertainers without yellow page advertising are doing the same.
Generally business line rates are charged to people that have a commercial location and are in 'legitimate' business. People who run their businesses from their home and do not advertise in the yellow pages run under the radar but should still be considered a business line. However, their finding out about it is rather suspect. Someone would have had to turn your number in for them to discover or you would have to have a business greeting on the phone when you are not there and they called you up for some reason. I would look into the cost of running a yellow page ad now that they have made you a business account and take full advantage since nothing is really for free. Martin
Martin Blakley, CSH, DASH, CMSA
http://www.thehypnoguy.com/HYPNORESOURCES http://www.docgrayson.com/ How To Sell Anything Online http://tub.bz/?r=1z Copyright to my own words retained 100%. |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
While I feel your disappointment, I think only an extra $10 a month is a blessing to be able to use your phone on a business card as a business number. Seems like our rate here in NC is much higher for a business line. My personal opinion is that a phone line should be charged the same whether business or private because it is still only "one phone line." If they did that we know which rate would apply.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Welcome to the world of business.
The free listing for your business phone will result in enough shows to more than justify the extra $10. A yellow pages ad will also pay for itself. Another alternative is to use a cell phone for business. Finally, you could get a toll-free number that is forwarded to your home line and use that for business. I use a company called Freedom Voice. You will pay $9.95/month plus minute charges, but there are many other great business features. You can find them at http://www.freedomvoice.com |
Andrew Loyal user 285 Posts |
Thanks to all of you for enlightening me.
I have plenty of work, but none of my clients has ever contacted me via the yellow pages add. I don't mind paying for services, but our phone is used much more for residential (i.e. family!) service than for business. After all, a client would not be able to reach me while others in the family are on the line...thus the argument for paying for a seperate business line. Enough of my whine...at least it's only $10.00...and I can write it off! I appreciate your information, fellow magi. Take care. Andrew |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Andrew, the Freedom Voice system that I use has a neat feature that notifies you that it is a business call before connecting the call. If a family picks up the phone and it's a business call, they can give it to you to connect, or send them to voice mail without the caller being any wiser. The caller is simply on hold waiting to connect.
It is a useful feature for someone who wants to create a business office image while sharing a home line. Yes, it means that you pay a little extra, but well worth it. |
Andrew Loyal user 285 Posts |
Jim,
Thanks. I just started checking out this site when I got a call from a client! (I ain't complaining!). I'll look into this. Thanks again, I appreciate your help. Andrew |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Depending upon what market you are in, simply being listed in the phone book under entertainers or magicians (I hope you went for one of those categories), can bring you at least one booking per year (birthday, Christmas or otherwise), and that should cover the $120 per year for having a business line instead of a personal one.
Another observation, you will probably have to pay more for long distance now that they converted your number to a business line. When I got a fax line, I set it up as my residential line. However, all my friends and customers knew my other main number, so I just let that other line be a fax line. Whenever I wanted to make outgoing long distance calls I used my fax line. A simple solution, as I wasn't receiving business calls on that line. They never told me that receiving or sending a fax made that line a business line. I don't think a fax line has to be a business line, if you don't want it listed as a fax line (I never asked them to list it anywhere as a fax line, as I didn't want junk faxes). Although it does kind of mess up people who don't really listen to messages, but use call display to return your call. I hope that made sense. Another great benefit of doing it this way is that all the telephone solicitors who tried to call my residential number to sell me something, got an annoying fax beep! Another good idea was mentioned earlier. You can use a cell number as a business line and on your cards, and then it doesn't have to be in the phone book. Cell numbers are supposed to be unlisted. - Donald.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Andrew, you're lucky. Here in under Cincinnati Bell the minimum charge for business service for a line only is $100. Plus the call waiting, voice mail, long distance service etc is EXTRA. The really cute thing is that Ma Bell, if they catch a person like they caught you can go and back charge you for a business line for all the time you've had the number.
They could have hit you with a $1200 bill for the 10 years or even higher if you've had the number longer than 10 yrs. Good luck and take the free listing in yellow pages. Peter |
tboehnlein Inner circle ohio 1787 Posts |
Paddy not true for $100 you get your land line, 17 calling services including voicemail,200 minutes of long distance plus a wireless with 750 anytime minutes, unlimited nights & weekends & free long distance.
"The really cute thing is that Ma Bell, if they catch a person like they caught you can go and back charge you for a business line for all the time you've had the number." Yes they could. but highly unlikely, especially if it was the only line in a residence, customers will often request to have 2nd line added for business to a residence & CBT gladly does this as a residence line, when bundled with a package the adtnl. line is cheaper than a basic line. Generally as long as the # is not advertised in a mass media, they do not require it to be billed as a business. The post earlier that stated they had a fax line & was required to bill it as a business, needs to check with their states Public utilities commission & validate it, that definitely is not required in OHIO, KY or Indiana. I guess you know where my day job is, huh. |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Thanks I was misinformed by a retired Bell employee. Thanks for setting m straight on that.
Peter |
Tyler_Magician Special user 509 Posts |
What if you were using a cell phone for your business? Could they charge you for a business?
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tboehnlein Inner circle ohio 1787 Posts |
No problem,to the best of my knowledge there are not seperate bus. & res rates for wireless,because it is based per min uasge for wireless. the only limitation is that most companies that offer unlimited usage do have riders that allow them to revoke the package if your usage say approaches 3000 or more minutes & the greatest % is during peak hours.
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