Dedicated Telephone Lines

You may find that when you make a call to a business or call centre that you are asked to use a dedicated telephone number. This number is attached to a dedicated line which is often only used by a particular person or group of people in a particular section - here we look at dedicated telephone lines and discuss their advantages.

Who Would Use a Dedicated Telephone Line?

As we have already mentioned most dedicated telephone lines are used either by an individual or group of people working in a particular section. This could be a sales department, marketing department or technical support section and allows for the calls to be routed quickly to these departments without wasting too much time or indeed without missing out on the calls altogether.

Are There Different Charges for Calling a Dedicated Line?

Unless the line in question is a premium rate line then no. If the line begins with 0906 then it is considered to be a premium rate number and the calls can be charged at upwards of £1.50 per minute. This can happen with technical support lines so that the cost of the call and the time of the person on the other end are paid for by the caller rather than having to ask them for a separate fee.

Most dedicated lines are what are referred to as 'non geographical numbers' - this means that they are numbers beginning with 0845 or 0870. These numbers which carry no regional prefix can be routed anywhere in the United Kingdom but the charge for calling them is the same as that of a local rate call. The best example of a local rate call would be that of calling your friend who lives in the next street from you.

I Have an All Inclusive Tariff - Will I Still Have to Pay?

Yes most all inclusive telephone tariffs exclude calls to dedicated lines such as non-geographical numbers and premium rate numbers. If you are calling a number which has a regional prefix then the call will be covered by your all inclusive tariff and you can confidently speak on this line for upwards of an hour before you incur any call charges. If you have not redialled before the hour is up your call is charged at the price for an hour plus any additional minutes after the 60 minute mark.

Can Anyone Have a Dedicated Line?

Yes but you should check with your telephone service provider for availability and cost. You should be aware that a dedicated line is billed separately from your original telephone line and also that you may be charged a fee by your provider for the installation of such a line. A lot of home workers who spend a considerable period of time on their telephone often opt for an additional telephone line which allows them to separate work from home life and also allows them to keep a check on the amount of calls they make and how much it costs for them to do so.

For more information on dedicated lines and how to have one installed you should consult your telephone service provider or visit their website for further details.