Are you excited about the Olympics? It is getting ever closer and the anticipation grows as the torch winds its way through the UK, but much like a dark cloud on the day of a barbecue, there may be trouble ahead if you are a business hoping to trade during the event.

Naturally we wish our Olympians every success this summer and hope that they are laden down with gold medals and hope that the hundreds of thousands of spectators get to their venues in time to witness our triumph.

However, all the passion comes at a price and without doubt will impact on businesses, not least making it difficult for staff to get to work and clients to access your business if you are near a venue. Perhaps employees have taken time off to watch the Olympics – or even to avoid it?

The point is your telephone will be under more pressure than normal for a British summer and we do know that people will hang up an unanswered telephone in less time than it takes Usain Bolt to run 100 metres. And don’t even think of using an answer phone – seven out of ten people do not leave a message and never call back! Continue reading →

Like it or not when it snows here in the UK it does seem to have a paralysing effect and businesses can struggle to function as workers stay home and the forecast always seems bleak.

Indeed if the Daily Mail is to be believed we are only ever a few minutes away from the worst snow storms since time began! However, here at Verbatim, The Phone Answering Service, we have yet to be troubled by snow – although during that last bad spell we did have someone trek in on skis!

We have always had a can do and get it done attitude and that means we know how to help businesses blighted by a white out.If your calls are diverted to us we can connect them to the relevant member of staff wherever they are stranded courtesy of the British weather.

Continue reading →

We wish all of you and your staff and loved ones well in these difficult times. I have been awake all night worrying about my sons and daughter who live in south London. They tell me some of the steets are like war zones. I was really pleased to hear that the spirit of Londoners is still stong and that people are gathering together for the clean up.

Keeping your business open

My firm Verbatim is supporting Workspace Plc and Homefinders of Hackney with a call answering and overflow telephone answering service.  They can send staff home early knowing that their business can remain “open” because their calls are routed to my dedicated team of telephone receptionists in Newbury.

Let me know if you or any of your friends need support to keep their business going.

Verbatim the telephone answering service will be delighted to support them during this period just to keep them up and running until sanity on the streets return!

Indian Call Centres driving down costs by employing Jail birds!

We kid you not! We are flabbergasted having just read an article quoting the Indian call centre, Radiant Infosystems, who are planning to implement this bizarre idea to staff a telephone answering service. This Indian call centre has plans to help rehabilitate criminals and offer them employment while getting dirt cheap labour by employing them to staff an inbound call answering service at the Hyderabad Cherlapally Central Jail.

The plan is to hire 250 of the inmates, who can earn up to £1.50 per day, (note up to £1.50 per day), to do things like handle bank account applications and insurance claim forms.

Continue reading →

Once upon a time back in the dark old days of the last century The Viscount Leverhulme of Lever Bros, fame said

“50% of my advertising is wasted but I don’t know which 50% it is!”

This was so true for all businesses large or small; those with the deepest pockets could take the 50% punt, but for business owners like you and me the odds were stacked against us.

In the 21st Century that’s all changed with the advent of a liberal telecoms market.

Continue reading →