Choosing a Phone Service Provider

These days there are a number of different phone service providers available, and many offer a good range of specific services for both domestic and commercial phone use.

Before you choose a service provider you will need to consider a number of important issues including:

• Cost – make sure you include the costs when considering each package, including equipment purchasing or rental (phones, extension cables, sockets etc), line and call charges and any additional features such as conference calling or call waiting.
• Payment Method – many phone providers offer discounts if you pay by direct debit, or opt for online bills rather than paper bills.
• Contract – check contracts carefully before you sign them, and make sure you understand your obligations in full.  Many standard contracts will require you to sign up to a minimum term of a year for newly installed phone services, and this could mean that if you cancel your service part way through the year you will still be liable for the line rental charges for the rest of the term of the original contract.
• Code of Practice – this will detail the provider’s customer service policy for issues such as servicing and maintenance, complaint handling, debt and disconnection, so it is important that you check this to ensure the provider has adequate levels of service in place.
• Deposit – some phone service providers may ask you to pay a deposit before they will accept you as a new customer.  This could be for a number of reasons, but commonly those people who have bad credit ratings and serious debts will be required by phone providers to pay a deposit, and may also be limited to the amount of calls and charges they can run up on their accounts each month.