How are call answering services priced in the UK?

The three common pricing models

Most services use one of these, or a mix:

• Per call: you pay for each call answered, whatever its length. Simple, but short wrong-number calls cost the same as long ones.
• Per minute: you pay for talk time. Fairer for short calls, but long chatty calls add up.
• Monthly bundle: a fixed fee includes a number of calls or minutes, with a rate for anything over. Easier to budget.

Extras to ask about

The headline price is rarely the whole price. Before you sign up, ask:

• Is there a set-up fee or a minimum contract length?
• Are evenings, weekends and bank holidays included or charged extra?
• What does it cost when you go over the bundle?
• Are bookings into your calendar, message emails or CRM entries included?
• Is there a free trial, and do you have to give card details to start it?

How to work out what you'd really pay

Look at your phone's call log for a normal month. Count the calls you missed and estimate how long each would have lasted. That gives you a rough number of calls and minutes to price every option on. If you only plan to send missed calls to the service, price on missed calls, not all calls.

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