Don’t believe everything you read
Protect yourself too!

Read the fine print of your 800 service

Someone came to me with a situation today that was important to explain to readers on the website. The customer was using a small enhanced voicemail service that you see a lot of on the internet. The customer was told that any number they would own any number they get through them and it could be transferred away. It even says that somewhere buried on the website. But when push comes to shove and they had a dispute with the company, tempers flared, and all the fine print isn’t helping them transfer their number.

And this is with a company that really does a good job on things. I’m not saying this to give anyone a hard time. The point is just that with a small company (like most enhanced voicemail services) you really don’t want to rely on fine print or a verbal promise to protect your ownership. I sent an email to the owner of the company and think they’ll probably release the number for the customer. But even dragging their feet and leaving you without service for two weeks before getting someone else to step in and help you can be very damaging to your business.

So even if the company looks great and says you “own” the number having independent proof of ownership from someone independent and that isn’t trying to keep you there is worth a few bucks and filling out a transfer form.

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    10 pings

    October 08 Summary at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
    October 20, 2008 at 9:00 am

    [...] Don’t believe everything you read, Protect yourself too! [...]

      Won’t other phone companies get you a number for less than $50? at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
      October 23, 2008 at 2:43 pm

      [...] Don’t believe everything you read Protect yourself too! (1) [...]

        Won’t other phone companies get you a number for less than $50? at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
        October 23, 2008 at 3:13 pm

        [...] Don’t believe everything you read Protect yourself too! (2) [...]

          Don’t put your kids in charge of guarding the cookie Jar at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
          November 10, 2008 at 10:57 pm

          [...] Don’t believe everything you read Protect yourself too! (3) [...]

            Are you being held hostage by your 800 service? at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
            December 3, 2008 at 9:02 am

            [...] you never heard of through the internet without reading the fine print. Somewhere buried in their fine print they say that the toll free number they are providing you is a part of their [...]

              Find out who owns your toll free number at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
              December 26, 2008 at 9:35 am

              [...] to ask. In many cases it’s the most important question of all! And even if they say you do, what proof do they give you, [...]

                FCC says Onebox is breaking the rules? at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
                March 14, 2009 at 12:56 pm

                [...] proof of ownership because even if they say you have the right to transfer your number away, things can always change. I always say that “Your ability to transfer your number is what keeps them honest‿ and it [...]

                  FCC says, Onebox is breaking the rules at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
                  March 28, 2009 at 4:56 pm

                  [...] because even if someone at a phone company says you have the right to transfer your number away, things can certainly change. I always say that “Your ability to transfer your number is what keeps them honest” and [...]

                    Why is ownership of your toll free number so Important? at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
                    April 1, 2009 at 7:49 am

                    [...] can still come along and buy their business and then tell you that your number is now theirs! You can’t rely on what someone else says (even if it’s in writing), you need to have independent proof of ownership. We hope that it isn’t necessary to change phone [...]

                      Why would I need you? at TollFreeNumbers.com says:
                      June 3, 2009 at 10:33 am

                      [...] with them. You have to really read the fine print in the bottom of their terms, because even asking the sales rep can be very misleading. If they say you only own it as long as you keep it with them, then you don’t really own it [...]

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