If you’re thinking about switching cell phone providers, there are a few important things you might want to consider before signing a contract. Some of the obvious considerations will be the cost of local and long-distance calls. However, in order to make sure that you’ll be signing up with a reliable phone company, you should also check out its reputation, customer service, and a few other factors.
Here are five things to look for in a phone company:
#1 Company Reputation
Reputation is a key factor to consider when switching from one phone company to another in order to avoid stressful situations and counterproductivity, especially in business-related applications. Beyond the big company name, you must also consider the industry experience of a telephone service provider. Being in business for a long time can mean that the company has an excellent reputation and influence as a service provider.
A little search on the internet can shed some light on a phone company’s reputation. Here are some steps you can do to check a company’s business reputation:
- Visit The BBB (Better Business Bureau) Website – This website allows you to check the company’s track record, along with customer complaints. You can easily input the company name, address, website, or phone number to do searches on the site. If there’s no record of the company at the BBB, this can be a red flag.
- Check Out The Reviews On Yelp – This website is the modern-day equivalent counterpart of the Yellow Pages. You can check a company’s business reputation in any state with a simple search on Yelp. The reviews on their site are written by actual people, which often includes pictures and detailed commentary about a company’s reliability and reputation.
If you’re wondering where to find a reputable telephone company in Clifton Springs, New York, you can visit the website www.ottctel.com for more information.
#2 Reliability And Customer Service
Reliability and customer service go hand in hand when looking for an excellent telephone company. Whether it’s for your home or business, having unreliable telephone lines can have a significant impact on your life or business. Remember that no matter how good the company is, there can still be instances when phone lines go down. A reliable telephone company usually comes with an excellent customer service team that will always have your best interests in mind.
#3 Costs
As with any other investment, a telephone company’s installation and maintenance costs and service charges are essential factors to look at when switching providers. You should always check the company’s pricing structure and ask them about hidden fees. In business applications, your preferred cost structure can have a significant impact depending on the hosting option you choose. Here are two types of hosting options:
- On-Premises Systems – This type of system will cost you upfront installation, equipment, and user license fees. This can cost you several thousand US dollars depending on how many employees you have and what types of equipment you choose.
- Cloud-Hosted System – This hosting system will have no upfront fees. Instead, you’ll be paying a monthly fee ranging from 10 to 80 USD per user.
#4 Phone Connections
Telephone companies usually offer two types of phone connections: the traditional landline or the more modern VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) connection. A landline system relies on the telephone company’s copper wires, while VoIP systems use the internet for its connection.
Although landline systems are still reliable and capable, an increasing number of households and business organizations are now turning their old landlines to VoIP systems because of cheaper installation and maintenance fees. In addition, there are also phone providers that no longer offer landline systems. If you still feel comfortable with the older landline systems you’ve been using for years, then it might be better to look for companies that offer them.
#5 Calling Features
Modern phone systems provide households and businesses access to various calling features that were previously available only to rich people and large organizations. Look for a telephone company that can offer you the calling features you need. Here are some features to consider:
- Call screening
- Call forwarding
- Call logs
- Call recording
- Missed call notification
- Automated-attendants
#6 Closing Thoughts
Choosing your next telephone service provider may not be an easy task. A little research, along with considering the five essential factors above, can go a long way in making your decision easier and ensuring that you end up signing with a reputable and reliable service provider that caters to all your needs and requirements.