Answering service
This product spotlight shines on the Kendlebell Telephone Answering Service. The service allows a business to remain contactable during an emergency.
What is the answering service?
Divert your incoming calls to a Kendlebell answering phone service team and they will answer as though it was your business, take messages and pass them on.
Why use it?
- If you cannot use your premises and you need to ensure customer calls are answered. Example - there is disruption due to fire, leak, safety issue, crime/vandalism, building work etc and you need someone to take calls while you are busy sorting out the problem/getting on with business.
- If the person who would normally answer the phone is not available. Example - sickness, jury service, resignation, maternity leave etc.
Why do we like it?
- Urgent, unplanned cover is offered ie. Call them when you need to. (They also offer ongoing availability cover for a monthly fee).
- Wide coverage with twenty offices across the UK. Plus offices in Dublin.
- Personalised service rather than a large call centre operation since it uses a franchise based model.
- Mail forwarding and some hot desks with internet access may be available.
How much?
"Charges are based on the number of staff members it is necessary for us to enter on to our system, the complexity and detail required on the client's messages and, when the service is utilsed, the quantity of messages taken. A standard set up fee is also required".
Case study provided by Kendlebell.
Chris Holland, branch manager of Park Row Associates, an award winning Independent Financial Advisors based on Amos Road in Sheffield, was forced to evacuate his premises without delay and was left with no indication as to when they would be allowed back.
As part of their disaster recovery/business continuity plans, Park Row Associates nationwide use Kendlebell's Telephone Answering Service to take their calls when they are unable to. With a quick phone call to the Kendlebell office in Cheshire, BT was able to divert all the Park Row office's calls within a few minutes to be answered by professional call handlers.
Chris said: "We felt comfortable in the knowledge that our clients were still able to get messages through to whoever they needed to speak to. The service they provided was invaluable".