TPS Call Barring – Frequently Asked Questions

Who can benefit from Free Telephone Preference Service TPS call barring?

Any business and/or homeworker who transfers their outgoing calls to the Your Communications network

If you are still using BT as your main carrier you may also benefit from significant call charge reductions (but see notes below for Business Plan 500)

If you are already using an alternative call carrier to BT you will need to join a different Network as the TPS call barring service is only available from our partner supplier, Your Communications

• There are no changes to phone numbers, telephone lines or equipment
• There are no contractual commitments
• Routing of your calls is done transparently at the BT exchange
• You will still receive your quarterly line rental bill from BT, and a separate fully itemised bill for calls
• Line rentals can also be supplied separately if desired, resulting in no BT bill
• You then get a single bill
• Billing is then monthly in arrears, rather than quarterly in advance

This benefits your accounting and cash-flow as well as streamlining your business processes

How do I apply?

Application is quick and easy and can be done by fax/email/post

• Fax through the first three pages from your provider’s recent billing to 08708 555351 or email to sales@gillissa.co.uk or post to us
• We prepare your pre-filled application form and send to you
• You sign and return the originals and we action on your behalf through Your Communications
• Once processed, registration takes 10 working days

Contact us today for a free 60-day no-commitment trial on 08707 604604 “Sales” or email enquiries@gillissa.co.uk

Is the TPS service expensive?

No, it is built in to the network and is free of charge

You only pay for what you use in the inclusive call rates per minute

Important notes for BT Business Plan 500 customers

• Your calls are capped at 10p, and include a 2.00p set-up charge (i.e. an engaged or failed call is still charged at 2.00p even though you did not get through - if you didn’t realise this please check the fine print on your contract!)
• The TPS service is charged per-minute at an inclusive and highly competitive rate (the traditional model)
• If the majority of your calls are lengthy you may see an increase in your call charges were you to adopt the service; however, this must be offset against the annual TPS membership fee of £11,250 and the monthly list-cleaning requirements
• You may choose to retain your BT business plan for some of your phones and register others for TPS call-barring (see next section below)
• If you conduct many telemarketing calls which are usually quite brief but of high volume, the BT business plan is quite possibly costing you more than you should be paying and you may benefit from overall cost reductions as well as the TPS call-barring feature
• Audit your BT bills to see where you stand, or contact me to do this on your behalf at no charge
• If you cancel a BT Business Plan ensure you do so in writing as reconciliation charges may apply against your committed annual spend

Do we have to register all our numbers?

No, if you do not make telemarketing calls from all your phones, and prefer to leave some of them as they are you can do so; however, please note

• Any phone making telemarketing calls that you wish to register must present it’s DDI (direct dial) extension number when calling out for the service to work
• You may be getting lower outgoing call costs on TPS-registered extensions as part of the service, so your other calls may be costing you more and should be carefully monitored for call charges during the first few weeks; again, we can help you with this as part of our service

What happens if I call a number that is CTPS registered and I am a subscriber to the network?

There is a test number you can call to ensure the service is active and can be overridden

• You hear a brief recorded message, and the call is barred
• You can override the service with a 3-digit code if you are calling a TPS-registered client who you have permission to call

We have managed offices and are billed for our telecoms as part of the overall service, can we still benefit?

If you receive your own phone bill from your telecom service (e.g. BT), you can apply for the service

• However, if you are billed by your Managed Office supplier for calls, your Managed Services provider will need to become a subscriber to be able to pass the service on to you
• SEEDA-sponsored Enterprise Gateway users fall into this category
• Please lobby them for this service and have them contact us for more information

I work from home, can I still benefit?

Yes, you can transfer your calls just the same as a Business

• You will need a BT line rather than cable (e.g. ntl, Telewest)
• If you have a monthly fixed “bundle” type deal with your provider, to benefit from call-barring you will have to go back to a pay-per-minute based bill.  Although this will mean your call charges are likely to rise, the cost of this should be more than offset by your cost saving on monthly lists and subscription fees