Why Can’t You Just Offer Flat Rate Answering Service?

Nearly every day I am asked by potential clients why we do not offer any flat rate plans.

AnswerFirst has been in the answering service and contact center solutions industry for over 20 years. During this time we have determined that, while flat rate plans were great for AnswerFirst, they rarely benefited our clients. In fact, unless clients were able to forecast their usage perfectly, flat rate service never benefited them at all. The only perceived advantage was if they bought a call plan with more minutes or calls than they would ever use, then they always knew how much their bill was going to be each month.

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How AnswerFirst Answering Service Integrates With Check Appointments

Are you having trouble integrating appointment scheduling with your answering service without being forced to use their proprietary software?

No need to worry; there are many options available for your business. Prices and program ability vary depending on the number of people, locations and resources for which you wish to schedule.

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Tips for Finding the Right Answering Service for Your Business

There are many things you should consider when shopping for an answering service including reliability, service features, pricing structure, etc.  So, how do you know what topics to address during your search and how to find a service that will fit your particular business model?

In previous blogs I’ve mentioned that price is typically the first topic I am asked about when I speak with a potential new partner.  However, there are several more important items that should be addressed before discussing price because the cost of service does not matter if you discover the service is not a good fit for your needs.

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The Importance of Owning Your Business Toll-Free Number

Potential clients frequently ask me if we provide a toll-free number as part of our service.  

This is probably a common question because providing clients with toll-free numbers is common practice in the answering service industry. However, what most business owners don’t realize is that it is not good business practice to use the toll-free number an answering service provides, as your main business number.

There are several reasons why this practice is not a good idea, but one reason stands out above all the others ... read more.

How to Provide Top-Notch Customer Service During the Busy Holiday Season

Today’s customers expect nothing but the highest level of service, and during the holidays they are looking for even more enthusiasm and friendliness to spread the holiday cheer.

During the busy holiday shopping season it is even more important for businesses and customer service agents to maximize satisfaction for overwhelmed consumers.

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Show Your Customers You Care

Great customer service is the backbone of every consumer-oriented business.

At AnswerFirst, we’ve been perfecting the craft of customer service since 1985, and our clients know they can trust us to provide their customers with the highest quality of service. When it comes down to it, customer service is all about showing customers that you care. Everyone wants to feel valued, especially when they are spending their hard-earned money – customers want to feel appreciated for their patronage and loyalty.

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HIPAA & Answering Services: How Will This Change Our Service?

We have been talking a good deal lately, in our office meetings, about the new HIPAA “Omnibus” Rule and how it will affect the way we do business with medical professionals and facilities that handle Patient Health Information (PHI).

Under the new rules, it is not just the medical professionals and facilities responsibility to comply with HIPAA standards.  We, as the answering service, are also directly responsible for compliance. This means that any transmission of PHI, must be encrypted, on both sides.

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