Repair company to hire more call centre agents in big expansion plan

MORE call centre agents are being hired as a company specialising in the repair of household goods rolls out an advertising campaign.

0800 Repair, which changed its name from JTM Contracts in July, has embarked on a five-year plan designed to more than double its £12m annual turnover.

Its managing director, Paul Feek, said: “We aim to become a household name offering a reliable local service at a reasonable cost.  We currently take around 3,000 service requests per week and we envisage this will double in the next five years with the launch of this memorable name and telephone number.”

At present, the company has 50 call centre agents at its head office in Chester-le-Street, 18 in Dinnington, near Sheffield, and six in Elland, Leeds.  Mr Feek said he expected to recruit another 60 for Chester-le-Street and Dinnington within five years; 15 within the next year.

Radio commercials promoting the new company name are at present being broadcast in the north-east and other regions are set to follow.

0800 Repair, part of Pacifica Group, has 400 subcontractors and is setting up franchisees, with eight already in place.

Its eye-catching vans, in yellow with black stripes, promote the telephone number and each has a 7ft model of a screwdriver on its roof.

0800 Repair, which has “white label” contracts with retailers, manufacturers and insurance companies, promises a local service seven days a week for the repairs of products such as washing machines, cookers and tumble dryers.

ur 'one-stop-shop approach'. The customer simply dials 0800 Repair (or 0800 737247 on the keypad) and we take care of everything, offering a local service seven days a week and ensuring a quick turnaround for the customer.

Mr Feek said: "In the current economic climate, customers are keen to save money — and repairing an appliance is usually far more cost-effective than replacing it.

"It also makes environmental sense, because it reduces waste and cuts the amount of appliances that need to be scrapped.”

The company has a 25,000 sq ft distribution and repair site in Elland, an IT centre in Surbiton and a further repair centre in Spennymoor, Durham.