Law firms have seen 'an 80 per cent rise in calls outside nine-to-five', according to call answering service alldayPA. Increases registered in other sectors are: online retail - up 60 per cent; IT - up about 38 per cent; followed by repairs and maintenance- up about 35 per cent; the financial sector - up about 31 per cent; and travel - up about 22 per cent.  

Customer expectations

Reuben Singh, chief executive at alldayPA, said: 'Customer expectations are changing radically. Eight-to-eight opening hours are seen as the norm rather than the exception.' Source: alldayPA