FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special equipment on my phone or in my office to use an answering service?
No, you simply need call forwarding through your phone company. Most business packages include different types of forwarding features, such as call forwarding busy, call forwarding dont answer, and even remote call forwarding. Cell phones and virtual numbers can be forwarded as well. You may already have what you need. We will be glad to discuss your options with you or point you in the right direction.
There are prices online for $39-$49 for answering services. Can these prices be trusted and is this how you bill?
In our 30+ years we did try this type of billing where the initial offer is excitingly low to the client. Eventually, it felt more like a misleading attempt for a quick sale and we could not in good conscience continue. Find a service that starts you at a reasonable rate, with well-defined call or time inclusions. A deceptive or cheap service is not what you want when their staff deals directly with your most important stakeholders. We will gladly compare rates and services with you.
Your headquarters are in Coastal Georgia. How do you handle hurricanes or quarantines?
About 12 years ago we added remote access for our staff and selected a Hosting system to store and maintain our servers and data. They are located in different states with a redundancy system in place. Because we answer for critical needs accounts, we remain open during lockdowns and staff can work from home or more centralized locations. We had zero downtime during the pandemic and were blessed to remain open with bad weather since moving to remote access availability.
Your billing is time based. I am used to a per call charge. How do I know my bill won't double on a per minute plan?
Per call rates are Always more expensive than our per minute. We offer a free personalized Greeting so callers decide whether to speak to the service or call when office is open. These calls are Absolutely FREE. This saves our clients 100's of per call charges since we only bill for operator time. If a call takes 30 seconds - that is what you are billed. No rounding up, no per call fee, no surprises. Don't forget our FREE TRIAL with no contracts. You will know what to expect from your bill before your trial ends.
How do I start my Free Trial, what is the turnaround time, and is there any upfront cost?
- To Start- Just call or email. We will answer any questions you have and send you a one page Client Info Sheet with a private forwarding number.
- To Use- Your account manager will review the form and suggest included services, create account and greeting for your review, and have the account ready the same day if form is received by noon.
- To Pay- You are invoiced at the start of your trial with the Free Trial Credit or any other discount offer you choose. No set up fees and no contracts.
How do you ensure my callers receive good service? My concerns are long holds and uninformed operators.
Good things come in threes. Reports, Recordings, and Repetition help us monitor and maintain quality services.
- Call reports are generated at 7 AM for daily review. These reports show every call that reaches a client's forwarding number. We focus on holding times and then arrange operator scheduling to counter any changes in call volume.
- Call recordings are reviewed daily and evaluated for fast feedback to operators. Operators must score highly in message taking evaluations, which occur monthly.
- Repetition and training on what makes a successful conversation, along with weekly and monthly goals in Customer Service keep our operators Caller-Focused.