A human answering service.

AustriaBargain on 03/07/2020 - 22:33

I used to think human answering services are stupid. However I’m screening all my calls because every day I get spam calls and if I answer I know that’ll just put me on some list. But I also need to receive work calls. Telstra speech to text doesn’t work or else that’s be fine. Anyway what’s a cheap human answering service that you can trust in case a personal message is left. Also it might make people think I have a receptionist.

I remember a friend had one like 18 years ago and I don’t know what he paid, I assumed at the time it was cheap. But maybe I assumed wrong. I have dual sim numbers so I can just use it on one number and not the other, if it costs per call. I probably would want to filter a lot of people through it though. Not that I get a lot of calls, a few a day at most, but it’d be nice to not have to fear my phone every time it rings with an unknown number, because they usually don’t bother leaving a message. If they suddenly connected to a person I bet they would leave messages.

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • p1 ama on 03/07/2020 - 23:02
    +13

    Voicemail, anybody important will leave you a message.

  • pegaxs on 03/07/2020 - 23:09
    +1

    Put known callers on your contacts list. Anyone else or unknown/blocked numbers go to voice mail.

    My voicemail goes something like this…

    Hi, you’ve reached “insert phone number”. Due to the high number of spam calls I am receiving, I am temporarily screening all incoming calls. Please leave a short message and I will call you back. Sorry for the inconvenience.

    • MS Paint on 03/07/2020 - 23:45
      +7

      Beeeeep

      "Hi Pegaxs, I think that's how you pronounce it, anyways, it's MS Paint here just calling to let you know that myself and your wi"

      Beeeeeep

      • Kangal on 04/07/2020 - 00:24

        Sorry, I didn't catch that. Can you send a MS Paint diagram so we can understand?

        • MS Paint on 04/07/2020 - 01:02
          +1

          here

          • pegaxs on 04/07/2020 - 09:13
            +1

            @MS Paint: Told you before, sms me for my wifi password, it’s to much of a pain in the arse to spell it out…

            And for some reason the wife says hi and wants to know what you’re wearing…

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 01:08
      -1

      But wouldn’t everyone reach that same voice message one time or another, what if your boss calls while you’re passed out drunk.

      • pegaxs on 04/07/2020 - 09:07

        Then they leave a message and you call them back. (When you wake up 12 hours later…)

  • elgrande on 03/07/2020 - 23:11

    Do u want them to take bookings?

    • jace88 on 04/07/2020 - 00:42

      This. You can use something like VirtualRos (a virtual assistant) or just hire a real assistant.

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 01:05

      That’d be great, but what if they book a job that I can’t do. Would I provide them with a list of my services that they’d read through or something.

      • crentist on 04/07/2020 - 01:20

        virtual assistants can probably do that kind of thing if you ask them, whatever you like

        • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 01:52
          +1

          Would they agree to lie and act like I’m in much higher demand than I really am? And will they refer to me as Mr Bargain, that would be brilliant. The script could tell the answering service to pretend for 15 seconds like they are looking for an open spot in my calendar, as if they were looking for a needle in a haystack.

    • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 03/07/2020 - 23:22

      In most cases that actually makes the situation worse as it allows scammers to tap into a huge database of registered numbers.

      • pegaxs on 03/07/2020 - 23:31
        +1

        Yep, I agree… and the scammers don’t use this list, they use robo call lists and known active number lists. They certainly don’t just look up a government website and not call you cause you’re on that list, that list would only make them want to call you.

  • bobbified on 04/07/2020 - 00:31
    +1

    It sounds like your number has gone around too much and maybe it's time to change your number. Then only give the new number out to certain people. Don't ever register your number on anything online or give it out to promotional companies for competitions etc.

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 01:07
      +4

      I’ve had this number since “Three” was a network. I can’t just change it now, I’ve got to keep it until I die.

      • pegaxs on 04/07/2020 - 09:09

        Same. Mine is an old “3” number and is super easy to remember/tell people. No way am I changing my number because of a few annoying scam callers.

      • Banana on 04/07/2020 - 22:16

        Wait, I have an old "Three" number, what's so special about it?

  • capslock janitor on 04/07/2020 - 00:48
    -1

    my landline of 10 years has human answerer

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 01:07
      +1

      Ask your mom if she’ll screen my calls too.

  • hashtagbargain on 04/07/2020 - 01:12

    Here’s something I found for you:

    https://www.officehq.com.au/answering-service-pricing

    Unfortunately it looks like an expensive proposition.

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 10:19

      That is a little expensive. Maybe my friend all those years ago was just wasting a lot of money. Then again if you don’t get many calls and have a dedicated business number, maybe it’s actually pretty cheap.

  • Farrba on 04/07/2020 - 09:14

    i answered a no id call and it turned out its from hospital, sometimes the calls are really important.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2020 - 12:04
    -1

    Lol its 2020, you can hire a 'online' receptionist not sure on price tho.

    Havent you people heard of a txt

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 12:08
      -1

      Too many people won’t text. Also what if you’re calling to pressure an employee to stay quiet about some company breach, you want that to be only a voice call that you can deny later. With text it’s like carving your threat in stone.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2020 - 12:11
        +1

        Cant help a pretend business

        • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 23:38

          The spam calls are for me, not my business. I doubt the scammers even know I’m in business.

  • Pecan on 04/07/2020 - 16:13

    Vodafone Call Screen goes to a human operator

    • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2020 - 23:39

      I swore a blood oath that I’d never go back to Vodafone.

  • Platinumtelecom on 04/07/2020 - 17:48

    Is it your business? If so maybe port your number to a VoIP service. You can set the rules that you want (no caller ID can be filtered straight to a spam voicemail etc…).

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join