Question 1

How quickly can I get set up?

Accepted Answer

Most businesses are live within 30 minutes. You tell us about your business, set up call forwarding on your mobile, and we handle the rest. No engineer visit, no hardware, no contracts.

Question 2

Do I need a new phone number?

Accepted Answer

You have two options. Most customers prefer a new dedicated Ringby number. It keeps calls separate and is more reliable since it doesn't depend on your mobile signal. We provision it and you share it with customers. Alternatively, keep your existing number with call forwarding. We will help you choose.

Question 3

Do I need any special equipment?

Accepted Answer

No. Ringby works through your existing phone. You just need call forwarding set up on your mobile, which most providers can activate in a couple of minutes. No base stations, no handsets, no extra hardware.

Question 4

Will this work if I don't have a website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby works entirely through your phone number. A website helps, but it's not required. The phone forwarding is all you need.

Question 5

Will it actually sound like a real person?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby speaks with a natural, warm voice. It's not a robotic call tree or a menu of options. It handles accents and understands your industry, your services, and the questions customers ask.

Question 6

Does it understand my industry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby is trained on your specific industry and services. It understands your terminology, asks the right follow-up questions, and captures useful job details, not just a name and number.

Question 7

What happens if it's a real emergency?

Accepted Answer

Ringby is trained to spot urgent situations like last-minute callouts, complex enquiries, or emergency jobs. It can either forward the call directly to you or take the details and promise a call back within minutes. You decide how urgent calls are handled.

Question 8

Can it tell the difference between an emergency and a routine job?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby is trained to identify urgency from the caller's language. A routine booking scheduled weeks in advance goes to normal scheduling. A last-minute emergency or short-notice request gets priority. You set the rules.

Question 9

What happens if it doesn't know the answer?

Accepted Answer

Ringby takes a message and notifies you immediately. It doesn't guess or make things up. If a caller asks something outside its knowledge, you get the details and can follow up yourself.

Question 10

What if your assistant can't handle a call?

Accepted Answer

It takes a message and alerts you immediately. It doesn't guess or make things up. You get the details and can follow up.

Question 11

Can it book appointments directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby can check your availability and book appointments straight into your calendar. The caller gets a confirmation, and you get the details instantly. No back and forth, no phone tag.

Question 12

Can I use Ringby just for out-of-hours calls?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most businesses forward calls after 6pm or on weekends when they're off the clock. You choose when Ringby picks up and when you do. Many clients use it as overflow for when they're on a job or away from the phone.

Question 13

What if I'm on a job and can't pick up?

Accepted Answer

Your call forwarding sends it to Ringby automatically. The customer speaks to someone straight away instead of getting your voicemail. You get the full details by text once you're done. No missed jobs, no lost customers.

Question 14

What happens if a customer needs an urgent job?

Accepted Answer

Ringby answers, captures the full details, and sends you an immediate alert. You call back within minutes and the booking is still yours. No urgent job goes unanswered.

Question 15

Can it guide callers through basic questions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby can walk callers through confirming access details, noting special requirements, or answering practical questions. You define the guidance it provides.

Question 16

How much does Ringby cost?

Accepted Answer

Plans start at £77 per month for sole traders, with higher tiers for growing teams and busy firms. No setup fee, no hidden charges. Every plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. All plans are fully managed — we set everything up, run it, and optimise it for you.

Question 17

Is it worth it for a sole trader?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our Starter plan is £77 per month — less than £2.60 a day. If you're missing even a few calls a week, recovering just one extra job covers the cost. Most sole traders see a positive return within the first couple of weeks.

Question 18

How does it compare to a human receptionist?

Accepted Answer

A full-time receptionist costs £20,000 to £28,000 per year when you include salary, National Insurance, pension, and holiday cover. Ringby plans start at £77 per month with no employment overheads, and it works 24/7 without breaks. Most businesses find Ringby handles calls faster and more consistently. Every call gets answered, not screened.

Question 19

Is there a contract?

Accepted Answer

No. You pay monthly and can cancel anytime. There are no tie-ins, no exit fees, and no surprises. We earn your business every month by delivering results.

Question 20

Can I try it before I commit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You get 30 days to try Ringby risk-free. If it's not for you, cancel and get a full refund. No fees, no fuss.

Question 21

Is this a software platform I set up myself?

Accepted Answer

No. Ringby is a full service. We set everything up, train your assistant, and manage it. You don't configure anything.

Question 22

Is my data safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your data is encrypted in transit and stored securely. We use trusted third-party providers to deliver the service. They process data only on our instructions and never for their own purposes. We never sell your data. You own it and can request export or deletion at any time.

Question 23

Are call recordings stored?

Accepted Answer

Call recording and transcription are optional and can be turned off per client. When enabled, recordings are retained for 30 days for quality monitoring, then automatically deleted. You can request access or early deletion at any time. Everything is handled in line with GDPR requirements.

Question 24

Will customers know they're speaking to an assistant?

Accepted Answer

Ringby introduces itself as an automated assistant at the start of each call, in line with ICO guidance on transparency. Most callers don't mind as long as their enquiry is handled quickly and professionally. What matters to them is getting through, not who picks up.

Question 25

What information does Ringby collect from callers?

Accepted Answer

Ringby collects the details you need to follow up. Name, phone number, service needed, location, and preferred date or time. It asks the right questions so you get useful job details, not just a missed call notification.

Question 26

Can I use Ringby with multiple team members?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Growth and Pro plans support multiple team members with priority call routing. Urgent calls can be routed to the right person based on your rules. Each team member gets call notifications and can follow up on their jobs.

Question 27

Can I change how Ringby handles calls?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can update your greeting, call handling rules, and screening questions at any time. Just let us know and we'll make the changes immediately.

Question 28

Does it work with my booking system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby connects with Google Calendar, Calendly, and Cal.com. During onboarding, we connect your calendar so appointments book directly into your schedule. No double bookings, no manual entry. If you use something else, we can usually integrate with it.

Question 29

What if I already have a voicemail greeting?

Accepted Answer

Ringby replaces your voicemail. Instead of callers leaving a message and hoping you call back, they speak to someone immediately and get their enquiry handled. That's the whole point.

Quick Answers

Getting Started

How It Works

Out of Hours & Emergencies

Pricing & Value

Data & Privacy

Practical Questions