Question 1

How quickly can I get set up?

Accepted Answer

Most plumbers 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

No. You keep your existing business number. You simply set up call forwarding from your current mobile to your Ringby number. Your customers call the same number they always have. We answer when you can't.

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 the AI 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, regional slang (loo, radiator, stopcock), and understands common plumbing emergencies. It introduces itself as an AI assistant at the start of every call, so callers know exactly who they're speaking to.

Question 6

Does it understand plumbing terminology?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby knows the difference between a combi boiler and a system boiler. It understands terms like stopcock, overflow, compression fitting, and U-bend. It asks the right follow-up questions so you get useful job details, not just a name and number.

Question 7

What happens if it's a real emergency?

Accepted Answer

The AI is trained to spot urgent situations like burst pipes, no heating, or complete blockages. 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. Annual boiler service or tap replacement goes to routine scheduling. Burst pipe, flooding, or no hot water in winter gets emergency priority. You set the rules.

Question 9

What happens if the AI 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

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 11

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

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most plumbers forward calls after 5pm or on weekends when they're off the tools. 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 12

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 13

What happens if there's a burst pipe at 2am?

Accepted Answer

Ringby answers, captures the full emergency details (location, issue, whether water is still running), and sends you an immediate alert. You call back within minutes and the job's still yours. No emergency goes unanswered.

Question 14

Can it guide callers through basic safety steps?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For active leaks, Ringby can walk the caller through locating and turning off their stopcock while capturing the rest of the details. It won't give plumbing advice, but it can help with basic safety steps you define.

Question 15

How much does Ringby cost?

Accepted Answer

Ringby is £227 per month. No setup fee, no hidden charges, no per-minute costs. You get unlimited calls, 24/7 coverage, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. One captured emergency callout typically pays for more than a month of the service.

Question 16

Is it worth it for a sole trader?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you're missing even a few calls a week, you're losing jobs. At £227 per month, recovering just one or two extra bookings covers the entire cost. Most sole traders see a positive return within the first couple of weeks.

Question 17

How does it compare to hiring a receptionist?

Accepted Answer

A full-time receptionist costs £20,000 to £28,000 per year when you include salary, National Insurance, pension, holiday cover, and training. Ringby costs £227 per month with no employment overheads, and it works 24/7 without breaks.

Question 18

How does it compare to traditional answering services?

Accepted Answer

Traditional services like Moneypenny charge £150 to £400 per month and often use human operators during business hours only. Ringby is available 24/7, answers instantly, and can book appointments directly into your calendar. It's faster, cheaper, and always on.

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 my data safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All data is stored securely in the UK and encrypted in transit. We never sell, share, or use your data for anything other than running your service. You own your data and can export or delete it at any time.

Question 22

Are call recordings stored?

Accepted Answer

Call recordings are retained for 30 days for quality monitoring, then automatically deleted. You can request access to recordings or have them deleted earlier. Everything is handled in line with GDPR requirements.

Question 23

Will customers know they're speaking to AI?

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 24

What information does Ringby collect from callers?

Accepted Answer

Ringby collects the details you need to follow up: name, phone number, postcode, the plumbing issue, urgency level, and preferred date/time. It asks the right questions so you get useful job details, not just a missed call notification.

Question 25

Can I use Ringby with multiple team members?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Ringby transfers urgent calls to one primary contact. We're building multi-number routing for teams — get in touch if this is important for your business.

Question 26

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 27

Does it work with my booking system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ringby integrates with Cal.com for scheduling. During onboarding, we connect your calendar so appointments book directly into your schedule. No double bookings, no manual entry.

Question 28

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

How It Works

Out of Hours & Emergencies

Pricing & Value

Data & Privacy

Practical Questions