Common Questions

I have an answering machine, why would I need a virtual receptionist?

Customers call to speak to a person, not a machine. When they call it is to answer a question, concern, make a booking sale or payment. Business always has involved relationship for maximising sales, we extend this service to ensure maximum customer satisfaction at the point of contact.

My calls are diverted to my mobile - so how can this benefit me?

Are there times when feel like you are a slave to your mobile? While driving you need to focus on the road, not writing a message. If you switch your mobile off during a client meeting you are able to give your client your undivided attention, but you may not want your other callers to be greeted with an answer-phone / voicemail either.
Did you know 80% of people will not leave a message and 80% of first time callers won't ever ring back? When you divert your mobile to your Virtual Receptionist, you can be confident that your calls are answered professionally all of the time.

My partner answers the phone

Often having your partner answer the simple calls does not give your partner the lifetime satisfaction and balance they are looking towards. Consider the value you place on their time when you have them answer your calls, and plan for the growth of your business.

Does diverting my mobile to you cost me more?

No. It doesn't matter if you are diverting a business line, home line or even fixe mobile lines, we do not charge you any extra. The only costs that you will pay are for the mobile or fixed phone diversion costs from your existing providers.

I am a small business - I am not sure if I can afford my own Virtual Receptionist

We have proven that your Virtual Receptionist is more likely to save you time and money. When your simple calls are removed from the daily activities, you free up time so you can prioritise your important calls. Many clients realise that they more than make up for this small cost when they gain business from a client they would otherwise have missed by being unavailable or engaged.

How does my Virtual Receptionist know the call is coming from my company?

Greymouse gives you a unique local phone number to divert your calls to, your Virtual Receptionist's computer screen automatically 'pops up' with only your details when a client rings your number.

How does my Virtual Receptionist know enough about my business to sound professional?

Our virtual Receptionist contacts you and find out the basic information. We also refer to your web page to provide more complex answers, or questions and answers. When the call comes in you information 'pops up' on your Virtual Receptionist's screen.
You can even give us daily instructions or ask us to ask your callers a few specific questions. It makes your Virtual Receptionist a 'real' part of your team, by enabling them to sound knowledgeable and professional at all times. No one expects a receptionist to know everything, but they do expect their receptionist to know basic information, give them a warm welcome, sending information, answering questions, transfer calls and take a message.

Do I have a dedicated receptionist?

Yes, we can offer dedicated receptionists for individual client accounts that require specific knowledge, advanced sales support and 8 hours processing per day. If your needs are not that great the Shared receptionist is the best answer.
Each shared receptionist gets to know the individual accounts extremely well, receive ongoing training and updates on a regular basis.

What happens if two calls come in at once on my line?

We work in small teams to ensure that the same people Virtual Receptionists always look after your clients so there will always be a familiar team to take your calls. Our clients tell us that when they have used other services, where only 3 or 4 receptionists are trained to take their calls, things can fall apart when all are not available. This cannot happen with us as everyone has access to all of the same information and can take your call equally professionally.

Can I divert more than one line to my Virtual Receptionist?

Yes, you can divert as many lines as you would like. There is no way for the receptionist to differentiate which of these lines has been diverted at any one time.
If you have two businesses we supply two separate phone numbers to answer as different names. You will have an extra cost for the second number and service.

Do I have to divert to my Virtual Receptionist all of the time?

No, you can divert only when it suits you and you can arrange for calls to be diverted when the line is busy, after a delay or all of the time, whatever suits you best.

What do you say to my callers when they ask to speak to me?

We answer as your company and supply information necessary. If they ask for you we explain that you are not available and ask if we can take a message or if priority we call you and ask if you wish to take this call. If however you have instructed us to call transfer your calls, we ring you and check whether you want us to put the caller through or take a message. You are always totally in control.

How many contacts from my company can my account have?

We recommend that an account has no more than 4 contacts. These contacts can be for individuals or can go to specific departments. Too many contacts can be confusing for the receptionist to ascertain where the message should go. Messages are best sent by email.

How long do my messages take to get to an inbox or BackOffice?

Your Virtual Receptionist sends your message automatically at the end of every call. We cannot guarantee timescales for messages to reach your own inbox, as this depends on your supplier.

What if I do not have access to my email or am abroad?

Travellers often find that they use email facility much more (on mobile devices) whilst they are away from their base. Many of our clients also catch up on their messages when they get home via the Internet too.

I need certain key information captured - how do you know what information I need?

When the Virtual Receptionist contacts you and set up your back office, you set the default questions and answers, instructions that you require our team to complete. Additionally, you are able to advise 4 questions that will also appear on the screens when the call is answered making the service exceptionally personalised. You can change these instructions as often as you like, which is especially useful if they are based on specific advertising or promotions.

Where can I view my messages?

Your messages are sent to your individual email address, Skype or MSN depending on your preferred service.

What payment options do you have?

When you sign up, be ready for Paypal processing or direct deposit of fund.

What if I decide not to continue after a few months?

All you need to do cancel in writing by recorded delivery or ask us for a cancellation form. Once we receive this we will cancel your line and you will owe us nothing. We do not agree with tying people into long contracts - we don't need to. Once the service has been tried, virtually everyone wonders how they ever managed before.

All you need to do is give us one month's notice from the next payment date. Full instructions are detailed on your invoices.

Are there any hidden costs?

Absolutely not. The Virtual Receptionist really is as simple as it appears to be. All of the charges are clearly outlined. We also only charge on a per second basis, unlike some other providers so you genuinely only pay for your exact usage with absolutely no rounding up. It can make a significant difference in costs.

How do I alter my billing details?

If you would like to alter any of your billing details, can you please contact Greymouse 1300 20 6020, 07 3118 9594 and we can ensure that these details are changed for you.
If you would like to change any billing, please can you ensure that we have these details at least 3 working days before the invoicing otherwise we cannot guarantee payments will be taken from the correct account.

If you are taking a lot of calls for me, can I get discounted rates?

There is an option for you to have discounted call rates if we begin to take a large volume of calls. Any discounts will be discussed on an individual basis. In order to be eligible for any discounts, call volumes would need to in the range of approximately 600 calls per month.

How long does the average call last?

A basic Virtual Receptionist call, where we are supplying information or taking and a brief message will last approximately 2 to 4 minutes depending on the caller.

I have a receptionist, why would I need another one?

Surveys indicate 30% of businesses fail to answer all their calls and lose business as a result. Even with a well staffed reception, most businesses experience some unexpected absences and times when too many calls come in at once. Your virtual receptionist can act as  valuable overflow support ensuring that you stand out from your competitors by always answering your calls.

Call diversion - Telstra

 

Call Diversion – Telstra Business and home numbers
How do I activate Call Forward Immediate (variable diversion)?
A: To activate Call Forward Immediate (variable diversion), simply follow these six easy steps:

  1. Lift handset
  2. Wait for dial tone
  3. Press *21
  4. Key in diversion number
  5. Press #
  6. Replace handset

Alternatively you can call Telstra 1800 104 046 for further assistance.

How do I deactivate Call Forward Immediate (variable diversion)?
A: To deactivate Call Forward Immediate (variable diversion), simply follow these four easy steps:

  1. Lift handset
  2. Wait for dial tone
  3. Press #21#
  4. Replace handset

Alternatively you can call Telstra 1800 104 046 for further assistance.

How do I activate Call Forward Busy (variable diversion)?
A: To activate Call Forward Busy (variable diversion), simply follow these six easy steps:

  1. Lift handset
  2. Wait for dial tone
  3. Press *24
  4. Key in diversion number
  5. Press #
  6. Replace handset

Alternatively you can call Telstra 1800 104 046 for further assistance.
How do I deactivate Call Forward Busy (variable diversion)?
A: To deactivate Call Forward Busy (variable diversion), simply follow these four easy steps:

  1. Lift handset
  2. Wait for dial tone
  3. Press #24#
  4. Replace handset

Alternatively you can call Telstra 1800 104 046 for further assistance.