Forward your calls
Keep the number your customers already know. Forward it to your subba AI number, and the AI answers: just the calls you miss, or every call. It takes a minute, and you can turn it off just as quickly.
Before you start
- Find your AI number: in your dashboard, Settings, AI receptionist. The same page shows these codes with your number already filled in.
- Decide which calls the AI should answer. Most businesses forward the calls they miss: you still answer when you can, and nobody gets voicemail.
- Have the phone whose calls you are forwarding to hand. The codes are dialled from that phone.
From a mobile
Open the phone's keypad, type the code with your AI number in it, and press call. Write the AI number with +44 instead of the first 0: **61*+441632960000#, for example.
| Forward | Dial | Note |
|---|---|---|
| When you do not answer | **61*your AI number# | Recommended: you still answer, the AI takes the rest |
| When you are on another call | **67*your AI number# | |
| When your phone is off or has no signal | **62*your AI number# | |
| Every call | **21*your AI number# | Your phone will not ring at all |
To stop forwarding, dial ##002#. That turns off every kind of forwarding at once.
You can also use your phone's own settings. On an iPhone: Settings, Phone, Call Forwarding (this forwards every call). On Android: the Phone app, Settings, Calls (or Supplementary services), Call forwarding, where you can choose when calls forward.
Most UK networks take these codes, including Vodafone, EE and O2. Some, Three for example, ask you to use your phone's settings instead. If a code comes back with an error, use the settings or ask your network.
From a landline
On a BT line, dial these from a phone on that line, with your AI number written the usual way: *61*01632960000#, for example.
| Forward | Dial | Note |
|---|---|---|
| When you do not answer | *61*your AI number# | Recommended |
| When you are on the phone | *67*your AI number# | |
| Every call | *21*your AI number# | Your phone will not ring at all |
To stop, dial #61#, #67# or #21#. If your BT line has moved to Digital Voice, these codes may not work: set call diversion in the My BT app instead.
Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk and others have their own call diversion, usually in your online account or with a code they give you, and some need it switched on first. A business phone system usually has a forwarding setting too: ask whoever looks after it.
What it costs
Your phone provider decides what forwarding costs. Many include forwarded calls in your plan's minutes; some charge them as a call from your phone to a UK number. Your provider can tell you.
On subba, calls the AI answers use the minutes of your phone plan, the same as calls made straight to your AI number.
Check it works
Ring your usual number from another phone. If you forwarded the calls you miss, let it ring: after a few rings the AI picks up. If you forwarded every call, the AI answers straight away.
If something is not right
- Your voicemail answers first. Voicemail can pick up before the call forwards. Turn your voicemail off, or forward the calls you miss with a shorter ring, which many networks allow:
**61*your AI number*11*15#forwards after 15 seconds. - A code gives an error. Check the number has no spaces and starts with +44 on a mobile, or 0 on a landline. Some networks only take the phone's own settings.
- You want to stop for a while. Dial
##002#on a mobile, or#61#,#67#or#21#on a BT line, whichever you set up. Your calls ring as normal again straight away.
Not set up yet? The AI phone line is an add-on to any subba plan: see pricing, or how the phone receptionist works.