What you get
A managed call-answering service. We set it up, tune it to your trade and keep it working, so you don't have to build or maintain anything.
In every plan
- Calls answered in your business name when you're busy or don't pick up
- A greeting and question set written for your trade
- An email summary straight after each call
- Emergencies marked urgent at the top of the email
- A customer portal login for your calls and account
- Setup, testing and help with call forwarding
Trades we suit
TradeLine Assist is built first for plumbing and heating, where a missed call is often a lost job and there's rarely a receptionist.
Electricians, builders and other trades are next. If you work on your own or in a small team and miss calls while you're on a job, tell us about your business.
How the assistant handles calls
Emergencies come first
If the caller says it's an emergency, the summary is marked urgent and emailed straight away. Anyone reporting a gas smell is told to leave and ring the National Gas Emergency Service. The assistant isn't an emergency service and doesn't send anyone out.
It takes details, you call back
The assistant collects what you need to ring back in person. It doesn't book jobs into your diary. Calendar booking may come later.
Questions that scope the job
It follows the conversation and asks short follow-up questions: what's wrong or wanted, how urgent it is, the address, access, and what the caller expects.
It never gives prices
Only you can quote. If a caller asks, the assistant says you'll cover that when you call.
Honest with callers
It introduces itself as your virtual assistant, never claims to be human, says it's an AI if asked, and tells callers when the call is recorded.
Getting started
Most customers are live after about an hour of setup with us.
Sign the terms
The service terms and a data processing agreement, so everyone knows who is responsible for what.
Tell us about your business
The services you offer, the area you cover and your emergency rules.
Choose where summaries go
The email address you want each call summary sent to.
We set up your number and forwarding
You keep your own number. We check your provider supports forwarding unanswered calls.
Write the greeting together
An apology that you're unavailable, your name, and a recording notice if calls are stored.
Run test calls
You ring it, we adjust it, until it sounds right for your business.
Go live
We confirm the first real call arrives correctly.
Questions
Will callers know it's an AI?
The assistant introduces itself as your virtual assistant and never claims to be a person. If a caller asks whether it's an AI, it says yes.
Can I keep my own number?
Yes. You forward calls you don't answer to your TradeLine Assist number. During setup we check that your phone provider supports forwarding unanswered or busy calls.
What happens in an emergency?
The summary is marked urgent and emailed straight away so you can ring back first. The assistant isn't an emergency service. See the disclaimer.
Can I listen to the calls?
Every plan includes a summary and the full transcript of each call in your portal. Recordings can be played there for 24 hours after the call.
What about data protection?
Callers are told when a call is recorded. You stay in control of your callers' data and we act on your instructions under a data processing agreement. Recordings and transcripts are deleted from our voice provider after 30 days, and call records are deleted from your portal after 12 months. Read the privacy policy.