Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give out or advertise the 800 number Answer AnyTime provides with the service?

Yes. You can advertise the number, call forward to the number, or both.

How do your receptionists know what questions I need to ask the caller, and what information I require?

Answer AnyTime services are custom designed to your individual business requirements. Our programmers will design a screen layout that will enable our receptionists to ask the right questions to the right people.

Is your website secure so that no one else can gain access to my messages?

Yes. Answer Anytime offers users the option to log into our 128-bit SSL encrypted website using a personal login and password.

Will Answer AnyTime take credit card information for order taking?

Yes. Our Receptionists have the ability to take secure credit card details for this type of call.

What does "patching" mean?

Patching is the term used when an Answer Anytime receptionist answers an incoming customer call and, if approved, connects the caller directly to the client by dialing out to a preferred contact number. Once the two parties are connected in conference, the receptionist disconnects allowing the call to continue privately. This service and procedure is often used for emergency calls for a medical practice, a law practice, or for clients who simply want a personal receptionist, eliminating the need for office staff and employee costs.

Can Answer Anytime process orders for my company?

Yes. Our systems allow us the ability to process all kinds of orders for our customers. Answer AnyTime can even interface with your company website for this purpose.

Is there a limit to how many different employees (recipients) that can receive the same message?

No. You can send the same message to as many recipients as you need. This is often done for service companies when a manager wants a copy of all messages that go to his on-call technicians.

Can I forward my cell phone to your service?

Yes. In fact, our answering service plans give you the ability to forward any telephone number of yours, whether it's a business or personal line, or even both, to your exclusive forwarding number.

How many messages will my Answer AnyTime voicemail system store?

Each of our individual mailboxes can hold up to 100 voice messages.

Can I receive a local telephone number?

Yes. We have local numbers available in most area codes.

How long does it take to have an account activated and start service?

Depending on the complexity of the account, usually within one hour. Our receptionists are also trained on your new account to be sure they are aware of any special instructions or special needs you may have.

Is this a long term contract?

No. Your Answer AnyTime service operates on a month-to-month basis with a 30 day notice to cancel. There are no early termination fees.

Can I receive messages when travelling overseas?

If your phone or pager has international texting capabilities, you will receive your text messages. If your carrier does not offer this option, your messages will always be available to you online or by email.

We have different on-call people that handle different types of calls. These people also rotate depending on what day it is. How does Answer AnyTime get the message to the correct person?

Answer AnyTime's automated roster service eliminates the risk normally associated with answering services relaying messages to the correct contact. You supply Answer AnyTime with your upcoming roster schedule and we will soft code your schedule into our system to minimize the risk of human error upon dispatch. The receptionists no longer need to "look up" who is on-call as the system knows exactly who is at any given moment, and routes the call accordingly.

Can I change the on-call person at the last minute?

Yes. From time to time, on-call schedules do change—that's just reality. At Answer AnyTime, you can email, fax, or even call us to advise the receptionists of the change. We can also give you online access to make these changes yourself.

Does Answer AnyTime offer its services nationwide?

Yes. In fact, Answer AnyTime services are available worldwide, and we currently have customers in 11 different countries. Because of advanced technologies, there is no limitation due to your physical location—hence our motto, "Communication Without Limitations"

Do you offer inbound customer service and support services?

Depending on the complexity of your needs, Answer AnyTime answering service can accommodate most support services. However, for larger and more complex requirements, please speak to one of our professional sales consultants.