The questions people actually ask.
Including the awkward ones. If yours is not here, ask us — we would rather answer it before you sign.
The basics
Does hello247 replace my staff?
No, and we would rather you did not buy it for that. It answers the calls your people cannot get to — while they are with a client, on a job, or gone home. Your receptionist should not have to take two calls at once, and your plumber should not have to come down a ladder to answer the phone.
Does it sound like a robot?
No. It answers in a natural Australian voice with your greeting and your way of speaking. You choose the voice and hear it introduce itself before you commit to anything.
Do callers know they are talking to a machine?
If they ask, yes — it answers honestly. We do not build receptionists that claim to be human, and we will not configure one to pretend.
Do I have to learn any software?
No. You can type what you want changed in plain English and it changes. Enquiries arrive by email the moment a call ends. Most owners open the dashboard rarely, if at all.
How long does setup take?
About a day of our work once you have given us your information. It does not go on your live number until you have read it and signed it off.
Calls and numbers
Can I keep my existing phone number?
In most cases yes — it can be ported across so nothing changes for your clients. A new local number or a 1300 is available if you would rather. A 1300 is optional, not required.
What is “ring my mobile first”?
Your phone rings first, for as long as you choose, and the AI only answers if you do not. It is where most businesses start, because nothing changes for the calls you were going to take anyway.
What happens after hours?
Whatever you tell it. Answer in full, take a message, or escalate the urgent ones to a mobile. You can set different rules for evenings, weekends and public holidays.
Can it handle several calls at once?
Yes. It is not one person with one line — every call that arrives is answered at the same time, so a busy morning does not create a queue or a full voicemail box.
Can it call 000, or handle an emergency?
No. A hello247 number cannot reach 000 and is not a replacement for a standard telephone service. Anyone who needs police, fire or ambulance must dial 000 from a mobile or fixed line. It can escalate calls that are urgent to your business — that is a business rule, not an emergency service.
Money
What does it cost?
$399 per month including GST, plus a one-off $99 setup fee. Month to month, no lock-in, and you can cancel from your dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the period you have already paid for.
What is included in the $399?
The AI receptionist, the website AI assistant and the web SEO helper, with 500 minutes of answered call time a month. Usage beyond that is billed at 45c a minute including GST on your next invoice, and we tell you before the invoice arrives.
What costs extra?
Carrier costs we incur on your behalf — number porting, 1300 activation, monthly number rental — passed on at cost plus GST with no margin. Nothing variable is charged without your agreement first. Custom automation is scoped and quoted at the time.
Data, recording and privacy
Where does my data go?
Your account, your enquiry records and your call transcripts are stored in Australia, in Sydney. Your caller’s audio never leaves the country — speech-to-text is done by a specialist provider on its Australian endpoint, in a Sydney data centre. Two parts of a call do use specialist providers outside Australia: the language model that works out what to say, and the voice that speaks it. Our security page sets out exactly what sits where.
Are my calls recorded?
A written transcript is produced for every call so we can capture the enquiry. We do not record call audio, and there is no setting that turns it on. If we offer recording later, it will be off by default and the caller will be told whenever it is on.
Do I need to tell callers they are being recorded?
That depends on your state, and it is your responsibility rather than ours. New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia require every party to consent. Victoria and Queensland do not extend the prohibition to someone taking part in the call. We configure your setup for where you and your callers are.
How long do you keep recordings and transcripts?
Audio recordings, where enabled, for 90 days. Transcripts and enquiry records for as long as your account is open, deleted 30 days after it closes. You can ask us to delete a specific recording or transcript at any time.
Getting started
How do I get started?
Send us an enquiry through the contact form. We will ask about how your calls come in, what counts as urgent, and what must never be said — then build it, show you, and only go live on your number once you have approved it.
Can I stop?
Yes, from your dashboard, at any time. It takes effect at the end of the period you have already paid for, and you can reverse it before then. If you ported a number in, we will help you port it away.
Start with one problem.
Tell us what is taking too much time, or where you are losing enquiries.