When your office is closed, Answerwise answers in your firm's name, takes the family's details gently, and texts you within a minute. You ring them back first thing.
Set up in your firm's name. You divert one number. No contract, cancel any time.
It answers as your receptionist and tells callers the call is recorded. If anyone sincerely asks whether it is a person or a machine, it says plainly that it is an automated receptionist.
Ring it yourself. Tell it which funeral director you're with and it answers as your firm, then ring in as a family would. Nobody rings you back to sell you anything.
Three steps. You keep your own number.
Send your out-of-hours number to your Answerwise number when the office closes, or only when you don't pick up. It's one setting on your phone.
It listens first, then takes the caller's name and number, where their loved one is, and anything they want you to know. If a family asks for someone tonight, or wants the funeral very soon, the call is marked urgent.
Within a minute. You ring the family back first thing. Calls are recorded so you can listen back.
It does not replace you. It makes sure a family hears a kind voice and you get the details.
| If a family asks | The line says |
|---|---|
| What do I do? (at home, expected) | There's no rush tonight. A doctor must confirm the death, so please call your GP, or 111 if you can't reach them. |
| It was sudden | Please call 999. |
| In hospital, or a care home | The staff will look after them and explain what happens next. Your funeral director will ring to talk it through. |
| How do I register the death? | In England and Wales, within five days of the medical examiner's office confirming the cause. Your funeral director will explain how it works. |
| How much does it cost? Burial or cremation? | It reads out your own published price list, says what is extra, and says you will confirm everything in writing. No pressure to decide tonight. |
| Are you a real person? | An automated assistant. A funeral director will speak to you personally. |
No advice on burial or cremation, and no promises about what your firm will do or when. Prices only if you want your own price list read out.
If anyone has collapsed or is in danger it says "Please call 999 now". If a caller sounds in crisis it mentions the Samaritans on 116 123. Then it carries on gently and marks the call urgent.
Can be set up on request, with the details passed to you in English. We test each language with you before you rely on it.
If a caller is crying or silent, it waits, then says: "Take all the time you need. I'm still here."
Tell us how you want it to sound and what you want it to ask. We set it up for you, and change it when you ask.
It answers as your firm, with the opening words you choose.
As few and as simple as you like: a name, a number, where their loved one is, anything to tell the funeral director. Add or remove any.
UK funeral directors already publish a standard price list by law. It can read your prices out, say what is extra, and tell callers you will confirm in writing.
What to do first, registering a death, timings, collection and visiting, planning ahead. Add your own.
Female or male, calm and unhurried. We send you samples and you choose.
Lancashire, Yorkshire, Manchester, Scouse, Geordie, Welsh, Irish or a neutral British voice.
Nights only, when the team are with a family, or all hours.
A text and an email within a minute, with urgent calls flagged for the director on call.
Plans include a monthly minute allowance. No contract. I tell you before any extra minutes are charged. Cancel any time.
On your own
Funeral firm plan
Multi-branch groups can be quoted separately. Ask me.
No. It answers as your firm's receptionist, and if you ask it plainly whether it is a person or a machine, it says it is an automated receptionist. A funeral director speaks to every family personally.
No. It's one divert setting on your phone. We send you the exact steps for your network.
Yes. Divert your calls to it when the office is closed, or only when you don't pick up. Cancel and the divert comes off in a minute.
It waits, and says gently that it's still there. It never rushes a caller and never ends the call while they may still want to speak.
Nobody is cut off mid-call. If you go over your minutes, I'll text you first. Extra minutes are 25p each, or we move you to the next plan. You are never charged without being told first.
Any time. There's no contract.
The seven-day trial includes up to 40 minutes. Card details are collected when you start; the first payment is on day 8 unless you cancel beforehand. I set it up in your firm's name, and you make a test call before activating the divert.
Prefer to hear it first? Listen or ring the demo. Prefer email? philip@answerwise.co.uk.