FAQs

We put the A's to Q's to help you choose

Virtually There FAQ illustration

What's the difference between a virtual receptionist and a virtual personal assistant? How do you know if a call's for me? And what on earth is a virtual office?! We are here to help you through the whats, hows and whys so you can get the info you need to understand all of our services.

General

What is the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, a Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual Personal Assistant?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

What is a Virtual Office?

A Virtual Office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories, and more.

What is the difference between a Virtual Office and a Registered Company Address?

A Virtual Office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories and more. A Registered Company Address is your company’s official address given when registering your company with Companies House. You can use our business addresses for both purposes by selecting the Registered Company Address addon when subscribing to a Virtual Office.

Can I use the Virtual Office business address on my marketing materials?

Yes, you can use your Virtual Office address on all business materials.

However, you cannot use your Virtual Office address to register with Companies House without adding a Registered Company Address to your subscription.

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Are all my calls answered by you?

All calls are answered by our experienced UK-based team 24/7, 365 days a year.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. We believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all of our prices shown on the website exclude VAT.

Can I have my calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a Virtual Personal Assistant, all calls you receive can be transferred to the appropriate staff member as per your instructions. Any calls you don’t want to take right away will be handled by our receptionists. They will collect the caller’s contact info and message, and share the details with you.

Can I get a regional phone number?

Yes. You can choose a local phone number from across the UK.

Can I advertise my phone number you give me?

When you sign up for the answering service you will be given the option to purchase an additional virtual number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

Can I use the phone number you give me without your receptionists answering my calls?

Yes, our Virtual Landline gives you a professional number that automatically diverts straight to your mobile or landline.

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

Do I need proof of ID to set up a Virtual Office?

Yes. We’re legally obliged to collect copies of one photo ID and proof of your home address from a utility bill for AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.

You will be asked to take a selfie with your ID (your face must be clearly visible). You can use a driving license, passport, or other Government-issued photo ID as proof of identification.

Do you accept parcels or signed-for mail?

We only accept parcel deliveries and signed-for mail from clients with a Virtual Office or Registered Company Address subscription at our Henleaze Virtual Address in Bristol. However, you must collect the parcels yourself or arrange for a courier to collect them on your behalf. We can forward signed-for mail in one of for ways:

  • Royal Mail’s Signed For 1st Class – from £2.25
  • Royal Mail’s Signed for 2nd Class from £2.06
  • Royal Mail’s Standard 1st Class from £0.85
  • Royal Mail’s Standard 2nd Class from £0.66

Here’s more on Royal Mail’s prices and delivery times.

Do you handle my calls 24/7?

Yes – all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

Do you provide support for my international business?

Yes, all of our services are compatible with international businesses.

How do you work out my monthly bill?

  1. Our Virtual Receptionist service comes with inclusive monthly minutes. Any calls over this threshold are added to your monthly bill.
  2. Our Virtual Office and Registered Company Address services are charged on a fixed monthly bill. Any addon services are added to this monthly charge.
  3. Our Virtual Landline service diverts callers from your new business line directly to your mobile from £6 per month (billed annually). Call transfer charges are applied per minute – £0.02 for landline, £0.07 for mobile. These are added to your monthly subscription charge in your monthly bill. 

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on 0203 476 7792.

How long will it take for me to receive my post?

Our 10-free and unlimited mail-scan options make sure your post is delivered to your inbox within minutes of arriving at your Virtual Office. If you wish for your post to be forwarded by mail, this will take up to 5 days to arrive.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient service.

What message details do you take?

You choose what information we collect from the caller and we will message you the details via email or SMS.

Why should we choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our Virtual Receptionist page.

Am I tied into a long contract?

No, we believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Are Virtual Offices available to all SMEs or just digital businesses?

Virtual Offices are available to all business types.

Call Answering Services

What is the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, a Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual Personal Assistant?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

Are your call handlers based in the UK?

Yes, all of our call handlers are based in the UK.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

Are your call answering services suitable for large businesses?

Yes. We offer call-answering plans to suit any business, each with different quantities of inclusive minutes so that both large and small businesses can benefit.

Get a quote now for a free 14-day trial of our call-answering services.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. We believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

What message details do you take?

You choose what information we collect from the caller and we will message you the details via email or SMS.

Can I get a regional phone number?

Yes. You can choose a local phone number from across the UK.

Are all my calls answered by you?

All calls are answered by our experienced UK-based team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all of our prices shown on the website exclude VAT.

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Can I have my calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a Virtual Personal Assistant, all calls you receive can be transferred to the appropriate staff member as per your instructions. Any calls you don’t want to take right away will be handled by our receptionists. They will collect the caller’s contact info and message, and share the details with you.

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

Can I use the phone number you give me without your receptionists answering my calls?

Yes, our Virtual Landline gives you a professional number that automatically diverts straight to your mobile or landline.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on 0203 476 7792.

Can I advertise my phone number you give me?

When you sign up for the answering service you will be given the option to purchase an additional virtual number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

How do you work out my monthly bill?

  1. Our Virtual Receptionist service comes with inclusive monthly minutes. Any calls over this threshold are added to your monthly bill.
  2. Our Virtual Office and Registered Company Address services are charged on a fixed monthly bill. Any addon services are added to this monthly charge.
  3. Our Virtual Landline service diverts callers from your new business line directly to your mobile from £6 per month (billed annually). Call transfer charges are applied per minute – £0.02 for landline, £0.07 for mobile. These are added to your monthly subscription charge in your monthly bill. 

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient service.

Why should we choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our Virtual Receptionist page.

Do you handle my calls 24/7?

Yes – all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

Can I have my calls transferred to my staff?

Live call transfers are only available with our Virtual Personal Assistant service. In the Virtual Personal Assistant service, all calls you receive can be transferred to the appropriate staff member as you instruct.

Virtual Personal Assistant

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all of our prices shown on the website exclude VAT.

Can I have my calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a Virtual Personal Assistant, all calls you receive can be transferred to the appropriate staff member as per your instructions. Any calls you don’t want to take right away will be handled by our receptionists. They will collect the caller’s contact info and message, and share the details with you.

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. We believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Are all my calls answered by you?

All calls are answered by our experienced UK-based team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Can I get a regional phone number?

Yes. You can choose a local phone number from across the UK.

Can I advertise my phone number you give me?

When you sign up for the answering service you will be given the option to purchase an additional virtual number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on 0203 476 7792.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

Are your call answering services suitable for large businesses?

Yes. We offer call-answering plans to suit any business, each with different quantities of inclusive minutes so that both large and small businesses can benefit.

Get a quote now for a free 14-day trial of our call-answering services.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

What is the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, a Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual Personal Assistant?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Why should we choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our Virtual Receptionist page.

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient service.

Do you handle my calls 24/7?

Yes – all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

How much do I pay when a call is diverted to my team?

Live call transfers are charged per-minute at £0.02 for a landline or £0.07 for mobile.

How much does each call cost?

Virtual Personal Assistant offers six plans with inclusive minutes. Each call made outside these minutes is charged at an increased per-minute rate. A call transfer per-minute charge of £0.02 for landlines and £0.07 for mobiles is also applicable.

Virtual Reception

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all of our prices shown on the website exclude VAT.

Can I advertise my phone number you give me?

When you sign up for the answering service you will be given the option to purchase an additional virtual number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. We believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Can I get a regional phone number?

Yes. You can choose a local phone number from across the UK.

Can I have my calls transferred to me or my staff?

Yes. With a Virtual Personal Assistant, all calls you receive can be transferred to the appropriate staff member as per your instructions. Any calls you don’t want to take right away will be handled by our receptionists. They will collect the caller’s contact info and message, and share the details with you.

Can you only answer my calls when I am busy?

Yes. You can schedule when to divert your calls through to us, so we handle your calls instead. Follow our call divert guide to find out how.

Do you handle my calls 24/7?

Yes – all calls are answered by our experienced team 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get a quote and enjoy a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.

How do you know how to handle my calls?

Our smart tech instantly recognises when your number is being called and automatically sends it to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Personal Assistant. On their screen will appear your business profile, with your script, business information, instructions and more.

How do you know when the call is for me?

Our smart tech automatically recognises your number and sends the call straight to your Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant. In a flash, they receive all of your information before the call even rings.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on 0203 476 7792.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

What happens if two calls come in at the same time?

If you receive multiple calls simultaneously, our smart tech will divert your incoming call to one of our other experienced receptionists. Your company details and call script will display on their screen, giving them all the info they need to manage the call the way you have instructed.

What is the difference between a Virtual Receptionist, a Virtual Switchboard and a Virtual Personal Assistant?

A Virtual Receptionist will answer your calls, collect the caller’s name, contact details and reasons for calling, and share the details with you straight away.

With a Virtual Switchboard, your receptionist will answer your business calls and qualify the caller before transferring them to your most appropriate team member. If they are unable to take the call, then your receptionist will take a message and send you the details.

With a Virtual Personal Assistant, you get all of the above, plus live call forwarding to your staff, appointment booking, calendar management, and more.

 

What message details do you take?

You choose what information we collect from the caller and we will message you the details via email or SMS.

Why should I use a call answering service?

Call answering services provide a cheap and professional solution to business call management. For an in-depth look at the benefits, view our Call Answering Services page.

Why should we choose Virtually There’s call answering services?

For more reasons why over 8,000 UK businesses prefer our services, visit our Virtual Receptionist page.

Will you recognise my regular callers?

Yes, our smart tech allows us to save caller details, call history and reasons for calling. This gives us the ability to provide a more personal and efficient service.

How much does each call cost?

You pay just £25 per month plus a call charge of £1.10 per call. These charges are billed once each month.

Virtual Offices

What is a Virtual Office?

A Virtual Office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories, and more.

What is the difference between a Virtual Office and a Registered Company Address?

A Virtual Office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories and more. A Registered Company Address is your company’s official address given when registering your company with Companies House. You can use our business addresses for both purposes by selecting the Registered Company Address addon when subscribing to a Virtual Office.

Can I use the Virtual Office business address on my marketing materials?

Yes, you can use your Virtual Office address on all business materials.

However, you cannot use your Virtual Office address to register with Companies House without adding a Registered Company Address to your subscription.

Can I buy a Registered Company Address on its own?

Yes, you can subscribe to a Registered Company Address separately, or as part of the same subscription when subscribing to a Virtual Office online.

To set up a Registered Company Address without a Virtual Office subscription, please contact our sales team on 0203 476 7792.

Are Virtual Offices available to all SMEs or just digital businesses?

Virtual Offices are available to all business types.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. We believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Do I need proof of ID to set up a Virtual Office?

Yes. We’re legally obliged to collect copies of one photo ID and proof of your home address from a utility bill for AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.

You will be asked to take a selfie with your ID (your face must be clearly visible). You can use a driving license, passport, or other Government-issued photo ID as proof of identification.

Do you accept parcels or signed-for mail?

We only accept parcel deliveries and signed-for mail from clients with a Virtual Office or Registered Company Address subscription at our Henleaze Virtual Address in Bristol. However, you must collect the parcels yourself or arrange for a courier to collect them on your behalf. We can forward signed-for mail in one of for ways:

  • Royal Mail’s Signed For 1st Class – from £2.25
  • Royal Mail’s Signed for 2nd Class from £2.06
  • Royal Mail’s Standard 1st Class from £0.85
  • Royal Mail’s Standard 2nd Class from £0.66

Here’s more on Royal Mail’s prices and delivery times.

Do you provide support for my international business?

Yes, all of our services are compatible with international businesses.

How long does it take to set up my Virtual Office address?

You can sign up for a Virtual Office in just two minutes. Set-up is completed once our mandatory AML checks are completed.

You will need to provide copies of one photo ID and proof of your home address from a utility bill. You will be asked to take a selfie with your ID (your face must be clearly visible). You can use a driving license, passport, or other Government-issued photo ID as proof of identification.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on 0203 476 7792.

How long will it take for me to receive my post?

Our 10-free and unlimited mail-scan options make sure your post is delivered to your inbox within minutes of arriving at your Virtual Office. If you wish for your post to be forwarded by mail, this will take up to 5 days to arrive.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

Virtual Landline

Is this service suitable for small businesses?

Yes, this service is designed for small businesses on limited budgets that still want a professional telephone number.

Is your service suitable for large businesses?

We recommend our Virtual Personal Assistant service for large businesses. Virtual Personal Assistant offers a personal assistant who will answer your call, take caller and message details, transfer live calls to your staff, manage your calendar, book appointments, receive orders, manage your inbox and more.

How much does each call cost?

You pay a per-minute call charge of £0.02 for landlines and £0.07 for mobiles on top of your Virtual Landline subscription.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

No, all of our prices shown on the website exclude VAT.

Can I advertise my phone number you give me?

When you sign up for the answering service you will be given the option to purchase an additional virtual number which you can advertise on your website, business cards, invoices, marketing materials and anywhere else you want.

Can I cancel any time?

Yes. We believe in short, flexible contracts. When you subscribe to any of our monthly plans, simply cancel your subscription from your Virtually There Portal, and we’ll terminate your subscription at the end of your current monthly service period.

Can I use the phone number you give me without your receptionists answering my calls?

Yes, our Virtual Landline gives you a professional number that automatically diverts straight to your mobile or landline.

How long does it take to sign up?

 You can sign up to one of our plans in just 2 minutes. For assistance, please call us on 0203 476 7792.

Is there a set-up fee?

No, we don’t charge set-up fees for any of our services.

How much will I pay per call?

Calls are charged per-minute at £0.02 for a landline or £0.07 for mobile.

Registered Company Address

What is the difference between a Virtual Office and a Registered Company Address?

A Virtual Office is a trading address for you to use on your business website, marketing materials, invoices, business cards, directories and more. A Registered Company Address is your company’s official address given when registering your company with Companies House. You can use our business addresses for both purposes by selecting the Registered Company Address addon when subscribing to a Virtual Office.

Can I buy a Registered Company Address on its own?

Yes, you can subscribe to a Registered Company Address separately, or as part of the same subscription when subscribing to a Virtual Office online.

To set up a Registered Company Address without a Virtual Office subscription, please contact our sales team on 0203 476 7792.

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