Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about TradeAlly and Ali — not a receptionist, your trades PA.
Getting Started
Do I need a new phone number?
We give you a dedicated business mobile that Ali answers. Most tradespeople love finally separating work from personal calls. You can also keep using your existing number and dial a short divert code, so your phone rings first and Ali catches what you miss — or port your landline to us for a single unified number.
How long does setup take?
About 5 minutes. Tell us your trade, business name, and working hours. We'll give you a number straight away. Dial the code Ali texts you and you're live.
Can I keep my existing number?
Yes. You keep it. Ali texts you a short divert code; dial it once and your phone still rings first — Ali only picks up the calls you miss, are busy for, or when you’ve no signal. Your network may charge diverted minutes at your normal rate.
Will call forwarding work with my phone?
Yes for almost everyone — forwarding works on all the major UK networks on monthly plans, and on most landlines. A few pay-as-you-go SIMs (like Lycamobile, Lebara and Tesco Mobile) don’t support call forwarding, and newer internet-based landlines set it up through your provider’s app rather than a dial code. If the divert isn’t available on your plan, you can give customers your TradeAlly number instead, or ask your network — and we’ll help you check what works for your line when you set up.
How Ali Works
What if a customer insists on speaking to me?
Ali takes a detailed message and marks it for you to call back. You'll see it the moment you're free.
Can I customise how Ali speaks?
Absolutely. Your greeting, your questions, your style — formal or friendly, Ali adapts to you.
What about accents and background noise?
Ali handles accents, noise, and industry terms without missing a beat. Our AI is trained to understand real conversations, not just perfect audio.
What if I don't want Ali to book appointments?
No problem. Toggle auto-booking off in your settings. Ali will still take messages, capture details, and create leads — but you decide when to book jobs.
Pricing & Billing
Is there a contract?
No. Month-to-month. Cancel anytime with no fees. We'd rather earn your business than lock you in.
How much does it cost?
One plan: £59/month, flat. No per-lead charges, no setup fee, no surprise bills. Optional extras are priced separately and clearly: local landline £10/month, landline porting £60 one-off, website chat setup £99 one-off.
How does the call allowance work?
Your plan includes 75 full Ali calls every month — that's when Ali has a proper conversation with a caller on your behalf. Known callers leaving a quick message, calls you answer yourself, test calls, failed connections and spam never count. We'll give you a friendly heads-up at 60 calls so you always know where you stand.
What happens if I go over 75 calls?
Nothing changes. Ali keeps answering every call, there's no extra charge, no cut-off and no downgrade. The allowance is a fair-use benchmark, not a limit — if you're consistently busy we'll simply talk about whether the plan still fits your business.
What if I answer the call myself?
If you answer the call (via call screening or directly), it never touches your allowance. Your phone rings first — Ali only steps in when you can't answer.
What are known callers?
People you choose — family, regulars, suppliers — can leave a quick message without going through the full Ali conversation. Known-caller messages never count towards your allowance. Calls you answer yourself don't either. That's the difference: you only use the allowance when Ali is genuinely doing the work for you.
Security & Privacy
Is my data secure?
Yes. We're fully GDPR compliant with enterprise-grade encryption for all data in transit and at rest. Your customer information stays private — we never share or sell your data.
What happens if I receive spam calls?
Mark any call as spam with one tap. We'll block that number permanently, delete the junk lead, and credit the call back to your allowance.
Can I delete my data?
Yes. You can export or delete all your data at any time from your account settings. We comply with all GDPR data subject rights.