Forward your existing number to Ringhum

Call forwarding lets you keep the number your customers already know, with the phone company you already use, while your assistant answers the calls. You get a Ringhum number, then tell your phone company to pass calls on to it. It works on every plan, it takes a few minutes, and you can switch it off again at any time.

Forwarding or moving your number

If you want the number to live with us for good, see Port your number to Ringhum.

Choose how calls are forwarded

Most phone companies offer two kinds of forwarding:

• Forward all calls. Every call goes straight to your assistant. Good if you want the assistant to be your receptionist all day.
• Conditional forwarding. Your phone rings first. The call goes to your assistant only if you are busy, do not answer, or your phone is off or out of coverage. Good if your team answers when it can and the assistant catches the rest.

Many businesses use conditional forwarding during the day and forward all calls outside opening hours.

Set it up

1. Get a Ringhum number and assign your assistant to it. See Connect a phone number.
2. Call the Ringhum number directly from another phone and check that your assistant answers.
3. Turn on forwarding for your existing number, to your Ringhum number. Use the codes below, your phone's call settings, or your phone company's online account.
4. Call your existing number from a different phone and check that the assistant answers.

Important: Forward to a Ringhum number that has an assistant assigned. A Ringhum number with no assistant declines every call, so forwarded callers would not get through.

Common forwarding codes

Many mobile networks use the standard codes below. Dial the code from the phone whose calls you want to forward, then press call. Replace NUMBER with your Ringhum number in international format, for example +14155550132.

Some US carriers use other codes. For example, on many networks *72 followed by the number turns on forwarding of all calls, and *73 turns it off. For conditional forwarding and for landlines, business lines and phone systems, the steps differ from one company to another. Your phone company's website or support team can tell you the exact codes or settings.

Tip: With forwarding when you do not answer, many networks let your phone ring for a set time before forwarding. If the assistant picks up too early or too late, ask your phone company how to change the ring time.

What to expect on Ringhum

• A forwarded call is an incoming call to your Ringhum number. It uses minutes like any other call on that number, and it appears under Calls.
• Your phone company may charge you for the forwarded part of the call, depending on your contract.
• Usually the original caller's number is passed on, so your assistant and your call list see who called. If calls show your own number instead, ask your phone company whether it can pass on the caller's number.
• Your plan's limit on calls at the same time applies. Callers beyond it hear a busy signal.

Troubleshooting

Forwarded calls do not reach the assistant. Call your Ringhum number directly. If the assistant answers, the forwarding setting at your phone company is the issue. If it does not, check that an assistant is assigned to the number under Phone numbers, and that your plan or credit covers the minutes.

Calls go round in a circle. Do not forward the Ringhum number back to your existing number, and do not use a phone that forwards all its calls to Ringhum as your own number for Take over on a live call. Either one sends calls back and forth.

Callers from abroad cannot get through. If you forwarded to a toll-free Ringhum number, remember that toll-free numbers only work inside their own country. Forward to a local number instead.

How do I stop forwarding? Dial ##002# on most mobile networks, use your phone's call settings, or ask your phone company. Your Ringhum number keeps working on its own.