Contactbox User Guide


Welcome to the Contact Box User Guide Section. If you wish to view the FAQ click here. This area is an expanded area of support for some of our main features.

How do I change the number that my Contact Box calls are diverted to? | Back to Menu

Unless you change your Contact Box settings all messages will be sent to your e-mail account. If you want your calls forwarded to a number instead, you can do this on this site - see Update Box Settings or you can change the number by phone, see Telephone User Guide. Please note this facility is not available for users who have an 0870 number.

How does my voice mail work? | Back to Menu

Callers to your Contact Box number, will be calling your number and hear a message asking the caller to leave a message.

Messages will be forwarded to your e-mail account. They can also be accessed by phone directly from the Contact Box server if you set this up. To set this up see Update Box Settings. You can also do this via the phone see Telephone User Guide. Please note this facility is not available for users who have an 0870 number.

How does the Fax service work? | Back to Menu

Callers to your Contact Box will on calling your number hear a message asking them to send a fax after the tone.

Faxes will be forwarded to your e-mail account. They can also be accessed by fax directly from the Contact Box server if you set this up. To set this up see Update Box Settings. You can also do this via the telephone, see Telephone User Guide. Please note this facility is not available for users who have an 0870 number.

What are the Mail Server details? | Back to Menu

Within the Online Support section you will find all the details about setting up your email software to send and receive email.

How do I get my mail?| Back to Menu

You can also find within the Online Support section all the details about setting up all the most popular email packages.

What software do I need on my PC? | Back to Menu

We have already listed the most important Software products that are needed within our Free Software section. | Back to Menu

Online Telephone User Guide | Back to Menu

Download Telephone Guide (Word Format)

Or obtain the Telephone Guide using our faxback system by calling 0906-756-0-756. Calls cost 75p per min.

When you first get your Contact Box it’s set up with some default settings, which are:

  • All messages are immediately forwarded to your e-mail and are not accessible by phone.
  • The Follow Me facility is disabled
  • Callers hear a standard caller greeting

You can change these default settings using the Telephone interface as detailed here or via the Web Site.

The Telephone Guide shows the functionality of the Contact Box telephone interface. To move back up the menu tree always press ‘*’. To confirm a choice press #. From this interface you can:

  • Retrieve messages and faxes
  • Set your Contact Box to simply forward all messages to your e-mail or to store them for retrieval by phone or fax
  • Set up the Follow Me numbers that your Contact Box number diverts calls to.
  • Personalise the greeting played to callers calling your Contact box number.
  • Change your PIN number

In addition for users that use the chargeable features of the Contact Box system you can be:

  • Notified when a message is left for you (the system calls up pre-designated numbers and you can then access your messages directly).
  • Enable the caller screening facility. Using this callers to your number are asked to record their name, when the calls or message is forwarded to you, you will hear who is calling you, and can decide what action to take prior to connection
  • You can record your name to further personalise your Contact Box.

Some of the key features of the above facilities include:

  • When your Contact Box is taking messages you can choose from pre-set reasons as to why you are unavailable e.g. on holiday, out of the office etc.
  • You can set up a number of ‘follow me’ numbers so that if the person calling you does not get answered at the first number calls are diverted to the second number and so on.
  • The system tells you how many messages you have, and when they were received.
  • Faxes can be sent to your e-mail – detected by the Contact Box system – or routed to a designated fax machine 

Many of the settings that you can alter using the phone interface can also be done on the web site – see Update Box Settings. We would recommend that you use the web site to set up your Follow Me numbers (its easier to see what you have set up on the web site). You can then use the telephone interface to either disable or enable whether to forward calls to you, or to your Contact Box. This is controlled in STATUS (Option 4 from the Main Menu). However before you choose to set-up your status as ‘Follow Me’ (forwarding call to a designated number) you must enter your number, see Update Box Settings, or Choose option 6, in ‘Change Contact Box Settings‘ (Option 5 on the Main Menu).

Note – in all cases the Telephone Interface will give you prompts. Download Telephone Guide to help you work around the system.

Or use our faxback system by calling 0906-756-0-756. Calls cost 75p per min.

How do I retrieve messages | Back to Menu

Your messages are sent to your Contact Box email address unless you alter this. See Change Box Settings. To retrieve messages by phone dial 0870-74-3-74-74. You will be prompted to enter your Box number and then your PIN number. The system will then tell you how many new and old messages you have (if any). You Press 1 for new messages, or ‘2’ from the Main Menu for old messages. After each message you will be told when the message was received, and given options as to what you want to do with the message (we would recommend that you always either delete messages or forward them to your e-mail – if you have choosen to have messages stored on the Contact Box server as well as forwarded to your e-mail you are limited to messages being held for 24 hours, and a limit of 30 messages – see Update Box Settings).

How do I setup or disable Follow Me numbers | Back to Menu

You can set this up on the Web site – see Update Box Settings. If you want to do this via the phone you first need to have numbers set up that your Contact Box forwards calls to. To set these up from the Main Menu choose ‘5’ – 'Change Contact Box Settings'. Then choose option ‘6’ - Setting up Follow Me number. Then choose option 2 (choose option 3 if you want to delete existing Follow Me numbers) – Entering a new Follow Me number.

The Follow Me feature is set up so the first number you enter is the one that calls will be forwarded to. If the call is not answered, calls will be diverted to your Contact Box, and a message will be taken, or the system will try any other Follow Me numbers you have set-up.

Once you have your numbers entered you need to ensure that your Box is set up to forward calls. To do this from Main Menu, choose ‘4’ – Status – and select the ‘Follow Me’ option. If you want to disable Follow Me and have all calls sent directly to your Contact Box go to status and choose any other option.

How do I record my caller greeting? | Back to Menu

From the Main Menu choose ‘5’ - Change Box Settings. Then choose option ‘8’ – Record your Greeting. You will then have an option to record a greeting, delete it or disable it.

How do I change my PIN number? | Back to Menu

We would recommend you change your PIN number immediately after joining Contact Box. Change it to one you can remember easily. From the Main Menu choose ‘5’ - Change Contact Box Settings. Then choose option ‘7’ – Change your PIN number.

What is the best way to use the Contact Box system | Back to Menu

The easiest way is to control your Contact Box setting from the web site - see Update Box Settings, as you can then see what is set up. If you are highly mobile and find it more convenient to use the telephone interface – Download and print Out.

 

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