Communication

Why Are Calls Going Straight to Voicemail?

Fix calls bypassing AI receptionist and going to voicemail. Check ring time and carrier settings in Local Business Pro.

intermediate 5 min read voicemail calls routing troubleshooting
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Quick Answer: Calls going to voicemail usually means ring time is too short, carrier voicemail is intercepting calls before forwarding, or the AI number isn't set up correctly. Check your ring time settings and carrier voicemail configuration.

What You'll Learn

This guide explains why calls might bypass your AI receptionist and go straight to voicemail, with solutions for each scenario.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

  1. Determine which voicemail is answering (carrier or Local Business Pro)
  2. If carrier voicemail: Disable it or increase ring count before voicemail
  3. Check ring time settings in Connect > Phone
  4. Verify call forwarding is set to unconditional (all calls)
  5. Test by calling directly to your AI number (bypass forwarding)

Common Causes

  • Carrier voicemail picks up first: Your phone carrier's voicemail answers before forwarding happens
  • Ring time too short: Calls aren't ringing long enough before giving up
  • Conditional forwarding: Only forwarding on busy/no-answer, and carrier voicemail is faster
  • No AI number assigned: Calls have nowhere to go
  • Network congestion: Temporary carrier issues

Identifying Which Voicemail Answered

The voicemail greeting tells you where the call went:

  • Carrier voicemail: Generic greeting like 'The person at [number] is not available'
  • Local Business Pro voicemail: Your AI's voice or a custom message you recorded
  • Business line voicemail: Your original business voicemail greeting

Fixing Carrier Voicemail Issues

  1. Contact your phone carrier
  2. Ask to increase the number of rings before voicemail (at least 6-8 rings)
  3. Or ask to disable voicemail entirely if you want all calls to forward
  4. Switch from conditional forwarding to unconditional forwarding

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I have voicemail as a backup if AI doesn't answer?
A: Yes, Local Business Pro can take voicemails if calls aren't answered. Configure this in your AI settings.

Q: How do I know if my AI received the call at all?
A: Check AI Conversations. If the call doesn't appear there, it never reached your AI.

Q: What's the ideal ring count before forwarding?
A: Set your carrier to 6-8 rings before voicemail to give forwarding time to work.

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