Stop sending jobs to voicemail

Every major carrier lets you forward just the calls you can't take, like when you're busy, don't answer or have no signal. Your phone still rings first. The calls you miss go to the number you pick, not voicemail.

A few codes, one time

On Telstra, Vodafone, One NZ and Spark that's three short codes. Optus has one code that covers all three, and 2degrees uses your phone's call settings. Each carrier's codes, and how to turn them off, are in our call forwarding guides.

Don't pick forward all

Forward all sends every call on without your phone ringing, including the ones you'd pick up. Choose busy, no answer and unreachable instead.

How long it rings first

Telstra forwards a call you don't answer after 15 seconds, and you can set 15, 20, 25 or 30. Optus lets you pick 5 to 30 seconds in 5-second steps. One NZ forwards after about 20 seconds, and Spark lets you add up to 25 seconds, though not on an iPhone.

Turning it off

It comes off the same way it went on. On Telstra, dial ##67#, ##61# and ##62#. On Optus and Vodafone, ##004# turns off all three at once, and on One NZ it's ##002#.

Check it worked

Ring your mobile from another phone and let it ring out. It should go to the number you set. Then put your phone in flight mode and ring again, and it should go straight to that number.

Watch for prepaid

Vodafone prepaid can only forward to voicemail or Call Catcher, and One NZ says call divert isn't available on Prepay.

Forward them to someone who books the job

Forward the calls you miss to Tradies Line. Its AI receptionist answers on the number your customers already ring, and books the job. Pick your carrier under Settings, Phone, and the codes show with your AI receptionist's number already filled in.