Connecting your phone
Keep your number and choose when Tell answers.
Keep your existing business number
Your existing provider can forward calls to the Tell number shown in Phone & routing. You can usually choose all calls, unanswered calls or calls when you are busy; availability and charges depend on the provider.
Switch forwarding on with your provider
Use your provider’s control panel or documented forwarding instructions. Saving an existing number in Tell is a setup reference; it does not change the provider’s settings. Contact Tell support if you need help finding the right path.
Choose a separate transfer destination
Use a staff number that does not forward back to Tell. Forwarding back to the same assistant creates a loop and prevents the caller reaching a person.
Check both paths
Call your original business number from a separate phone. Listen to the AI introduction, ask a routine question, then ask for a person. Check that the staff phone rings.
Pause and restore
Pausing Tell stops new AI conversations and uses the configured fallback. To keep calls entirely on your original line, turn forwarding off with your provider. Existing conversations are allowed to finish.