Workshop hours
The phone rings while the only person who can answer is under a ramp. If nobody picks up, the caller gets a polite text from your business within moments.
For Garages & MOT centres
Missed calls in the workshop, answered by text.
Garages lose calls at the busiest moments: hands dirty under a car, out on a road test, or with a customer at the counter. The Trade Hook texts the caller back straight away so the enquiry is not lost to the next garage on their list.
Where it helps
MOT and service bookings
Callers asking for an MOT slot or a service often just need a date. They can reply by text with the car and when suits them, and you reply when you are free.
Breakdowns and warning lights
A worried caller who texts back "urgent" is flagged as urgent in the inbox, so you can see which call to return first.
After closing
Calls that reach you after hours are kept as enquiries too, so the first job of the morning is a list, not a guess.
A worked example
Example data
The automatic text your business sends:
The customer replies:
What the enquiry shows you: the reply in full, the caller’s number to ring or text back, any voicemail with its transcript, and the simple details picked out automatically:
- Vehicle: Ford Focus
- Registration: AB12 CDE
- Callback requested
The automatic reader only picks out simple things, such as a UK registration, the word “urgent” or a request to call back. You always see the customer’s own words.
How it fits your day
- 1
A customer rings your normal garage number. It rings in the workshop as usual.
- 2
If nobody answers, your phone provider forwards the call to your Trade Hook number.
- 3
The caller can leave a voicemail and receives a short text from your garage asking how you can help.
- 4
Their reply, voicemail and transcript appear together as one enquiry. Call, text back or mark it Booked.
Questions
Will it ask my customers for their registration?
No. The text simply says sorry the call was missed and asks how you can help. Many customers include the car and registration anyway, and when they do it is picked out and shown on the enquiry.
Does it book the car in for me?
No. The Trade Hook does not connect to garage management or booking systems. You reply or ring the customer and agree the booking yourself, then mark the enquiry Booked and add the appointment date and time so your Booked list is in date order.
What if the customer rang from a landline?
A landline cannot receive a text, so it appears in the inbox as a missed call with the number to ring back. Any voicemail they left is still there.
What it does not do
- It does not answer the phone or take bookings on your behalf.
- It works only for calls your phone provider forwards when they are not answered.
It works for any business that takes enquiries by phone, not only garages & mot centres.
Try it on your own number
Start with 10 free recovered calls and no time limit. A card goes on file, but nothing is charged until you choose a plan.