With call forwarding you forward calls from your own number to your AI-Agent. Once forwarding is active, your AI-Agent answers incoming calls automatically, around the clock. This guide covers UK mobiles (the forwarding codes are the same across all networks) and single landlines (see the landline section below).
Choosing the right guide
This guide is for a single phone: your mobile or SIM card, or a single landline phone.
If your phone is part of a phone system (for example SIP, VoIP, a cloud phone system or an office PBX), this is not the right guide. Use the phone system guide instead and pick the article that matches your system.
How the forwarding works
When you set it up, Superchat creates its own Superchat number. It is only the internal target of your forward. Your customers keep calling your usual number. Only once your number forwards to the Superchat number does the AI-Agent answer the call.
Do not share the Superchat number with your customers. It is only used for forwarding. Without forwarding set up, the AI-Agent only answers calls when the test environment / agent setup is active.
Find your Superchat number
You create your Superchat number directly in Superchat:
Open your AI-Agent and under Go live select Phone.
Click Activate now and then New number.
Enter the phone number your customers use to reach you. Mobile and landline numbers are supported.
As the type of phone, choose Mobile.
Select your mobile provider.
In the last step, Superchat shows you your Superchat number.
Note or copy the Superchat number. You will need it for the forwarding in a moment. Always use it in international format with +44.
Before you start: turn off voicemail
For the forward to work cleanly, voicemail should be off. Your own forward usually overrides the carrier voicemail automatically. On iPhone, also actively switch voicemail off so your forward can override it. Depending on your host network:
EE network and Three network: standard codes; both also offer app-based setup (My EE / My3).
Virgin Media O2 network: O2 sends unanswered or unreachable calls to voicemail by default (shortcode 901); setting your own divert overrides this.
Vodafone network: call forwarding is available on monthly contracts only, not Pay-As-You-Go.
Which network does my provider use?
Most brands run on one of these four networks:
EE network: EE.
Virgin Media O2 network: O2, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile.
Vodafone network: Vodafone, VOXI, Lebara, Talkmobile.
Three network: Three, SMARTY, iD Mobile.
⚠️ Exception: Lycamobile is not supported. Lycamobile does not allow call forwarding to your AI-Agent, so this setup is not possible on a Lycamobile SIM.
Set up forwarding with a code
The fastest way to set up forwarding is a short key code (GSM code). Type the code into your phone's keypad and press call. Replace [Superchat-Number] with your Superchat number in +44 format.
What you want | Code to turn on | Code to turn off |
Forward all calls (immediately) |
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Forward on no answer (after 10s) |
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All conditional cases together (no answer, busy, unreachable) |
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Which code fits:
Forward all calls: your phone no longer rings, the AI-Agent answers every call. Ideal if the AI-Agent should fully take over (for example after-hours pickup).
Forward on no answer: your phone rings first, and the AI-Agent takes over only when nobody answers.
All conditional cases: like no answer, and additionally covers busy lines and unreachability.
You can adjust the seconds value (10 in the example) in steps of 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30. If your phone should ring longer before the AI-Agent takes over, increase the value. Enter the destination in international format +44.
Set up forwarding without a code
You can also enable forwarding in your smartphone settings. This way you can only set up forward all calls. For conditional forwarding (only on no answer or busy) use the codes above.
iPhone
Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding. On older iOS versions: Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding. Turn on forwarding and enter your Superchat number.
Android
Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu and then Settings. Under Calls, Supplementary services or Calling accounts you will find Call forwarding. Pick the right SIM and enter your Superchat number. The exact labels vary by device.
Turn forwarding off again
Want to stop forwarding? Type the matching code and press call:
All calls:
##21#On no answer:
##61#All conditional cases:
##004#Erase all forwards at once:
##002#
More codes
What you want | Code to turn on | Code to turn off |
Forward on no answer only |
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Forward on busy only |
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Forward when unreachable only |
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Check status |
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If you have a single landline
UK landlines use the same idea as mobiles, but with a single asterisk (not the mobile double asterisk). Enter the destination as the full Superchat number with the leading 0 (for example *21*07700900123#), not the +44 form.
What you want | Code to turn on | Code to turn off | Check |
Forward all calls |
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Forward on no answer |
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Forward on busy |
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Two things to know before the codes work:
Switch on Call Divert with your provider first. On most landlines (BT copper, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, Virgin Media) call divert is a paid add-on (about £1.75 to £2.50 per month) and can take 24 to 72 hours to activate; until then the codes do nothing. Forwarded calls are billed at your line's normal rate to that number. Exception: BT Digital Voice includes it for free and it works straight from the handset.
Provider exceptions:
Virgin Media: documents only the forward-all code and uses regional zones (in a "Red area" the code is
*70to turn on and#70to turn off). Follow Virgin Media's own instructions.Sky: the selective codes (
*61*and*67*) are unreliable, and the service must be activated by phone first.Digital or full-fibre lines (except BT Digital Voice): set forwarding in the provider's app or portal; handset codes are not guaranteed.
FAQ
Will my customers now call a different number?
Will my customers now call a different number?
No. Your customers keep calling your usual number. The Superchat number is only the internal forwarding target and is not meant for customers.
I want my phone to ring first. Can I do that?
I want my phone to ring first. Can I do that?
Yes. Use the code for forwarding on no answer. Your phone rings first, and the AI-Agent only takes over when nobody answers.
Does this work with every provider?
Does this work with every provider?
Yes, with one exception: Lycamobile does not support call forwarding, so the setup is not possible there. The forwarding codes are the same across all UK mobile networks. The only differences are around voicemail, which you turn off beforehand. On the Vodafone network, call forwarding works on monthly contracts only, not on Pay-As-You-Go.
Which countries is the AI phone assistant available in?
Which countries is the AI phone assistant available in?
Currently the UK and Germany. More countries will follow.