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Verbatim virtual receptionist alternative

Verbatim has been answering calls since 1997.
TextBack Pro does it in 30 seconds, automatically.

Verbatim is one of the UK's most established virtual receptionist services. TextBack Pro takes a different approach: instant automated SMS reply to every missed call, 24/7, for a flat £47 per month. No live agents, no per-call fees, no contract.

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No credit card required From £47/month flat No contract

Why businesses look for a Verbatim alternative

Traditional model, slow response

Verbatim's model was built before instant messaging. A caller leaves a message, an agent notes it, and you get an email. The caller gets no immediate reply and may ring elsewhere before your callback reaches them. TextBack Pro replies to the caller in 30 seconds.

Per-call charges on top of the monthly fee

Verbatim packages start from around £60/month but include per-call charges on top. Total monthly cost grows with call volume. TextBack Pro is one flat fee: £47 per month, however many calls come in.

No caller engagement after the call

With a traditional answering service, the conversation ends when the agent hangs up. TextBack Pro starts a conversation: an AI follows up, answers questions, and can book an appointment, all over SMS, without you lifting a finger.

TextBack Pro vs Verbatim

TextBack ProVerbatim
Monthly costFrom £47 flatFrom ~£60 + per-call
Per-call fees✓ None× Yes
Instant SMS reply (under 30s)✓× No SMS
Works 24/7 automatically✓Business hours
AI two-way conversation✓×
Google Calendar booking✓ Pro plan×
No contract✓Varies
14-day free trial✓×
Setup time10 minutes1 to 3 days

An honest take on Verbatim

What Verbatim does well
  • Established UK provider with 25+ years of experience
  • Professional, trained UK-based receptionists
  • Good reputation for reliability and quality
Where it falls short for trades
  • Traditional model: no instant SMS to the caller
  • Per-call fees make monthly cost unpredictable
  • No AI follow-up or booking automation

Common questions

How is TextBack Pro different from Verbatim?
Verbatim uses trained UK receptionists to answer your calls and take messages. TextBack Pro is fully automated: every missed call triggers an instant SMS to the caller within 30 seconds, and AI handles the follow-up conversation. There are no agents, no per-call fees, and the system works 24/7.
Is TextBack Pro cheaper than Verbatim?
It depends on your call volume. Verbatim starts from around £60/month plus per-call charges. TextBack Pro is £47/month flat with no per-call fees. For most small businesses, TextBack Pro is cheaper and provides a faster response to the caller.
Is automated SMS as effective as a live receptionist for tradespeople?
For most trades enquiries, yes. The caller wants to know you've received their request and will follow up. An instant SMS achieves this in 30 seconds, 24/7, at a fraction of the cost of a live agent. TextBack Pro's AI can also answer basic questions and book appointments without any involvement from you.

Instant SMS. 24/7 automation. From £47/month.

Built for UK tradespeople. Reply in 30 seconds. No agents, no per-call fees, no contract.

Start 14-day free trial →See pricing

No credit card required