Spam calls can be frustrating and disruptive. With Housecall Pro’s Call Menu feature—also known as Interactive Voice Response (IVR)—you can reduce unwanted calls and help real customers reach the right department more quickly.
This guide will walk you through how to enable and configure your Call Menu with a spam-reduction focus.
What is the Call Menu (IVR)?
Call Menu and IVR are two names for the same feature. This system greets incoming callers and prompts them to press a number to route their call appropriately. It improves customer experience and filters out many spam or robocalls that can’t respond to these prompts.
Step 1: Add a Call Menu to Your Call Flow
You can add one Call Menu per time setting—one for open hours and one for closed hours.
Go to your Call Flows settings.
Click Add Widget.
Choose Call Menu.
Select the Spam Reduction template to get started quickly.
🛠️ Pro Tip: You can also choose other templates, like Basic or Basic + Voicemail, depending on your business needs.
Step 2: Configure Your Call Menu
Once added, you’ll be guided through setup. Here's what to do:
Create Your Greeting
Your greeting tells callers which number to press to reach the right department.
Use an Audio file to upload your own recording.
Use Text-to-Speech to type a message that the system will read aloud.
Example greeting: "Thank you for calling ABC Plumbing. To hear our business hours, press 1. If this is an emergency, press 2 to be connected with our on-call technician. To schedule an appointment, press 3. To leave a voicemail, press 4."
Choose What Happens if No Input Is Given
If the caller doesn’t press anything or presses the wrong number, you can decide what happens:
Send to Voicemail: The caller will hear a default message and can leave a message.
Disconnect the Call: The call will end automatically after repeating the greeting twice.
Step 3: Add Call Menu Options
You can create up to five menu options.
Each one can:
Play another message
Ring a specific person or department
Go to voicemail
Route to another part of your call flow
Example setup:
Press 1 → Play business hours → Send to voicemail
Press 2 → Ring on-call technician → Go to voicemail if no answer
Press 3 → Connect to the front office
Press 4 → Go directly to voicemail
Step 4: Test Your Menu
Once your Call Menu is saved:
Call your business number.
Try each option to confirm it routes correctly.
Make adjustments as needed.
Why This Helps with Spam
Most spam calls are automated and can’t press a number. By requiring caller input, you help block spam from reaching you and ensure only real callers get through.
You can learn more about setting up Voice features and managing the Call Menu in this Help Center article.
Having trouble finding what you need?
For further assistance, please reach out to our Chat Support team
via the Blue Chat Bubble in your Housecall Pro account, or
contact our Phone Support team at (858) 842-5746.