Moneypenny app keeps business owners’ eye on the road

Moneypenny, the Wrexham-headquartered telephone answering specialist, says it has seen a surge in enquiries from small business owners and sole traders following the introduction of increased penalty points and fines for those caught using a handheld phone whilst driving.

The Department of Transport’s policy on mobile phone usage introduced a penalty of 6 points on your licence and a fine of £200 from February.

Moneypenny says its new app has been created specifically for small businesses and sole traders who are concerned about missing important business calls.

It allows friends and family calls to go to voicemail as normal, whilst customer calls are answered by a Moneypenny PA.

Voicemails are then transcribed and appears on the phone App and by text so if the user is in a meeting or not able to listen to the message they can easily read it.

Ed Reeves, co-founder and director of Moneypenny, said: “We understand that small business owners can’t afford to lose business.  A missed call can equate to a missed business opportunity as the majority of people hang up at a voicemail greeting. This is why we developed a solution. With the Moneypenny App we ensure that no business is lost and that there are no distractions whilst driving.”

RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “Handheld phone use at the wheel is one of the epidemics of our time – with RAC figures showing a third of motorists admit to talking on a handheld phone, and nearly half thinking it’s okay to check social media when sat in traffic. The time has come for a proper dialogue with business drivers on the issue, and to understand what it is that encourages them to interact with a handheld phone in the first place.”

The Moneypenny service costs £5 a month plus 2p a second for calls answered by a Moneypenny PA and there is no contract.