Frequently asked Questions

Who is CALLYANDI?

CALLYANDI GmbH is a Swiss provider of English to Chinese telephone interpreting services. The company was founded in spring 2008 by four partners who still hold the majority of shares and are active in the management. All operations are coordinated and controlled from headquarters in Zurich. Interpreting services are based at our call centre in Guangzhou.
For more information please go to our page about us.

What is CALLYANDI?

CALLYANDI provides live interpreting to clients calling on a landline or from a mobile phone. Our service can be used to order at the restaurant, talk to the taxi driver, ask for directions, communicate with business partners, book hotels via telephone ( conference call ) and in many other situations where someone speaking your language can solve a problem for you.

Who can use CALLYANDI?

CALLYANDI is designed for speakers of English travelling or living in China, for tourists, business travellers and expatriates who find themselves in a situation in which they need an interpreter — now, on the spot.
Callyandi is also designed for Chinese travellers in the West who do not speak English and who prefer to be independent of a tour group.
Callyandi also offers its services to individuals, companies and institutions from all over the world who need to speak on the telephone to parties in China.

How do I pay?

We accept payment in Euros or US$ via credit card ( VISA / MasterCard ) or Pay Pal. Further currencies and payment options will be made available shortly.

Why do I have to register to use CALLYANDI?

Once you have registered the mobile phone(s) you use, we can easily identify you by the number from which you are calling. All you need to do for us to start the interpreting service is to state your four-digit pass code. Registration also helps us ensure our high-quality standards: we can keep track of how we have helped you before and, should you experience a similar situation, we can help you in a more efficient and therefore more cost-effective way.
Please take notice of our Privacy Statement.

What will my username and pass code look like?

Your username and password enable you to access the service and to administer and recharge your account.
You are unlikely to forget your username as we will assign your mobile phone number (including country code) as your username. You will choose your own four-digit pass code. However, we discourage the use of simple pass codes such as «1234», «9999», etc.

Is a four-digit pass code safe enough?

It is. We block automated queries, accept only three trials and do not store sensitive information such as credit card numbers, etc. If you have forgot your password, you can retrieve it by answering a security question.

Do CALLYANDI interpreting services extend to other languages besides English and Chinese?

By «Chinese» we mean Mandarin, the Chinese lingua franca, and this is our main focus. However, our agents also speak Cantonese. While we may offer other languages in future, our focus at the moment is exclusively on English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

When can I reach your interpreters?

At any time. Our interpreters are ready to assist you 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
Please take notice of our Terms & Conditions.

How can I recharge my account?

To recharge your account please log on to your account at http://www.callyandi.com/login. If you are unable to access the internet just call us at +86 4006 228 227 or +86 (0)20 612 94900 and have your credit card information ready.

How do I know my credit card information is safe?

All credit card information is protected by 128-bit encryption and stored on a non-public server managed by a leading payment processing firm. Your personal data will never be at risk at any time during the payment process.

What is the advantage of using CALLYANDI rather than a dictionary, phrasebook or personal interpreter?

When travelling in China, the benefits of using a dictionary or phrasebook are limited. They apply to only a limited number of situations and often require basic knowledge of the Chinese language. A personal interpreter must be organised in advance and can be expensive. Using CALLYANDI gives you easy and immediate access to an interpreter when you need one, and at affordable rates.

Do you also translate documents?

We do. A collaboration with highly qualified partner companies enables us to arrange document translation services for you. If you are interested please contact us at translation@callyandi.com.

What if I am not happy with the service I got from CALLYANDI?

We do what ever is reasonably possible to make your experience of the CALLYANDI service highly satisfying. If for some reason you are dissatisfied with our service, please call us or send an email to info@callyandi.com. We will do our best to live up to your expectations.

Do I pay from the first minute?

No. We will only charge you for the time taken up by the interpreting process. This excludes all administration of your call or your account. Calls from you to us where no extra line is needed and you pass your phone to a third party are counted in real time.
The same applies for conference calls where the 3rd party resides within China. When calling a third party outside China, a small surcharge will be added.

How do you charge for the service?

We base our charges on minutes of interpreting. New clients can choose from a range of package offers. The same rates then apply for recharging the account through our site or over the telephone. Please note that you are only charged for the actual interpreting process. The login / identification procedure as well as account recharging operations are free of charge. Please see our pricing page for more details.

What does a single interpretation call cost?

We base our charges on minutes of interpreting. The price per minute depends on the package you have purchased. Please note that you are only charged for the actual interpreting process. The login / identification procedure as well as account recharging operations are free of charge. Please see our pricing page for more details.

Will I face extra charges from third parties?

Please bear in mind that while travelling in China you will be charged for all calls by your home mobile phone provider. To reduce your international roaming expenses we recommend purchasing a Chinese SIM card. If you do so please make sure your phone is unlocked when using the card.

Do I need special equipment to use CALLYANDI?

No. A (mobile) telephone is all you need. Any model will work. You can save on your roaming costs by purchasing a Chinese SIM card.
You can register by phone without ever using the internet: just call us at +86 4006 228 227 or +86 (0)20 612 94900.