When you’re ready to get help, start by deciding which expert you’d like to talk to. A great place to begin is with Steve, our tech expert. Think of a technology issue that’s been giving you trouble, maybe your WiFi isn’t working, your printer’s being stubborn, or your phone’s doing something mysterious. Let’s give Steve a call and ask him about it.

You’ll find Steve’s Hotline phone number in your welcome email or text from Hotline, or on our website at Steve’s contact page.

When you call, simply talk to Steve as you would any other friendly assistant. Describe the problem as clearly as you can; the more details you share, the faster he can help. If it’s easier to send a photo or continue later, you can ask Steve to follow up by email or text message. Whatever works best for you.

You can call anytime day or night. Steve is always available and happy to help.

Keep your phone on speaker if you need both hands free to follow instructions. Once the call is connected, tap the Speaker or Speakerphone button on your screen, it usually looks like a small megaphone or sound waves icon.

Next let’s discuss how to text with our experts. A great place to begin is with Gordon, our cooking expert.

Make sure you have Gordon’s Hotline phone number. You’ll find it in your welcome email or text from Hotline, or on our website at Gordon’s contact page.

Open your phone’s Messages app and start a new message to Gordon’s number.

Type a short note explaining what you’d like help with, for example: “Hi Gordon! Can you come up with some dinner ideas using chicken, broccoli and olive oil?”

Gordon will reply with recipe ideas based on what you have! You can ask for simple ideas, or go deeper and request full recipes.

When you first sign up for Hotline, you will receive a welcome email with all of our experts’ contact cards attached.

Simply tap on the contact you’d like to add, then press the Up arrow in the bottom left corner of your screen.

Then press the “Contacts” button and choose “Save”.

This will save the expert’s contact to your phone. Now you can complete the same steps for the other experts so they’re always one call away.

Next let’s discuss how to email our experts. A great place to start is with Jules, our travel expert. Let’s email Jules and ask for a few not-too-strenuous walking tour recommendations, plus booking links and a short summary of recent reviews.

Make sure you have Jules’ Hotline email address. You’ll find it in your welcome email from Hotline, or on our website at Jules’s contact page.

Open your email app and start a new message to Jules. In the Subject line, state your goal in plain words (for example: “Easy-pace walking tour options in New Orleans”).

In the message, briefly explain what you need and any preferences. Here’s a sample you can copy and edit: “Hi Jules! I’m visiting New Orleans next month and would love 2–3 easy-pace walking tour options (ideally flat routes, 60–90 minutes). Please include booking links and a quick summary of recent reviews, what people liked or didn’t. I prefer small groups, weekdays are fine, and I’d like to avoid stairs if possible.”

You can keep it simple or add details like dates, times of day, or interests (history, architecture, food). Jules will reply with clear steps, links, and a short review summary. If you have follow-up questions, just reply.

Sometimes it’s useful to send an image to an expert via email—to get started, you’ll just need to “attach” the image to the email you’re sending.

Click Attach (paperclip) and choose your photo or screenshot, then click Open (or Insert). If the file is large, you may need to attach one or two images at a time.

In the message, add a brief note explaining what the picture shows and where you got stuck.

Click Send. If images don’t go through, try sending the pictures in separate emails to the expert.

Clear, focused messages help us help you faster. Start with one goal per note and keep your sentences short; if we need more detail, we’ll ask. Tell us what device you’re using (“iPhone 13,” “Windows laptop,” or “Kindle”) and any other information you know about the device. If something on screen looks off, include a screenshot or photo of the exact message so we can see what you see.

As we work together, describe any roadblocks in your own words: what you tapped or clicked, what you expected, and what actually happened. We’ll adjust the plan without the jargon. Checklists make everything easier to follow, so feel free to write your reply as a few simple bullets; we’ll mirror that style in our instructions. With a clear goal, a little context, and a snapshot when needed, you’ll get practical answers fast.

Your privacy comes first. We don’t sell your data—period. Your messages are encrypted in transit and at rest, and we’ll never ask for your full passwords or sensitive financial details. “Encrypted in transit and at rest” means your messages are scrambled into a code while they travel to us and they stay locked in that code when they’re stored on our systems. It’s like mailing a sealed letter that’s kept in a locked safe when it arrives.

If a task requires account access, we’ll show you safe, step-by-step ways to do it yourself so you stay in control. Not sure about a link or a request you received? Ask us before you click and we’ll help you spot scams and anything that looks risky. And if you ever want to remove past conversations, you can request deletion at any time.

Our emails come from an @hotline.net address—if you don’t see that, be cautious. Our tone is short, plain-spoken, and step-by-step; we don’t use scare tactics or pressure. Our logo and graphics are clean and simple; if a message looks off or feels unusual, pause and ask us to confirm. We’ll double-check so you never need to worry.