Your first call, without the awkwardness

Who actually picks up?

A real woman, over 18, working with our telephony partner rather than for Covmod. She works under a stage name, as everyone in this trade does, and she chose the job.

The one thing that isn't real is the picture. The profile photos, names and bios on this site are computer-generated: they give each hostess a face and a backstory, but they aren't portraits of the woman on the line. We'd rather tell you here than have you work it out later.

At the moment there are 4 hostesses to choose from. Each profile lists her languages, what she likes talking about and whether she's available right now.

What does a first call cost?

Calls cost 45p/min plus your phone company's access charge. The first part is ours, and it's the same whichever hostess you choose. The access charge is set by your network, not by us; it's usually higher from a mobile than from a landline, and your network's price list will give you the exact figure.

So ten minutes on the phone comes to £4.50, plus ten minutes of access charge. There's no subscription, no minimum length and nothing to join: you pay for the time you spend talking.

• 45p/min plus your phone company's access charge
• The same price for every hostess, at any hour
• No sign-up, no subscription, no minimum call length
• 18+ only

Calling from a mobile

Covmod uses an 09 number, the range Ofcom sets aside for adult services. Several UK networks treat those numbers differently on mobiles, usually behind their adult content controls.

If your call doesn't connect from a mobile, your network may bar 09 numbers by default. A word with your network, or a look in your account settings, normally sorts it out; they may ask you to prove you're over 18 first. A landline is the other easy route.

How the call actually goes

Pick a hostess and note her code, which sits on her profile. Ring the number, key in her code when asked, and you're put straight through. One number covers everyone: the code is what tells the line who you'd like to speak to.

If her profile says she's on another call, she'll be available again shortly. Or choose someone else and ring straight away.

What on earth do I say?

Very little, honestly. The woman on the other end does this for a living: she opens the conversation, fills the gaps and picks things up when you stall. Nobody expects a script.

If you'd like something up your sleeve, these three rarely fail:

• 'It's my first time ringing one of these, so bear with me.' Owning the nerves takes the sting out of them.
• 'How's your evening going?' Let her talk first while you find your feet.
• 'What did you get up to at the weekend?' An open question gets you a story rather than a one-word answer.

And a pause isn't a disaster. Three seconds of quiet feels like a week at your end and barely registers at hers.

How long should a first call last?

As long as you like, which is exactly why it's worth deciding beforehand. Plenty of first calls are five minutes of seeing whether you get on; others run on because nobody was watching the clock.

A sensible plan for a first go: set yourself a limit before you dial, ten minutes say, and ring back another evening if you enjoyed it. You can put the phone down at any point without explaining yourself.

Will it show up anywhere?

An itemised phone bill lists the number you rang, the date, the length of the call and what it cost, as it would for any 09 number. It doesn't name the hostess or say anything about the conversation.

We don't sell your details or hand them to advertisers, and calls are never published. If a call is recorded for legal compliance, a notice tells you at the start. The place to be careful is your own handset: the number stays in your call log, which is worth knowing if you share a phone or an account.

What if we don't hit it off?

Then say goodbye and hang up. No awkward exit, and nothing to pay beyond the minutes you have already spent.

Every hostess has her own manner: dry, chatty, or happy to let you lead. If one isn't your sort of conversation, another probably will be, and her profile gives you a fair idea before you ring.