FAQs

You can use InterpreterNow on a computer, smartphone or tablet.

If you’re using a PC or Mac, log on through our website www.interpreternow.co.uk to make a call.

If you are using a smartphone or tablet, please download the free InterpreterNow app. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.

Yes. For more information about registering with InterpreterNow, please visit our registration page by clicking this link www.i-now.uk

Yes, you must have a good Internet connection to use InterpreterNow. You can use WiFi or a 3G/4G connection. The better your connection, the better quality your call. If use 3G/4G, it will use approximately the same amount of data as FaceTime or Skype.

For the app to work you must have a good Internet connection. This can be a WiFi Internet connection or 3G/4G connection. If you have good Internet connection but you’re still having trouble making a call, try shutting down the app and then reloading it. If this doesn’t fix the problem, please contact the InterpreterNow team by emailing support@interpreternow.co.uk. Our team will do our best to help you get the app back up and running.

All InterpreterNow passwords are case sensitive. If your password still doesn’t work or you have forgotten your password, please click on the ‘forgotten password’ link. You will automatically receive an email so you can reset your password.

Yes! Yes! Yes! You can use a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone to connect to InterpreterNow. If you’re using a tablet or smartphone, you can also download the free InterpreterNow app to make calls.

You can phone SignHealth!

If you live in Scotland you can use the contactSCOTLAND-BSL service to phone any Scottish government department. This includes NHS 24, The Scottish Parliament and 32 Scottish Local Authorities.

If you live in England, you can call the following services:

• NHS 111
• NHS Customer Contact Centre
• Leicestershire Police 101

InterpreterNow is working with many national organisations across England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales to encourage them to sign up and work with InterpreterNow so that deaf people can communicate directly with them.

If you know of an organisation who would like to benefit from InterpreterNow, please ask them to contact us directly either by email; support@interpreternow.co.uk or phone 01494 687600.

Of course! You can test the service by connecting to ‘SignHealth’ and asking to speak to a member of our staff. Just let the interpreter know what you’re doing when you start the call.

As much as our interpreters love to see new people testing the service, please keep the call brief in case other people are trying to get through to the police or health services.

We believe that InterpreterNow should be FREE to deaf people so they can make use of public and private services in the same way that hearing people do.

That’s why services (such as your GP, a business or an organisation) pay for InterpreterNow, not the deaf user. The only cost you may incur is phone data if you use 3G/4G to make calls, similar to the amount FaceTime uses, as the InterpreterNow app requires an internet connection.

A similar amount that a FaceTime call uses, approximately 1MB per minute of your call.

Absolutely! We welcome all deaf people to use the service.

If you’re not sure that the service will work for you, please make a test call. All of our interpreters are experienced and can adapt to your needs – all you need to do is start the call by explaining how you prefer to communicate.

VRS stands for Video Relay Service. Using video call software, a deaf person can connect to an interpreter via a video call. The interpreter will phone a hearing person on behalf of the deaf person and relay the conversation.

For example, calling NHS 111 will connect you to a BSL interpreter, who will then call NHS 111 on your behalf, and relay information between you and the NHS 111 call handler.

VRI stands for Video Remote Interpreting. This service provides a deaf person access to an online interpreter to help them with face to face conversations.

For example, if a deaf person is with a doctor, instead of having an interpreter in the room with them, they can make a video call to an interpreter via an iPad, phone or computer. The interpreter will then translate the conversation between the deaf patient and their doctor.

Text relay is a service that deaf people use to make phone calls. It requires a deaf person to type everything they want to say and this is received by a text relay assistant who will relay the written message into spoken English to a hearing person, via the telephone.

Text relay relies on written English messages to be exchanged between a deaf and hearing person via a text relay operator. Text Relay calls take longer than conventional calls as only one person can speak/type at a time – exchanges between the deaf and hearing person are not free-flowing and in real-time as they have to be managed by the text relay operator.

Video relay allows deaf people to make a video call in sign language. The interpreter voices what the deaf person says, all in real time. The interpreter also relays in sign language what the hearing person says, in real-time. The interpreter can easily manage the conversation to ensure everything is clear and free-flowing.

If an organisation has registered with InterpreterNow, you can call them. You can see which services you can call on the ‘who can I call’ page.