---
name: phone-calls-90008433ad41
description: Make AI-powered phone calls via Bland AI - book restaurants, make appointments, inquire about services. The AI calls on your behalf and reports back with transcripts.
metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"📞","requires":{"env":["BLAND_API_KEY"]}}}
---

# Phone Calls Skill

Make AI-powered phone calls on behalf of the user — book restaurants, make appointments, inquire about services, etc.

## Provider: Bland AI

**Why Bland AI?**
- Simplest API of all options (Vapi, Retell are more complex)
- Just need `phone_number` + `task` to make a call
- Low latency, natural-sounding voices
- Pay-per-minute, no platform fees
- Self-hosted (data stays secure)

## Setup Required

### 1. Create Bland AI Account
1. Go to https://app.bland.ai
2. Sign up with email
3. Add payment method (or use free trial credits)

### 2. Get API Key
1. Go to https://app.bland.ai/dashboard
2. Click your profile → API Keys
3. Copy your API key

### 3. Configure Clawdbot
Add to your environment or `.env`:
```bash
BLAND_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

Or store in `~/.clawd/secrets.json`:
```json
{
  "bland_api_key": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
}
```

## Usage

### Basic Call
```bash
./phone-call.sh "+447123456789" "Call the restaurant and book a table for 2 at 7pm tonight under the name John"
```

### With Custom Voice
```bash
./phone-call.sh "+447123456789" "Ask about their opening hours" --voice maya
```

### Check Call Status
```bash
./check-call.sh <call_id>
```

## How It Works

1. You provide a phone number and a task/objective
2. Bland AI calls the number with an AI agent
3. The AI follows your instructions naturally
4. You get a transcript and summary after the call

## Example Tasks

**Restaurant Booking:**
```
Call this restaurant and book a table for 4 people on Saturday at 8pm. 
The booking should be under the name "Smith". If they ask for a phone 
number, give them +447123456789.
```

**Appointment Inquiry:**
```
Call this dental office and ask what appointments are available next 
week for a routine checkup. Get at least 3 options if possible.
```

**Service Inquiry:**
```
Call this plumber and ask if they can come out tomorrow to fix a 
leaking tap. Get a quote for the callout fee.
```

## Pricing (Bland AI)

- **Outbound calls:** ~$0.09/minute (US) 
- **Varies by country** — check https://app.bland.ai for current rates
- First calls may have free credits

## Voice Options

Built-in voices:
- `josh` - Male, professional
- `maya` - Female, friendly (default)
- `florian` - Male, European accent
- `derek` - Male, casual
- `june` - Female, professional
- `nat` - Male, natural
- `paige` - Female, upbeat

## Advanced Features

### Voicemail Handling
The AI can detect voicemails and either hang up, leave a message, or ignore.

### Call Recording
Set `record: true` to get a recording URL after the call.

### Webhooks
Get notified when calls complete by setting a webhook URL.

### Conversation Pathways
For complex flows (IVR menus, multi-step processes), create pathways in the Bland dashboard.

## Limitations

- Cannot call emergency services (999, 911, etc.)
- Some numbers may be blocked (DNC lists)
- Rate limited: 1 call per 10 seconds to the same number
- Max call duration: 30 minutes default (configurable)

## Troubleshooting

**"Invalid phone number"**
- Include country code: `+44` for UK, `+1` for US
- Remove spaces and parentheses

**"Insufficient balance"**
- Add credits at https://app.bland.ai/dashboard/billing

**"Rate limit exceeded"**
- Wait a few seconds between calls to the same number

## Files

- `phone-call.sh` — Make a phone call
- `check-call.sh` — Check call status/transcript
- `bland.sh` — Low-level API wrapper


---
Source attribution: kbarbel640-del
Original project: https://github.com/kbarbel640-del/skills/blob/e7e336ac628c3e3bd771aff1aaa469c93778f94a/skills/dru-ca/phone-calls-bland/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 clawdbot

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: kbarbel640-del
Original project: https://github.com/kbarbel640-del/skills/blob/e7e336ac628c3e3bd771aff1aaa469c93778f94a/skills/dru-ca/phone-calls-bland/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Sales, Customer Support
Roles: Business Development, Customer Success Manager, Support Agent
Specialties: Specialty not specified
Tools: Bland Ai
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: ca071a52baab3f1ac0dccb30b76d28f3c7da49041eed504564f7a8d0a67e6d6e