Skip to main content

Frequently Asked Questions

Availability and Tasks

What hours will my VA be available?

Our office hours are 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. We are closed on all NZ public holidays.

What happens if my VA is sick or on leave?

Because our virtual assistants work from our office, we train a backup virtual assistant who will be ready and able to undertake your tasks should your dedicated VA be absent. If your VA is away, we will arrange the backup assistant for you so that you have uninterrupted service.

Can my VA make calls for me?

Absolutely. Outbound calls are no problem and we do this from our VOIP phone system or mobile phones.

Can my VA buy things on my behalf?

Yes. We can take down your credit card details over the phone and make purchases for you. Security of information is paramount to us and we use tools such as LastPass to ensure this. We can also sign a non-disclosure agreement with you if required.

What if I need a task completed that my VA can't do?

Your VA has the backing of our entire team, all with various specialty skills. Your VA will project manage the task and have it completed by the best person on the team.

 

Security & Systems

How do you keep my information confidential and secure?

Security and confidentiality are paramount for us. Using the latest software and tools, we have centralised all of our security and control over our team and your information.

Passwords: We use the premium version of LastPass to store passwords and codes meaning that we can control access to your logins without our VAs actually seeing what the passwords are. We have complete control and can revoke access at any time.

Remote control: We have software that allows us to see the location of all our laptops and mobile devices on a map and gives us the ability to wipe the laptop or mobile device with the touch of a button.

File access: Using Microsoft's SharePoint we use Groups to restrict access to files to only the VAs authorised and again this is centrally controlled and can be revoked at any time.

Employee vetting: We complete criminal conviction checks on all of our team and they all hold clean records.

Non-disclosure agreements: We can sign a non-disclosure agreement at your request.

Laptop access: All of our laptops have security passwords to access and can be located using our Meraki system.

What systems does my VA use?

All of our VAs are proficient in G Suite and Microsoft Office 365. We use a vast range of apps and tools across our client base so it is likely that we know the systems that you are on. If not, all of our VAs are tech savvy and can easily learn a required tool. See the full list of tools and apps that we love and use here.

 

Service Plans & Payments

When do I pay for my hours?

Monthly plans are invoiced in advance on the 1st of each month and are due for payment on the 7th of the month. Casual hours are paid at month end, and you are only billed for the exact hours you use.

What happens to my unused hours?

Monthly plans are subscription based and allow you to have a dedicated virtual assistant available to you within our office hours along with a preferential rate. Hours do not roll over to the next month. In our initial handover session with you we agree on non-urgent projects that can be undertaken when monthly hours are available to be used. This is how we endeavor to use all monthly hours on the off chance you have a quiet month.

What happens if I need more time than my plan allows?

Additional hours can be purchased at your monthly plan rate. These are billed at the end of the month. Your VA will arrange approval of additional hours prior to using them.

 

Other

What if it isn't working out for me?

We understand that there are various reasons why it sometimes doesn't work out with your VA. With just one email and no fuss, we can have you switched to another VA. Our aim is to provide you with the very best service and be assisting you in achieving your goals. If that means working on a better fit, we'll make it happen.

If you would like to terminate the service altogether, we'd be sorry to see you go. We require at least one month's notice so you'll receive one more invoice after we've received your notification.

Have another question?

If you can't find what you're looking for in our frequently asked questions, our friendly team is here to answer anything else you're curious about.

Call our team on 04 934 5668 or email us at assist@strictlysavvy.co.nz.

Find out more in our latest blog posts

Get tips and tricks on leveraging the power of delegating to a virtual assistant, apps and tools we recommend, and ways to streamline your business.

Tools That Don't Just Talk (Claude Cowork)

AI tools have been great at helping you think, write, and solve problems, but you’ve still had to do the work. You generate something, then copy it, paste it, move between tools, and finish theRead more

Signs Your Business Is Ready For Automation

Most business owners don’t wake up one morning thinking,  “Today feels like a good day to automate things.”  What they usually feel instead is:  a bit stretched  a bit distracted  and sRead more

What Can (and Should) Be Automated in a Small Business

Once you understand what automation actually is, the next question is usually:  “Okay, but what does this apply to in my business?”  The short answer is: not everything. And that’s aRead more

Automate or Delegate? How To Know The Difference

Automate more. Delegate more. The problem is deciding which option to choose. When a task lands on your to-do list, it can be tempting to hand it to whoever is available or rush to set up anRead more

Why Automation Needs a Human (and Where Your VA Adds the Most Value)

Automation can be incredibly powerful in a small business.  We often see business owners set up automations with the best intentions - follow-ups, reminders, workflows - and for a while, thingsRead more

TERRIBLE Ways To Use AI

But it's not magic. Right now, we’re seeing business owners swing between two extremes: Avoiding AI completely because it feels scary Or jamming it into every corner of their business just becauseRead more

Automation: What It Means and Why It Matters

You might have noticed we’ve been talking about automation a little more lately.  If that word makes you think of complicated software, impersonal systems, or something else you’ll beRead more

10 Tasks to Automate This Month

It’s not the big strategic work slowing you down. It’s the small, repeatable admin tasks that “only take a few minutes.” Do them daily or weekly and suddenly they’re costing you hours. AndRead more

Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards - We Won!

We’ve been finalists for several years, and every time it reminds us just how strong, generous, and passionate the Hutt Valley business community is. To receive this recognition now feels incredibRead more

How Much Better Would Your Clients’ Experience Be If You Had Support?

You’re not the only one affected when your plate is too full.  When you’re spread thin, working nights to catch up, or constantly playing catch-up, something else starts to suffer: yourRead more

You’re Delegating Tasks. But Are You Still the Bottleneck?

You’ve started delegating, maybe you’ve got a VA, or even a few team members. Tasks are flying off your list… but somehow, your business still feels stuck.  If that sounds familiar,Read more

Start Fresh with Better Systems for 2026

By the time November/December rolls around, most business owners in trades or service-based industries are running on fumes. Jobs are still coming in, but admin has piled up. Quotes, invoices, andRead more

Get Savvy Podcast

Tune in to discover how the power of delegation, automation and streamlining can help you claim back your time.

Ready to delegate?

 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT