What does buffer mean in pay per call?
In pay per call, a buffer is the minimum length a call must reach before it is billed. It is a time threshold. If the call ends before the buffer, the buyer does not pay for it. If it reaches the buffer, it counts as a billable call. The term is common across pay per call industries, not just final expense.
Buffers are usually stated in seconds. Ours is 90 seconds. Other vendors may use different lengths, which is why it is one of the first things to ask about. See how to choose a final expense lead vendor.
Why do call buffers exist?
Call buffers exist because the first seconds of a call are unpredictable. A caller may dial the wrong number, realize they meant to call someone else, get interrupted, or lose signal. None of those are real conversations, and it would not be fair to bill an agent for them. A buffer sets a clear line: below it, the call is not billed; at or above it, the call has become a real exchange.
It also gives both sides a simple, measurable rule. There is no debate about whether a call was good enough. It either reached the buffer or it did not.
Why 90 seconds?
Ninety seconds is long enough for a caller and agent to greet each other, confirm why the senior called and begin a real conversation. Calls that end before that point are usually not about final expense coverage at all. Our rule is simple: 90 seconds or longer is billable; shorter is never billed.
Where is the full billing rule explained?
The full billing rule, including how call duration is counted, lives on one page: what counts as a billable call. This page explains the term; that page is the main reference for billing. If you only want to know what happens to a short call, see what happens if a final expense call is under 90 seconds.
Is a longer or shorter buffer better for agents?
A longer buffer means fewer short calls are billed, but the right length depends on the call type. What matters most is that the buffer is clearly stated before you buy, and that it is long enough to filter out calls that are not real conversations. When comparing vendors, ask for the buffer length in writing and ask exactly when the timer starts.
How does the buffer affect what I pay?
The buffer decides which calls count toward your order. Each call that lasts 90 seconds or longer counts as one lead. Calls shorter than that do not count and are not billed. You order a number of leads, and the buffer determines which calls use them. See pricing on the pricing page and read final expense pay per call: how it works.
Does the buffer change where calls come from?
No. The buffer only decides which calls are billed. Seniors respond to our advertising and call in about final expense coverage. Calls are sent live in your chosen states and hours. See how inbound final expense leads work.
When does the 90 seconds start?
The 90 seconds is measured on the call between the senior and you, the agent. Short connections that end before that point, for any reason, are not billed. If you want the exact details of how duration is counted, the main billing page, what counts as a billable call, is where that rule is kept up to date. Keeping it on one page means there is one clear answer, not several versions across the site.