--- title: "When a business sends a verification code during an AI call" description: "Banks, airlines and carriers often text a one-time code to the account holder mid-call. Here's why the AI won't read it, and how the account holder gets on the line." url: https://callforme.tel/guides/verification-codes-on-ai-calls published: 2026-10-29 updated: 2026-10-30 author: CallForMe team, Great Work LLC --- # When a business sends a verification code during an AI call > CallForMe never reads one-time codes, security codes or card numbers to a business, even when you give them to your agent. Codes prove the account holder is on the line, so the account holder reads it. Pass your phone as transfer_to: the assistant waits on hold, and when the business asks for the code it connects you to read it yourself. **Say to your agent:** "Call my airline's loyalty line and cancel unused award booking KQ7PLM, then ask them to put the miles back. If they send a verification code, connect me at (214) 555-0100 to read it." More and more account calls hit the same wall: "I've sent a code to the phone number on the account. Can you read it to me?" Banks, airlines, phone carriers, insurers and utilities all do it. Here's how CallForMe handles it. ## The short answer The assistant never reads a one-time code, security code or card number to a business, even if you put it in the request. When a business needs one, the account holder reads it, live, on the call. Give your agent your number as `transfer_to` and the assistant connects you at the right moment. ## Why A one-time code exists to prove the account holder is on the phone. Reading someone's code for them is the core of most account-takeover scams. CallForMe won't do it for anyone, which also means nobody can use it to get into your accounts. ## How to set up the call 1. **Expect the code.** If the call is about your own account (a cancellation, a refund, a change, miles or points), assume the business will verify you. 2. **Pass `transfer_to`** with the phone that will get the code and that you can answer. See [hold and patch-in](/guides/ai-agent-hold-and-patch-in). 3. **Say it in the goal:** "If they send a verification code, connect me to read it." 4. **Answer when it rings.** The assistant waits on hold, explains why it's calling, and connects you when the code comes up. You read the code and finish the call. ## If you didn't pass transfer_to The assistant tells the business the account holder will call back to verify, then ends the call politely. Your agent gets that in the result and can `redial` with `transfer_to` set. The next call picks up where this one left off: the assistant is told what happened last time. ## Calls where this comes up - Airline and hotel loyalty accounts: cancelling an award booking, putting miles back, changing account details. - Banks and card issuers: disputes, card replacements, account changes. - Phone and internet carriers: plan changes, cancellations, port-out PINs. - Insurers and utilities: policy or service changes on your account. See [what an AI phone call can't do](/guides/what-an-ai-phone-call-cant-do) for the other limits. ## Related - [Hold and patch-in](/guides/ai-agent-hold-and-patch-in) - [AI phone call glossary](/guides/ai-phone-call-glossary) - [Cancel a subscription by phone](/use-cases/cancel-subscription-by-phone) ## FAQ ### Why won't it just read the code I give it? A one-time code is how the business confirms the account holder is on the call. Reading it for someone else is exactly what account-takeover scams do, so CallForMe never does it, for anyone. ### What happens if they ask for a code and I didn't pass transfer_to? The assistant tells them the account holder will call back to verify and ends politely. Your agent can redial with transfer_to set, and the next call connects you when the code comes up. ### Does the hold time before the transfer cost extra? Hold counts as call time: $1 includes the first 2 minutes, then 40 cents a minute, up to 30 minutes. Calls nobody answers are free. ## Related - [Have your AI agent call to lower your internet bill](https://callforme.tel/use-cases/negotiate-internet-bill.md) - [Have your AI agent call the airline about a delay](https://callforme.tel/use-cases/airline-rebooking-compensation.md) - [Have AI call to cancel a flight within 24 hours (or an award ticket)](https://callforme.tel/use-cases/cancel-flight-within-24-hours.md) - [Check an insurance claim status with an AI phone call](https://callforme.tel/use-cases/insurance-claim-status.md) - [Changelog: what's new, newest first](https://callforme.tel/docs/changelog.md)