Message recording and system programming functions are accessed locally or remotely using a standard touch-tone telephone. A total of eleven separate messages can be recorded into each unit, these messages include eight menu messages, one day and one night greeting message, and one music-on-hold message. The music-on-hold message slot plays when a call is being transferred to local phone. The Tel-A-Greeter 251 and 252 both have a Call-Screening option that allows callers to bypass the greeting message and ring through if they have the correct password.