Apparatus for apprising an unattended station of the presence of a voice message awaiting retrieval from a voice mail system. The voice mail system is connected to the unattended station, as by automatic telephone dialing, whereupon activating signals are transmitted to the unattended station to dispose that station in a signal receiving mode of operation. Display data then are transmitted to the unattended station when said unattended station is conditioned to receive signals. A disconnect operation is carried out to disconnect the voice mail system from the unattended station if the unattended station is not conditioned to receive signals, or subsequent to the transmission of the display data. Preferably, and in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the voice message is transmitted for recording at the unattended station if the display data are received successfully thereat.