Forum Discussion
[Announcement] BIG NEWS: You can now text shortcodes! 🎉
Yes, we heard you loud and clear—it’s been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over...SMARTY now supports shortcode messaging.
So, what’s the big deal with shortcodes?
They’re those snappy little numbers (3-6 digits, usually five) that let you:
✔️ Enter epic competitions
✔️ Vote for your favourite reality TV stars
✔️ Confirm important appointments
✔️ Donate to causes that matter
...and much more.
Heads up! Chargeable shortcodes aren’t included in your plan, so you’ll need an out-of-plan add-on to text them.
If your shortcode is free, such as to confirm a doctor’s appointment, text away.
Not sure how much a chargeable shortcode costs? No worries! We’ve built a super-handy shortcode checker so you can see the details upfront.
For all the nitty-gritty, check out our help article.
And as always, thanks for keeping us on our toes with your awesome feedback—we’re here to make your life easier.
Now go forth and text wisely!
500 Replies
2024, let’s all make it a New Year’s resolution, Smarty provides the fairly basic provision of access to short code texts or we all leave Smarty, and use our social media accounts to let everyone know why!
This is my first post - shame it's a complaint! I have been a loyal Smarty user (and avocate) for some time, but today I have fallen foul of the short code issue. I have no landline and very slow Broadband; going through the process to solve it leads me to a position where I'm invited to send a short code tex to EE (and/or another one to BT) which would immediately prompt some checks on my line. I cannot send either and getting through to a human as an alternative has proved nigh on impossible. This is a shocking lack by Smarty.
Do they read this stuff or do I need to contact them by some other means to let them know how unacceptable this is? I'm with you, Michael!
#enoughisenoughMichael_1932266 I've made my own resolution thanks. I'm not leaving Smarty as short code texts are currently not that important to me. A decent service at a good price is my priority.
Each to their own opinion, I say.
I texted SMS to 60154 (premium number with £2+SNC), it shows "message couldn't be delivered". I just moved to SMARTY andmived my number across.
Do you know where I can change settings on Samsung phone to enable sending messages to premium numbers? (like those lottery text message on radio stations).
Hi Sol_26
Thank you for reaching out to our SMARTY community!
SMARTY do not support shortcodes at the moment, this means you will not be able to send messages to premium numbers. This is something we are discussing with the wider team. Once we have more information, we will share it with our customers accordingly.
Not just premium shortcodes . My hospital wanted feedback and has a short code . Message not delivered . Very disappointed
I’d like to enter for a prize . How can I if Smarty won’t let me?
Well that's not a helpful reply? Is that it; try a website?
Amazingly, Smarty have awarded me five badges for continuously complaining about the failures to provide access to short codes. I don’t mind not being able to vote on Strictly, but not being able to report to Transport Police, for mine and others safety…
So….the app has had an update and, after logging back in, amazingly, there was a message saying that I can now use short code texting. Yay? Only, I have tried, and still not sending them!
Michael_1932266 Did you realise that they won't necessarily be covered within your Smarty plan? There are costs, at least for many of them, and you will need to have an add-on credit to pay for each one according to the price quoted in the article signposted by WelshPaul
👏👏👏Congratulations Michael_1932266 !! 🎉🎉🎉🤣🤣🤣
Many of us have been complaining about the EXACT same thing for a long time now 😤🙄
It's not just limited to competitions anymore as so many other companies/services now use short codes as their contact number i.e. doctors / hospitals / internet providers / energy companies etc and YET Smarty are still to do anything about it!
I don't think any Smarty customer should hold their breath with regards to this being sorted any time soon as in the >4yrs I have been with them their FAQ on this subject has always stated 'we are working on it'🙄😶
I think, personally, if they don't pull their finger out of their 🍑 and get it sorted then they will be losing a LOT of customers to providers that are of equal value and allows the use of short codes. I'm sure this will be sooner rather than later as more and more companies use them now.
😴 you lose Smarty!!I recently moved from 3 to Smarty and have just discovered this "fault" with their network. I could not authorise a bank transfer for a car purchase this morning. Has caused me no end of problems!
SORT YOURSELVES OUT SMARTY.
Hello, how can I enter a competition by text? When I try to text the 5 digit competition text line and the data required the text will not send, any advice welcome. Thanks
I’m now facing this issue for free services using these short code numbers. My GP and financial services use these numbers and I’m now stuck replying to them. I have to ring them which takes 40miutes instead of 2-3 seconds. As it looks like Smarty are incapable of providing this service I will be looking for Black Friday deals this weekend.
Jonathan_193810 Unfortunately, Smarty haven't yet decided to add this feature. It does seem to be an issue for a number of customers and I agree that there seems little option but to leave and find a network that does allow these texts if you are affected.
So far, this has not been as issue for me, but I can certainly appreciate the problem.
I have previously suggested that once the algorithm used by the bean counters shows that they are losing more customers than they are (or could) gain, then they may balance that against the cost of supporting the service.
NigelGi_2281539 You will see quite a number of threads on exactly this subject. Smarty currently does not support texts to 5 digit numbers - short code texts.
Hi NigelGi_2281539 👋
Unfortunately SMARTY Mobile does not support the use of any short code number (competitions, companies, doctors etc). This is has been an ongoing point of contention for a long time now with customers as many companies etc now use short codes for contact.
SMARTY has been saying for a very long time that 'they are working on it' and maybe they are but there is no evidence of it coming to fruition any time soon.
Maybe when customers start leaving in droves, because short codes become the 'norm' for all and any contact, SMARTY will actually get their thumb out of their 🍑 and REALLY do something about it.
Hope this helps! x x x
Still no progress from Smarty as to removing the premium rate restriction on text messages. This affects so many people, so I can't understand why Smarty is dragging their heels. They keep promising that its coming soon. When?
28th of July 2024 still no change.
I have just been reading and adding to previous threads on this subject.
I'm amazed that Smarty are happy to lose custom over not finding a way to quickly provide this feature.
I will sadly opt out next month as there is nothing SMART about trying to communicate without it
LynneGr_2137925 As replies on the other threads indicate, only if they lose significant business will senior management decide to speed up adopting it.
It appears this feature / service is a case of #LessSMARTY, #MoreMalarkey, Mikejo.
Why can’t I text a local radio station competition, I bought a £5 add on thinking this would work, but still it will not send.
Beverle_2268061 That's because Smarty currently do not support messages to short code numbers. You can only send a message to a full mobile number.
Well that’s a bit rubbish.
Smarty dors not support sending texts to shortcodes, usually 5 or 6 digit numbers.
This is a topic that has been raised numerous times on this community forum, where nome of us work for Smarty, we are customers just like you.
ToddTho_1203828 I am guessing that you want to enter a competition and it requires you to send a text to a 5 digit number. currently you cannot do that on smarty as they do not support the process. If you could, it would be a chargeable text and require credit added to your account.
Not much to go, but I guess you mean you can’t enter radio competitions by text.
That’s because Smarty doesn’t support sending texts to the usually five digit short codes used for such competitions.
Hey all,
had a pretty scary incident today on the tube (but above ground). Wasn’t appropriate to call 999 as I didn’t want to alert the other person. And remembered “See it, say it, we’ll sort it. Text 61016”.
So I did exactly that. Unfortunately I got message sending failed. I couldn’t report this online as the BTP form was too cumbersome for a mobile. So I ended up being followed by someone until I could reach safety.
This really isn’t on, I’d understand if it was a premium shortcode but it’s a national police service I was trying to contact.
Please make your subscribers aware that this doesn’t work proactively! It really was relief when I remembered the number and fear when it didn’t work!This is really pretty poor customer service from SMARTY RoCoUK.
Considering SMARTY allow use of these short-codes: 65075, 75075 and 85075 - hard to see why an SMS to 61016 would need to be blocked.
Perhaps make a complaint, to add weight to the community voice on short-codes, as MSF suggests.
#LessSMARTY, #MoreMalarkey 🤔
Turns out this is a common thing (and not just limited to Smarty) in that '61016' is deemed a premium rate number. It's not the BTP that sets this rate but the mobile networks (something around ~13p or so; similar to a standard text). I guess its because although 101 is the non-emergency number, the 6's are commonly used for texts.
The BTP also don't advertise it as having a charge, because it shouldn't ... but on the other hand they could have chosen to use a number that was free? Down to the networks if they should be waiving fees for this and make it accessible. I did note the BTP site does mention the following as an alternative if you can't reach them via text:
However, you can email us at first_contact@btp.police.uk or call us on 0800 40 50 40 if you do not want to text us.
Just had a text message from my local water company.
I need to reply to the message, but it’s a five digit short code, which Smarty do not currently support.
Any idea when Smarty will support short codes Rebekah_150 JodieC ?
I wouldn't reply to any short code texts even if SMARTY allowed it. It's crazy that legitimate entities even use these numbers for their day-to-day communication! All those rouge companies using premium rate short code numbers have to do is send out messages containing the same or similar content to get one to reply and you could be billed ridiculous amounts for said reply or subscribe to a service which could also cost ridiculous amounts of wonga over a sustained period of time.
Think about it, Mary gets a random SMS from 54321 with a "Hello, this is the NHS, please reply YES to this SMS to confirm you will be attending your appointment as scheduled" and so little old Mary does just that because she did just so happen to have an appointment with some NHS department (Doctor, Hospital etc) and gets billed £7.50 and is enrolled in some daily SMS scheme that costs £7.50 for each additional message received.
This issue has been going on for years now 😤😠
I've been with Smarty for over 4yrs and I have seen the exact same 'advice' about short code numbers in all that time. It is especially frustrating because so many companies now use these numbers as their day to day communication and they can not be replied to 😠 Even if they only sort out this part of it for now and then work on the 'paid competitions' part after, it would be immensely helpful!
I joined Smarty because short codes were not that prevalent, and it wasn't something I needed at the time, but now.....
And, NOWHERE in the SMARTY info you read when looking to join the network tells you about the lack of short code compatibility, you have to dig around to find the info (which I'm sure many don't as it's not in the fore front of their minds at the time of joining until it's relevant and then the Q&A always gives the same non-committal answer of 'we are working on it') 😠😠😠
If SMARTY want to stay a competitive/relevant provider they really need to work on this as there are so many more (just as competitive) out there!JJP2 Out of interest, I have just done a search and found this: https://help.smarty.co.uk/en/articles/952515-are-all-texts-free-with-smarty-plans
The suggestion is that they will charge for short code texts! I hope they rethink that one when the service launches. I understand it perhaps for competitions and votes etc but feel it would be wrong as a general rule e.g. replies to utilities, health services etc.
That page has been the same for a while
When it says “updated over a week ago” that could have been the same for several years
Yes, hopefully shortcode texts to Utility companies, health services etc won’t be charged or at least at a token rate, say 5p.
