[Announcement] BIG NEWS: You can now text shortcodes! 🎉

[YulianK]

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! 

[PaulBurl_304739]

Completely agree.

I am a very happy Smarty customer, but they have been promising short codes to come now for well over a year. The promise was on the official site FAQs and has now "mysteriously disappeared". I work on London Underground, and the BTP short code number, 61016,  is NOT premium, it's an essential service that is advertised widely on EVERY station and in the "See it say it sort it" message on ALL the rail services in the UK. It is the best way of getting any message to the BTP, for example if a sexual assault has occured, it is a way to discreetly report it, without having to speak and get upset, especially if you're still in the presence of the person who's doing it. I have witnessed many occasions when BTP respond very quickly to these messages, directly to the phone number they're sent from, or turning up at the station before the customer has even arrived there.

Yet this service cannot be used by Smarty customers.

Similarly, British Gas and other utilities have FREE short codes to enable you to report gas and water leaks. Or submit meter readings.

It's simply wrong to not have these services available. In the event of BTP this is an essential service that cannot be used.

Get with the program Smarty and fulfill your promise. I personally don't care about the premium TV voting numbers and competition lines, but at the very least you should give access to potentially life saving numbers that are free or very cheap to acces. Like:- https://www.btp.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/images/british-transport-police/pdfs/how-to-text-61016...

[MSF]

@PaulBurl_304739  I think you make a very good point here.

I must admit that I have never thought of short code texts for that kind of usage, but it does appear to be essential. Why not raise this as a formal complaint with Smarty so that it can be progressed up the 'food chain'?

[Brookhouse]

I have contacted BTP to ask why they charge for 61016 but they have not replied. Sadly 61016 is flawed because even if short codes work on a carrier's package, if you pay a fixed fee per month and don't have credit for out of package calls and texts you can't message 61016. It would help if they at least published a regular mobile number that could be used instead.

[PaulBurl_304739]

6 months on from this post and still Smarty continue to promise “we’re looking at this.” In the meantime I’ve been unable to reply to doctors messages  about flu jabs and other important issues, and spent hours in the phone to them instead. Been unable to respond to unsubscribe to marketing messages from British Gas, using the simple STOP message.

Frankly, this is piss poor. I think maybe we should protest by starting a thousand new threads asking for it, instead of all replying on one thread. Then the strength of feeling will be clear for existing and new members considering joining Smarty just from looking at the forum. 

[Storm123]

Joined smarty two weeks ago (4 sims for the family) Will be going elsewhere when my month is up, it is utterly obsurb your can't txt short code sms (even free ones and for vital services etc)

[MSF]

@Storm123  If short code text service is an important feature for you then you are certainly right in leaving to find a network that supports it.

As I have written before, if the accountants at Smarty lose enough business, theoretically there will come a point where any cost of allowing short code sms will be worth it.

[JJP2RidesAgain]

Then take it up with Smarty - This is the Smarty community forum, we are mere customers, we do not work for Smarty, so can’t influence policy. 

[Michael_1932266]

Not just “premium” rate short codes, free short codes are also deliberately blocked. Since short codes are supported as a matter of course by other providers and Smarty allows out of plan add ons, blocking short codes must be deliberate 

[Catheri_1753712]

Why can I not respond by text (with a score between 1 and 10) to a text from British Gas asking about level of service?

[ChrisGi_1537052]

I'm guessing that the reply will be to  a premium rate eg chargeable text 

[KarinTa_1491257]

I am unable to send texts for radio/tv competitions

[Jomac]

There is a setting in Android, assuming you use Android that turns premium messaging on or off. Something in the back of my mind tells me there could be a setting in Smarty so its worth investing there also.

[Richard_1587184]

I have spotted in the app under the heading, add-ons where you can add credit to your account specifically for premium calls. I guess this is what you use for both calls or texts to competition lines, register votes for shows like Strictly Come Dancing, numbers like 0845 & 0870 plus other things. It also suggests this credit pretty much stays with you until you finish it up. You can add £5, £10 or £15 to your account.

Please could Smarty admin confirm that what I have said is correct?

[Kathryn_1089216]

I have added £5 on add-on but still can't text competitions, SMARTY you really do need to sort this out and not keep promising it's coming soon.........

[Rebekah_150]

Hey, if you have the out of plan add-on you will be able to call premium rate numbers not not text shot-codes. It is something we are aware  banks use so it is something we are looking into.

[Chronicfathead]

Any news on this, as its very frustrating. My wife wants to leave Smarty as its causing her a problem. 

[MSF]

@Chronicfathead  - there's a help article on this subject - https://help.smarty.co.uk/en/articles/952515-are-all-texts-free-with-smarty-plans

I would assume from the article that it could be a while until that feature is enabled.

[George]

Hi @Chronicfathead we don't have a date for this just yet - our team are still working on this thanks to customer feedback.

[Cairdeas]

I think, given that we're 2 years on and still getting the same response, Smarty should be honest and say it's not going to happen. It's clearly an essential correspondence to some people, so they'll have to find another provider. It's actually terrible CS 

[cpw1978]

This is almost one year later what’s happening? I’ve been a customer for 3 years now and it’s at a point where I’m going to have to leave unless this is rectified. 

[cpw1978]

Almost one year on and no fix. I’ve been a customer for a few years now and have four family accounts, unless this situation is rectified in 6 weeks I’m sorry to say we’ll be all leaving Smarty. Banks, GPs, Utility companies etc all use short code texts, this is beyond a joke now. Why hasn’t it been done? A simple out of plan add on can pay for whenever someone needs to use it. 

[MSF]

@cpw1978  Not all GP's , banks etc use short codes - none of mine currently do.

If it really is a deal breaker, then it's true that you have no alternative but to move your accounts.

There doesn't seem to be any answer from the company as to why they have not introduced short code texts. From that, I assume that they do not see themselves losing too much business as a result.

[YulianK]

@KarinTa_1491257 

SMARTY doesn't support texting to premium numbers at the moment.

As for the call, they are not free of charge, please see below.

"Chargeable calls with SMARTY

Calls to service numbers that start with 084 or 087 are chargeable and will require an out of plan add-on to be applied to your SMARTY account in advance."

[Kathryn_1089216]

Why can't this be enabled for texts as well?

[RobH_1981]

Hi, are there any plans to allow texting to premium rate numbers? Today I received a fraud check text from my bank and was unable to respond to it as ot was from a 5 digit number starting 85...

[JaneEll_1415350]

I hsve this problem too!

Can’t reply to any five digit number even when the sender says I can do it for free, like Barclays or Ocado. 

[MSF]

As these are what is known as short code numbers, they are currently not supported by Smarty unfortunately.

[Chronicfathead]

Any news on this, as its very frustrating. My wife wants to leave Smarty as its causing her a problem.

[RobS_376754]

Any update?

I can not even send a text to check the balance on a gift card!!!

[MSF]

As I understand, those text numbers are premium numbers and Smarty does not support sending messages to them.

The other issue I can see is that you do not have a monthly bill where the cost of those messages can be charged to you - you pay a fixed monthly sum for your plan.

[Markvan_1575588]

I was also wanting to do this.

I do have a monthly bill.

If the answer above applies to me, I will look for a new service provider.

[MSF]

You don't have a monthly credit bill - Smarty users buy fixed plans and top-ups.

Currently the system does not support sending text messages to premium numbers.

[NeilAel_1900794]

What's the future plan for adding competition numbers please.

[Chalkychap]

SMARTY don't support messages to short-code numbers @NeilAel_1900794, nor do they appear to have any plans to do so.

Most competitions use a short-code number, so being with SMARTY excludes you entering them using your phone - most will have an online entry option, which is less convenient though.

I guess, if using your mobile to enter competitions is important, join a mobile network that supports use of short-code numbers. Good luck @NeilAel_1900794 🍀 

[NeilAel_1900794]

Thanks, not that bothered about competition entry so all good😎

[PeterWh_1550878]

Well, that's a shame but surely a rather pathetic approach to something that every other network offers! 

I have not been able to enter competitions or confirm my identity with a few websites, etc etc. 

I think that I will be looking for another network - as no one seems to be interested in solving the problem! 

[WagdiAb_1208337]

Hi 

I have the same problem. I am trying to fix it with smarty right now by emailing them and they are doing well. I will tell you the result. 🙂

[WagdiAb_1208337]

I have completely solved my problem. I contacted Smarty's technical support, and they showed great interest in solving my problem until it was resolved. I want to thank them because they were replying to my emails and not ignoring them until the problem was resolved. Thank you Abrar (the person who was communicating with me)

[MARKGAMBRILL]

Can you share what the solution is?