Competition entry

[HayleyH_1492606]

SMARTY can you please let us know if / when you plan on opening up our network so we can enter completions via text?! Considering going elsewhere for the service and looking at previous comments it looks as if others would like this service too.

[MSF]

@HayleyH_1492606 This subject crops up very frequently. Over at least the last year, we have only ever had the answer "We're looking at it".

I'm assuming that there is some cost involved (for Smarty) in moving over to supporting short code texts and therefore they are holding off.

[Chalkychap]

Oddly, the SMARTY network already supports some short-code text messaging - for example 65075, 75075 and 85075 are all supported, for compliance with OFCOM mobile number portability regulations. 

You'd like to think it wouldn't be too difficult to support additional short-codes, but perhaps there's a commercial interest here, which might be to minimise the numbers of customers switching from Three UK to SMARTY Mobile. 
🤔

[MSF]

@Chalkychap I arrive at the conclusion that there is a cost implication purely based upon the fact that surely Smarty wouldn't deliberately decide to irritate a load of customers.

A good point about some short codes being accessible though.

[Chalkychap]

Fair enough, although perhaps if SMARTY customers are mainly interested in value for money, then not be able to spend £1.50 etcetera on competition entries via a short-code probably isn't a huge concern.

[MSF]

@Chalkychap Another very good point there - and one I have used in replies to people who are threatening to leave over this problem.

For many of us, it really isn't a problem. I do accept that people have struggled to reply to banks, hospitals etc and can see this as a sticking point - not so much with competition entries!

[Chalkychap]

Indeed @MSF - I'm guessing many banks and health care providers probably provide multiple ways to communicate with customers, so an SMS short-code shouldn't be a sticking point.