Is Shortcode Barring The Reason My Patient Cant Reply To Flo

What is Shortcode Barring?

Shortcodes can be used to pay for certain types of services, like entering TV competitions or voting on reality shows, through a customer’s monthly phone bill.

Shortcodes are a series of numbers, usually around five digits long, which people can call or text to access services which aren’t covered in their normal allowances. Shortcode barring allows mobile phone customers to help keep their spending in check, or to prevent expensive calls or SMS being made or sent.

Shortcode restrictions will be in the network provider’s terms and conditions.

Is Shortcode Barring the Reason my Patient can’t Reply to Flo?

Flo’s number (64711) is a free to text shortcode that will not charge the patient to send messages to.

However, if shortcode barring is in place, this could mean that the patient won’t be able to reply to Flo.

Here are some simple steps to find out whether or not shortcode barring is applicable for your patient:

• Ask your patient to reply to Flo’s invite message using the long number 07860 033066
• Please note that using this number will charge your patient the standard text message rate, or use their inclusive text messages
• If your patient is able to opt in using the long number, then it is likely that short code barring is the reason they couldn’t do so before

Using the long number will not affect how your patient’s messages or readings are stored, nor how Flo interacts with your patient moving forwards.

How can my Patient Stop Shortcode Barring for 64711 (Flo)?

To allow your patient to reply to Flo, the patient will need to ring their network provider to ask them to lift the barring to reply to messages from 64711 which is Flo’s shortcode.

The information below may be useful for the call:

Patient: “I’m a customer of yours and I’m trying to text in to a free to text shortcode (64711) however my texts aren’t going through. Is there a block on my handset that doesn’t allow me to text shortcodes?”

Further Information

The Phone-paid Services Authority is the UK regulator for content, goods and services charged to a phone bill, the screenshot below confirms that Flo has a free to text shortcode. The website has a ‘Number Checker’ to check the status of shortcodes which can be accessed by people if they wish to check also. Remember, although many short codes are charged at a premium rate Flo is free to text!