Can't receive SMSs from a certain overseas number. Any ideas why?

Forums › Mobile handsets › Can't receive SMSs from a certain overseas number. Any ideas why?

BigBadaboom

151 posts

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#285734 13-May-2021 22:20

My brother lives in the US. Some time ago, I discovered that I don't receive any SMSs he sends me. Although he receives mine ok.

At that time I tried a few things to work out what was going on. Even contacted 2degrees. Never worked it out. Thought it might be a temporary fault. Forgot about it.

I want to have another go now to figure it out.

I'm with 2degrees. I have an Android phone. Can text my bro, can't receive his.
My sister has 2degrees and an iPhone. She can text my brother fine both ways.
My nephew has 2degrees and an Android phone. Works fine both ways also.
I've checked that I haven't accidentally blocked him.
It's not device related. When we first discovered this, I had a different Android device.

It's night there now, but tomorrow I will try getting another US friend to text me, to see if it's just my brother.

I don't think my brother knows my Apple account username, so I doubt it is iMessage related.

Anyone have any bright ideas of what might be the cause? Or additional things I should check?

Thanks

kiwifidget

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#2707342 14-May-2021 08:34

It could be as simple as your bro not having your number in his phone in the right international format.

Some places like to have +64 or 0064 as examples.

I had a similar issue when I first went to Oz, couldnt text anyone back home, coz my contact info was all local format 021, 027 etc.

Now I always enter contact info with the right international prefixes regardless of whether they are local or not.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

Linux

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#2707345 14-May-2021 08:38

The sending party needs to speak to the carrier if the number format is correct

sbiddle

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#2707350 14-May-2021 08:51

What type of phone is he using? If it's Android are his messages being sent via RCS I wonder..

BigBadaboom

151 posts

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#2707688 14-May-2021 18:52

> It could be as simple as your bro not having your number in his phone in the right international format.

The number seems to be in the correct format: +64 21 XXX XXXX

> What type of phone is he using?

He has an iPhone.

shk292

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#2707727 14-May-2021 20:26

Use Whatsapp? Or is that too easy?

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2707733 14-May-2021 20:43

What phone do you have? Have any of you recently switch from iOS to Android or vice-versa?

BigBadaboom

151 posts

Master Geek

#2707739 14-May-2021 22:04

> What phone do you have?

Pixel 3. Previously a Nexus 5X.

> Have any of you recently switch from iOS to Android or vice-versa?

No. I've always been Android. He's always been iOS AFAIK.

> use WhatsApp

We have other ways to communicate :) I just want to try and figure out this mystery...

My brother was able to text me okay from his wife's phone.

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KiwiSurfer

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#2707748 14-May-2021 23:14

Just curious if it is a 022 number or if it's a port from elsewhere? Same question for the other 2degrees customers he is able to text to. I'm wondering if it's working to native 022 numbers but failing for other prefixes.

Also when he sends you the text--does it go through 'green' as a SMS? Just worth checking in case your number is somehow attached to an Apple account.

BigBadaboom

151 posts

Master Geek

#2707753 15-May-2021 01:04

> Just curious if it is a 022 number or if it's a port from elsewhere?

It is a Vodafone 021 number that's been ported to 2degrees.

> Just worth checking in case your number is somehow attached to an Apple account.

My number IS linked to my Apple account. But it has not been registered with iMessage. I confirmed this by trying to deregister it here: https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage/

I have used my Apple account to set up my Dad's iPad. But I wouldn't expect that to be the cause. I don't leave his iPad signed into my account anyway.