Skinny blocks Premium SMS - how to unblock?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Skinny blocks Premium SMS - how to unblock?

trak

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#299232 22-Aug-2022 21:32

I'm with Skinny and I can't use Premium SMS

I can't confirm important doctor appointments, hairdresser, podiatrist, physio appointments etc

all these booking systems use texting platforms that charge 20c per text, skinny blocks these by defaults, my SMS replies bounce back

so i can never reply to a booking, i can never confirm an appointment

i was only able to text chat a skinny tech support rep

they asked my phone and gave me instructions on which menus to click to turn it on

the menus he told me to navigate through, WEREN'T accurate at all and missing on my phone

OPPO FIND X2 NEO

this is also happening on my mothers iPhone SE 2022

i moved her to skinny and if we can't get this working we will both leave to another provider

I WOULD like to get it working though

also, which other providers ALLOW premium SMS as a default?

Linux

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#2957963 22-Aug-2022 21:45

This has to be a carrier block and not handset related so zero idea where they were going to send you in the handset menu

Edit: Google search found this

https://www.skinny.co.nz/help/mobile-help/phone-sim-number/device/premium-sms-messaging/

DeroyBoy

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#2957964 22-Aug-2022 21:47

Do you have prepaid credit available to pay for the premium SMS?

cokemaster

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#2957966 22-Aug-2022 21:48

Silly question but do you have a prepaid balance? Premium SMS (even those that charge $0.20) are not covered by any subscriptions that provide national person to person text messaging.

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#2957967 22-Aug-2022 21:49

I have never heard of or seen these settings before factory on a handset, Block / filter numbers yes

2degrees, VodafoneNZ, Spark allow sending to premium SMS numbers

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#2957971 22-Aug-2022 21:56

This statement on the Skinny website is a made up load of bull pulled out of a staff members backside

I can't seem to send any text messages to 2424. Why is that?

Some device manufacturers would place default settings that disable premium messaging to avoid any unintentional charging and since 2424 (Skinny's free-text service) is actually a premium number, your customer will have to manually enable this function on their side. Follow the steps below!

Handsets may warn it is a SMS to a shortcode and the end user could be charged and do you wish to send?

allan

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#2957995 22-Aug-2022 23:17

Premium SMS works fine for me on Skinny (Samsung Android A series phone), but you do have to have a positive account balance for the cost to be deducted from - just checked my last response to my dentist. It is not covered under the pre-pay plans

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freitasm

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#2958085 23-Aug-2022 09:03

Linux:

I have never heard of or seen these settings before factory on a handset, Block / filter numbers yes

2degrees, VodafoneNZ, Spark allow sending to premium SMS numbers

These settings have been there for years. I've seen those on Huawei, Samsung and OPPO.

The instructions in that page may be a bit old. Instead:

Open settings
Apps
Three dots
Special Access

The first time you reply to a Premium SMS you are presented with a dialog asking YES/NO. If you click NO then you have to change it using the Apps settings.

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#2958087 23-Aug-2022 09:09

@freitasm You are 100% correct I have never seen these settings before, You learn something new everyday

Good to know thanks

lchiu7

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#2958539 24-Aug-2022 08:51

freitasm:
Linux:

I have never heard of or seen these settings before factory on a handset, Block / filter numbers yes

2degrees, VodafoneNZ, Spark allow sending to premium SMS numbers

These settings have been there for years. I've seen those on Huawei, Samsung and OPPO.

The instructions in that page may be a bit old. Instead:

Open settings

Apps

Three dots

Special Access

The first time you reply to a Premium SMS you are presented with a dialog asking YES/NO. If you click NO then you have to change it using the Apps settings.

Didn't work for me. On my OP9 if I go to settings apps I see this

If I then choose Special App Access I see this

None of the options are relevant to the message block

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