Texts that can't be delivered

Some phone numbers can't receive texts. It might be a landline, a number that no longer exists, or a phone that has been unreachable for days. Every text to these numbers still costs money, but the rider never sees it. ZeitRide notices when this happens and stops texting that number.

The note on a member

When a member's number can't take texts, their profile shows a note under the mobile number. It says why:

• Landline, or a phone that can't receive texts. The phone carrier says the number can't get texts. ZeitRide stops texting it straight away.
• The carrier says the number doesn't exist. ZeitRide stops texting it straight away. Check the number with the rider.
• Texts keep failing (phone unreachable). Phones are often off or out of signal for a while, so one failed text never stops anything. ZeitRide stops only after several texts in a row have failed over at least three days. It tries texting the number again two weeks later.

What stops and what doesn't

• Automatic ride texts stop for that number: booking confirmations, reminders, "driver on the way" and "driver has arrived".
• Reminder calls and emails keep going out as usual, if they are turned on.
• Texts from your office are refused. If you text the member from the Members page, the text isn't sent. Instead you'll see why, with a Try texting again button. The SMS button on the member's row also explains the problem when you point at it.
• Payment links by text are refused too. If the invoice also has an email address, the link goes by email only. You'll see a message that the text was not sent.

The note is about the phone number, not the person. If two members share the number (for example, family members), the note shows on both.

How to fix it

• The number is wrong: edit the member and save the right number. The note goes away as soon as the new number is saved, and texts to it start again.
• You know the number can get texts (for example, the rider switched from a landline to a mobile and kept the number): choose Try texting again. The next text is sent. If it is delivered, everything is back to normal. If it fails again, the note comes back.
• The rider only has a landline: leave it as it is. Make sure Allow calls is on so they still get reminder calls, or add an email address.

A number also starts working again on its own if any text to it is delivered.

Tip: Texts that can't be delivered still count toward your monthly usage, so fixing these numbers saves money. See Texting and call usage.

Related: Managing member information · Rider trip messages