Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged 55p!

Dav_Wil — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 21:05:02 GMT

From 2020/1 when track-and-trace sign in was required at venues and there was the possibility of individual Covid Passports being introduced I put O2 Classic 321 PAYG Sims with £10 credit in spare phones. These still have credit as rarely used.

From the phones sending a text Balance or BALANCE to 20202 has always failed, I suspect the same for other O2 short codes.

While using the phones a few days ago just within 180 days to keep every SIM live and retain the credit I looked at this and realised the phones were adding +44 so sending the short code +4420202. Hence the failure. What ever I tried I could not send just 20202.

Searching the internet I saw a suggestion to try +20202.

This worked and I received a reply detailing the SIM was 321 Classic BUT 55p was deducted from the SIM credit for what O2 clearly state should be a free SMS.

55p is the charge for an international SMS.

This could be charged for a contract SIM too depending on the contract.

I post this as a warning to others not to try putting '+' before the shortcode.

To check the balance keying

*#10# then ' call '

works returning the balance on screen without charge ( within the UK - never tried outside UK ).

Re: Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged

pgn — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:52:55 GMT

That +44 country code on short code numbers bug can be fixed in Android by uninstalling all updates to the phone's messaging app and then letting the phone reapply updates as needed, @Dav_Wil - both on PAYG or on Contract.

Good luck!

Re: Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged

MI5 — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:02:43 GMT

Or just disable assisted dialling

topic Re: Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged in Discussions & Feedback

Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged 55p!

Re: Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged

Re: Short code Balance 20202 not working because sent as +4420202. Tried +20202, worked but charged