topic Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently. in Mobile Services

Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:58:04 GMT

For the last two years, my husband and I are not receiving text messages regularly in our area/home. It's frustrating as we need this when making purchases or logging onto accounts.

Is this an issue for others?

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

bristolian — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:26:15 GMT

Can you reliably receive calls in your home/area?

Are these text messages never received? Or just delayed? Is there any pattern to the messages that are delayed?

Do you have any issue sending text messages in your area/home?

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Ali_A — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:02:15 GMT

Hi @Joolsmc

As you're both facing an issue, you can check coverage and network status at Check mobile coverage where you can report any issues you are facing, as well as sign up for updates on any known issues that may be going on.

If there are no issues in the area, I'd recommend calling Customer Service where a guide can check your mobile connection and message deliveries, and refresh your SIM connection if needed.

In the mean time, it may be worth setting up WIFI calling if you have a fixed line Broadband service at home.

Ali

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 12:56:52 GMT

Hi Ali

We can receive phone calls on our mobiles and we can also make calls but have had frequent drop outs. We are on WiFi calling now and haven't had a drop out for about 6 months but I've taken WiFi calling off my phone to test if it makes a difference. In the past we've reported an issue and have been told there is no fault then a few weeks later we're told there is a fault.
About three years ago we never had an issue receiving text for about 15 years in the same house then a couple of years ago it all changed. We reboot our phones and send each other text messenger to try and reboot the system. I've been through customer services many times but they can't find anything wrong.
Thanks

Julie

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

bristolian — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:01:45 GMT

SMS should be more resilient to poor coverage than calls, but ultimately if you're experiencing call drops & SMS delays, this may just indicate a coverage issue. I don't see the merit in disabling WiFi-calling for anything other than testing purposes - the service is designed to only kick-in when necessary, and if it improves service & reliability, then the case is made.

If there were more to this than poor coverage, then the questions posed previously apply..

Are these text messages never received? Or just delayed? Is there any pattern to the messages that are delayed?

Do you have any issue sending text messages in your area/home?

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 19:21:52 GMT

Hi

I suppose I want to test the system to see if it's improved or fixed by switching WiFi calling off. If I don't get any drop outs then it's improved.

Very few text messages are received, never delayed. The one I sent a week ago had never arrived. I can send text messages and I don't receive any error messages but my husband rarely received them. If I need to make sure someone receives my message, I use WhatsApp.

Thanks

Julie

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

bristolian — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 19:37:28 GMT

@Joolsmc wrote:
I suppose I want to test the system...

Very few text messages are received, never delayed.

Try sending text messages to your own number. Are they received?

By the same argument, try using the 150 text message service. Send a command such as HELP or BALANCE to 150, you should receive a response by text message.

A quick & easy way to prove receipt of text messages. Try doing this from any phone that you suspect to not be receiving texts.

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 21:06:52 GMT

I sent a text message to my own number and received it. Also sent a text message to 150 and got a response so that seems to work.

Thanks

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:42:49 GMT

So I've worked out that if I send myself a text message then I receive texts immediately after for a period of time but half to do this every time when I know a text is coming.

It's almost like it's wakening the system. Could there be a setting that needs tweaking?

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

bristolian — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:08:52 GMT

Not so much a setting needing tweaking, but an investigation as to why subsequent texts are being delayed.

Timed & dated examples, quoted to CS, would be the way to go here.

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:40:37 GMT

I did all this about a year ago but didn't know then that by sending myself a text I'd receive any future texts.

I'll maybe try again.

Thank you

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Leanne_T — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:27:22 GMT

Hi @Joolsmc

If you can follow @bristolian's advice and get in touch with our tech guides on 150, they can investigate why this is happening.

Let us know how you get on 🙂

Leanne.

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:04:10 GMT

I actually have the dates and times on my text messages for each time I've done this. I'll phone customer services. They told me they couldn't help me last time and it was only because of Bristolian's suggestion to text myself that we discovered that this worked. Text messages are a must for access codes and online purchases by credit card so when we know we're going to do this we send a text message to ourselves first.

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Leanne_T — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:27:13 GMT

The technical team will have access to get the texts investigated. It's great you've got date and times of the texts not being received @Joolsmc, this will be really helpful for the team.

Leanne.

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:45:23 GMT

Hi Leanne

The dates and times are when I've sent a text message to enable me to receive them. It's difficult to know what texts I've missed from other people as I've never received them. I know a restaurant nearly cancelled a booked table because I didn't receive her texts, fortunately she contacted me through messenger and I was able to explain.

Thanks

Julie

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

bristolian — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:50:14 GMT

Try periodically logging into websites that you know should generate OTP by text message.

Re: Not receiving text messages intermittently.

Joolsmc — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:47:31 GMT

Will do, thanks Bristolian.