Sending text messages to the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, businesses must use a dedicated UK virtual number or approved Sender ID (business name) to send outbound SMS messages. This industry-wide requirement protects consumers and ensures that they only receive messages from legitimate businesses.

All generic Sender IDs (including those that do not relate to your company name), for example, Verify, SMS, and INFO, cannot be used and will be blocked.

Below is a table with the supported sender types, along with the descriptions.

Before you begin sending your messages to the United Kingdom, please review the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

How do I buy a dedicated virtual number?

To purchase and configure a dedicated virtual number:

1. Log in to your Textmagic account and navigate to Services -> Sender Settings -> Numbers.
2. Click Buy new number.
   • Select the country you need and choose your number. The monthly cost will be displayed automatically.
   • Choose the account that you want to assign your number to.
3. Click on Activate number and set up incoming call forwarding if needed.
4. Click on Continue to finish the setup.

You can now use your UK virtual number to communicate with UK mobile subscribers through the Textmagic suite of tools.

To avoid losing your virtual mobile number, set auto-recharge above the number cost.

How do I apply for a Sender ID?

To apply for the Sender ID subscription:

1. Log in to your Textmagic account and navigate to Services -> Sender Settings -> Sender IDs.
2. Click Apply for a Sender ID -> Enter your Sender ID and explain your use case.
   • Enter a Sender ID, which is a maximum of 11 characters – only letters and numbers.
   • The Sender ID must be related to your company name and cannot be a general word.
3. Click on Apply now.

You can now send one-way outbound messages to UK mobile subscribers through the Textmagic suite of tools using your Sender ID (business name).

To avoid losing your Sender ID subscription, set auto-recharge above the Sender ID cost.

Does my Textmagic trial include a virtual local number or a Sender ID?

When you sign up for a UK free trial, you’ll receive a UK virtual number at no cost for the first 30 days, along with £0.5 credit and access to all tools. However, please note that the Sender ID feature is not included in the free trial. To access this feature, you’ll need to confirm the value of your account by purchasing SMS credit.

Can I receive replies to texts sent from a Sender ID?

No, you cannot. Your recipients cannot reply to texts sent from a Sender ID.

As an alternative, you can include your dedicated virtual number in the message body when sending texts from a Sender ID. This allows your SMS recipients to copy your virtual number and start a conversation or unsubscribe.

Can I use a dedicated number for account verification purposes (2FA SMS)?

No, you cannot. Textmagic numbers will NOT work for SMS verification or login purposes (bank accounts, social media accounts, etc.). You can only receive text messages from your customers and staff using their mobile phones.

Can I block incoming text messages from specific numbers?

Yes, you can. You can add specific numbers to a blocked list.

My messages are not delivered. What shall I do?

If your text messages were rejected because of a non-compliant sender type, to resolve the issue:

• Ensure that you have an active UK dedicated virtual number on your account or
• Confirm that you have an active Sender ID (business name)

If your texts failed to be delivered, to resolve the issue:

• Ensure that the recipient’s number is reachable and not in roaming.
• Restart the recipient’s phone and resend the texts.
• If none of the above helps, please get in touch with Textmagic support.

Some useful links for info on the Textmagic web app:

• SMS Chat
• Manage Sender Settings
• Buy a Dedicated Number
• View SMS History
• Manage Sub-accounts