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Help Center General FAQ My SMS delivery receipt indicates success, but the message wasn't received – what's happening

My SMS delivery receipt indicates success, but the message wasn't received – what's happening

My SMS  Delivery Receipt Indicates Success, But the Message Wasn't Received – What's Happening?

If your SMS delivery receipt shows that a message was successfully delivered, but the recipient claims they didn’t receive it, it can be perplexing. There are several factors that could explain this discrepancy, and understanding them can help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Understanding Delivery Receipts

  1. What Is a Delivery Receipt? A delivery receipt is a confirmation from the recipient's mobile network that your SMS has been delivered to the recipient’s device. It’s important to note that a delivery receipt indicates the message has reached the carrier network, but not necessarily that it has been displayed on the recipient's phone.

  2. Types of Delivery Receipts:

    • Basic Delivery Receipt: Confirms that the message has been delivered to the recipient's carrier.
    • Handset Delivery Receipt: Confirms that the message has been delivered to and acknowledged by the recipient's handset.
  3. Why the Discrepancy? A successful delivery receipt indicates that the message was processed and handed over to the carrier, but several factors can still prevent it from appearing on the recipient's phone.

Common Causes of Discrepancy

  1. Phone Storage Issues: If the recipient's phone has insufficient storage space, the message may not be saved or displayed, even though the carrier successfully delivered it. This is common with older devices or those with limited internal storage.

  2. Network Issues: Network congestion or temporary issues within the recipient's carrier network can delay or prevent the message from reaching the recipient's device. In some cases, the message may be delivered later or not at all, even if a delivery receipt was generated.

  3. Message Filtering: Some mobile carriers or devices have spam filters that automatically block messages deemed suspicious or unwanted. These filters can sometimes misclassify legitimate messages, preventing them from being displayed to the recipient.

  4. Recipient's Phone Settings: The recipient may have settings enabled that block certain types of messages, such as those from unknown senders or those containing links. This can result in the message being delivered but not shown to the user.

  5. SIM Card Issues: If the recipient's SIM card is not properly seated in their device or is experiencing technical issues, it may not receive messages correctly, even though the carrier has delivered them.

How to Resolve the Issue

  1. Ask the Recipient to Check Their Phone: If a recipient reports not receiving your message, ask them to check their device for any storage issues or blocked messages. They should also check their spam or junk folders, as some devices automatically filter messages into these folders.

  2. Verify the Phone Number: Double-check the recipient’s phone number, including the country code and formatting, to ensure it was entered correctly.

  3. Resend the Message: If the issue persists, try resending the message. If the problem was due to a temporary network issue, the message may be successfully delivered on the second attempt.

  4. Contact Customer Support: If you continue to experience issues, contact EasySendSMS customer support for further assistance. Provide them with the delivery receipt and any other relevant details to help them investigate the issue.

  5. Use Handset Delivery Receipts: Where possible, opt for handset delivery receipts rather than basic delivery receipts. This provides a more accurate confirmation that the message has not only been delivered to the carrier but also to the recipient’s device.

In conclusion, while a successful delivery receipt usually indicates that a message has been delivered, various factors can still prevent it from being received by the recipient. By understanding these factors and following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can address the issue and improve the reliability of your message delivery.