HelpSMS (text messages)Text messages: when a text counts, and how stopping works

Text messages: when a text counts, and how stopping works

A text uses one text from your pack the moment it is sent. If a network blocks it or it fails, that text goes back to your pack. A visitor can stop the texts at any time.

Owner & manager Where: Billing → Text messages 5 min read
Quick answer. A visitor who asks for texts gets up to two. A text counts when it is sent, even if the visitor’s phone is switched off.
Texts are closed in every country for now. turnda has not opened text messages in any country yet, so no visitor is offered texts today; WhatsApp, email and the tracking page carry the updates. This page describes how texts count once they are open.

What it is

Your pack is a number of texts. Each text that is sent takes one away. This page says which ones count, what a text looks like, and what a visitor does to stop them.

What a text looks like

QuestionAnswer
How long is a text? Every text fits in one message, in every language, so one text always uses exactly one text from your pack.
Which letters? Plain letters, without accents. Your web pages and emails keep their full accents.
Whose name is on it? Your Name for texts opens each text. It comes from the sender name TURNDA; in the few countries that do not show a name, it comes from one fixed turnda phone number.
The two texts Text 1 when they join: “Ana’s Bakery: you’re number A14 in the line. Follow your place, or stop these texts: (a link)”. Text 2 when it is almost their turn: “it’s almost your turn. Please come back now.”
What does a visitor who reads Arabic get? The text in plain-letter English, because Arabic letters would not fit in one message. Their tracking page opens in Arabic.

How to check it in turnda

  • Texts left on the Text messages card in Billing falls by one for each text sent.
  • This month, by country lists, for each country, Sent, Not sent — given back and Not delivered — phone off.
  • The notes under the table explain the three: Not delivered — phone off still counts, Blocked by the network — not charged is given back, and Given back by turnda is counted for you.
  • You see countries and totals, never a visitor’s phone number.

A real example

Rui joins the line at Ana’s Bakery and turns on texts. Text 1 is sent and accepted: 1 text used. Twenty minutes later he is almost up, so text 2 goes: 1 more text used. Another visitor, Lena, turns on texts, but her phone is switched off. Both texts count, because they were sent. A third visitor’s network blocks the text: it is given back to your pack, and a note under the table says Blocked by the network — not charged.

What happens in the system

  1. 1Text is sent
    One text from your pack
  2. 2Network answers
    Delivered, phone off, or blocked
  3. 4Blocked or failed
    Given back to your pack
One text, from sending to your count.

When a text counts

What happensDoes it count?What you do
Text 1 or text 2 is sent and accepted Yes. One text from your pack.Nothing.
The visitor’s phone is switched off or out of reach Yes. A text counts when it is sent.Nothing. It arrives when the phone is back on.
A network blocks or filters the text No. It is given back.Nothing. A note under the table says Blocked by the network — not charged.
The text fails No. It is given back.Nothing. It shows in the Not sent — given back column.
The visitor already stopped texts Nothing is sent, so nothing counts.Nothing. This is by design.
The visitor is called straight away, with nobody ahead No “almost up” text is sent, so nothing counts.Nothing.
The number is a landline Nothing is sent and nothing counts.Nothing.

How a visitor stops, restarts or fixes a number

The visitor wants to…HowWhat happens
Stop the texts Taps Stop these texts on the tracking page, or opens the link in the text and taps Stop these texts. Where texts come from a phone number, replying STOP works too.No more texts to that number from any business on turnda, and text 2 is cancelled. Their place in the line stays.
Open the stop page by mistake Does nothing. Opening the page stops nothing; only the button does.The texts carry on.
Turn them back on After stopping with the link, taps Turn them back on on the stop page. The button works from the link itself, in any browser, for 30 days after the stop. After stopping by reply, replies START to the number that texted them. Staff cannot turn texts back on for them.Texts can go again.
Fix a wrong number Taps Wrong number? Change it, once per visit, on the phone that asked.The old number gets no more texts. The new number is confirmed first, and costs one more text.

What you need to do

  • Nothing for a text that is given back. It is returned for you.
  • If a visitor asks to stop, tell them to tap Stop these texts on their tracking page or in the text. Staff cannot stop texts for them.
  • If a visitor asks you to fix a number, tell them to tap Wrong number? Change it on their own phone.
  • Keep an eye on Texts left. When it gets low, the next pack is bought for you, up to your limit.
A visitor asks what you keep See Privacy: your visitors’ numbers for the answer.

What turnda does not cover

  • Delivery. turnda can tell that a text was sent and what the network answered. Whether the visitor reads it is up to them and their phone.
  • Timing on the phone. A network can delay a text for a while.
  • Replies. A visitor cannot reply with a question. Only STOP (and START) work, and only where texts come from a phone number.
  • A visitor’s own block. If a visitor blocked the sender on their phone, the network may count the text as sent.

Common questions

QuestionAnswer
Can a text be longer than one message? No. Texts are written to fit one message in every language, so there are no surprise extra charges.
Does text 2 always go out? Only if the visitor is still waiting and has not stopped texts.
What if a text would not fit? turnda shortens your name. If it still would not fit, nothing is sent and nothing is taken from your pack.
Do staff see the visitor’s number? No. You and your staff see only the country and the last 3 digits.
What if a visitor changes their number? That costs one more text, and the visitor ticked 3 texts instead of 2 when they agreed.