Texting Virgin Amex with your travel dates

Had a reminder email from Amex to text them with my travel dates. Text country and date to 83838 it said.

I have a UK-registered Amex and UK iPhone. So I text 83838. Which iPhone turns into 838 38 (i.e. with a space). Try it anyway. Undelivered. Check my settings and set it to SMS if iMessage not sent. Still undelivered. Try adding Amex to my contacts but when I input 83838 as the number, it again adds the space to 838 38 and again is undelivered.

Rats. I'll have to do it online. Log in to my account, check for "inform us of your travel dates". And it says text us on 83838.

I must be today's muppet and missing something crashingly obvious, so, dear gurus with UK Amex cards and iPhones, how do you do this?

[Neil]

I've text that number from my iPhone numerous times without any issues. Yes it adds the space, but that's never stopped it being sent.
You'll probably have to give them a quick call to let them know your dates.

[Nottingham Nick]

Not sure what you are doing wrong - I have done this loads of times on my iPhone to the number you are quoting without an issue.

I am on EE.

Nick

It's always worked for me. Is the text you've sent in the right format? Should be (eg) USA 1/8/16

It never goes through as an iMessage, only as a text, but it should autoreply very quickly (from 838 38) with confirmation.

You can also text to +44 7860 010010, I always use that number as it then shows as an inclusive free text. If I use the short code I get charged (am on EE)

I've done it several times and every time they completely ignore me and block my card when I try and use it.

In fact, despite the good earning rate I'm giving it up as they constantly flag uk and international transactions as potentially fraudulent when they are nothing of the sort. Customer service absolutely useless on the matter. I'm going to stick to my Amex plat.

[mitchja]

You can also send a message via MBNA's communication centre when you are logged in to your online card account. That's what I always do.

Don't MBNA also charge for extra those texts? They did for me anyway the only time I sent a text (also on EE here too)?

You can also text to +44 7860 010010, I always use that number as it then shows as an inclusive free text. If I use the short code I get charged (am on EE)

This the number I use too. I'm never too sure with the short codes if they are chargeable or not.

Never had a problem with using the long number and always get an ackwnowledgent back.

Note it does not prevent their fraud prevention routines kicking in - it just gets added to the mix when transactions come in and is a factor when determining if a transaction should be flagged.

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm still getting Not Delivered using either the short code or the long number. I can send and receive both iMessages and SMS texts so I reckon it's a problem their end. I'll leave a message on the Communication Centre with my dates. May not stop their Fraud Dept but at least I'll have tried.

Have a good day folks.

to ask a silly question, are you in the UK when doing this? I think the short numbers only work in the UK, but the "international" +44.... number should work anywhere.

Can you send a test text to some one, just in case the phone has somehow turned off text sending?

I did this from my EE androif with no problems - which isn't much help to you!

I informed them once, but then forgot on my next trip and all worked fine.

I haven't bothered since and haven't been blocked yet...

I wonder whether the text just sets a flag that says "abroad" for 12 months, as my last few trips away I didn't do this, but then the card was declind in June in Florida; they sent me a text that I didn't see until later in the day.... and then I send them the "away" text.

to ask a silly question, are you in the UK when doing this? I think the short numbers only work in the UK, but the "international" +44.... number should work anywhere.

Can you send a test text to some one, just in case the phone has somehow turned off text sending?

I did this from my EE androif with no problems - which isn't much help to you!

Yes I am in the UK and yes, I can send texts and receive texts, the Amex short code and long number are the only ones which don't send - the progress line zips along to the last quarter inch, stops, waits and then it says "Not Delivered". But other texts have gone successfully so it has to be at their end.

just checked how I have the number in my phone

I have it as 07860 010010 i.e without the '44'. Maybe give that a try.

I use the 07860 number as well. They respond and ask if you are going away for longer than a certain number of days and if yu are you have to reply to say when you return to the UK. Never had a problem with it. Always get a response.

No. Just tried it again. 07860 010010. "Not delivered" Message send failure.

You've all succeeded in the past but has anyone used it in the last day or two?

Just done it, to 83838 from an iPhone 6. Worked fine as normal, autoreply within 5 seconds.

Maybe worth seeking out an iPhone users' forum as it sounds like some sort of technical issue.

No. Just tried it again. 07860 010010. "Not delivered" Message send failure.

You've all succeeded in the past but has anyone used it in the last day or two?

Ah I think I know the problem (and solution)

Sometimes a lot of previous 'not delivered' messages bung up the system and won't let more messages to the same number go through

what you need to do is to delete ALL the messages to that numbers (both the long and short numbers) then do a reset on your phone (press Off key and home key at the same time until it shuts down) then restart it.

Tonty, that worked! Thank you.

Hoorah !

Well done for persevering in true VS fashion.

such a useful Forum ! my husband always txts our dates when we are away..... but as our cards have 'compromised' about 3 times now AMEX are super cautious and he receives alerts from them a lot when I am out shopping. I was spending under £10 in Lakeland Plastics once in Liverpool ( 30 mins from my home) and he got an alert asking to confirm it was a genuine purchase ! I am now beginning to think he has an agreement with AMEX to monitor my shopping Lol !

Slightly aside but my new shiny VS Credit Cards came today!!

Lets get spending ...all in the name of miles collection of course....now whats on sale in Superdry