SMS reminders

SMS reminders FAQs.

• What are SMS reminders, or text notifications?

  SMS reminders — also known as text notifications, text alerts, or SMS updates — are simple and effective messages sent straight to your mobile phone to remind you about something important. Whether it’s an appointment, a delivery, a payment, or an event, these short messages help you stay on top of your schedule.

  Businesses use SMS reminders because they’re fast, reliable, and easy for customers to see — most people check their phones within minutes!

  Businesses use SMS reminders because they’re fast, reliable, and easy for customers to see — most people check their phones within minutes! Faretext, offer trusted services to send these SMS reminders on your behalf, making sure your customers get the right message at the right time.

• What are the benefits of using SMS reminders for my business?

  By using SMS reminders, your business can reduce missed appointments, improve customer response times, and keep everything running smoothly. They also help build trust, showing your customers that you value their time and want to keep them informed.

  With Faretext’s flexible setup and connection options, it’s really easy to schedule and personalise your text reminders. It helps you stay organised and keep things running smoothly, while saving time for your team. It’s a simple way to keep communication clear and customers happy — without much effort, or maintenance once it’s up and running.

• Are SMS reminders better than using e-mail or phone?

  In many cases, yes — SMS reminders can be a faster and more reliable way to reach people. Text messages are usually read within minutes, with open rates as high as 98%, compared to around 20-30% for emails. That means your message is far more likely to be seen and acted on quickly.

  Unlike phone calls, texts don’t interrupt people, so they can check the reminder when it suits them — but still fast enough to avoid missed appointments or deadlines. They also save your team time by cutting down on follow-up calls and emails.

• What’s the difference between an SMS reminder and a 'Push' notification?

  An SMS reminder is a text message sent directly to someone’s mobile number, while a push notification is a message sent through an app installed on a smartphone or device.

  The big difference is that SMS doesn’t rely on apps or an internet connection — as long as your customer has a mobile signal, they’ll get the message. Push notifications, on the other hand, only work if the person has your app installed and has allowed notifications, which many people choose to switch off.

  Text messages are also hard to miss, with open rates as high as 98%, while push notifications can easily be ignored or missed in a busy phone screen. That’s why many businesses choose SMS reminders when they want to make sure important information gets through.

• How do I set up SMS reminders for my business?

  Getting started with SMS reminders is really simple! First, you’ll need to sign up for an account and choose how you’d like to send your messages — whether that’s through a SMS API, email to SMS, or our code-free SMS application, Oello.

  Once you’ve picked the best setup for your business, you’ll get a quick call to confirm your details, and then your login info and step-by-step instructions will be sent to you by email.

  Before you start sending live SMS reminders, make sure to update your Privacy Policy to let customers know you’ll be contacting them via text. This helps ensure they’re fully aware that you’ll be using SMS to keep them updated and informed.

• Can I schedule SMS reminders in advance?

  The answer is, yes, you can! Faretext makes it easy to schedule SMS reminders for any future date and time — whether you want to send them manually or set them up to go out automatically.

  If you’re using the Faretext SMS API and have it connected to your software, website, or application, you’ll have even more control. You can automate reminders based on key events — for example, sending a confirmation as soon as an order is placed, or updating a customer when their package has been handed over to a courier, complete with tracking details and delivery times if available.

  Once everything is set up, SMS reminders can run quietly in the background, keeping your customers updated at every step — without your team needing to call or email each person manually. It’s a simple and reliable way to keep communication smooth and your customers well-informed.

• Can I use SMS reminders internationally?

  Yes, you can! If you’re using our SMS API or email-to-SMS solutions to send your SMS reminders, then it’s possible to reach your customers worldwide.

  Each country has its own rules for sending SMS messages, and although less restrictive than SMS marketing, they do have differences which need to be adhered to. Don’t worry though — once you tell us you’re interested in sending texts internationally, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to stay compliant.

  By default, accounts are set up for UK messaging, but adding international access is easy — we’ll just need to know which countries you plan to send messages to and an idea of your monthly volume. This helps us make sure you get the best setup and pricing for your needs.

  When you’re ready, Faretext will walk you through the full process, so you can send SMS reminders confidently — no matter where your customers are.

  Take a look at our pricing page learn more about international pricing.

• Do I need customer consent to send SMS reminders?

  Yes, you do — but the good news is, it’s usually very straightforward! If you’re sending SMS reminders for things like appointments, deliveries, bookings, or other updates related to a service your customer has already requested, this is typically classed as a “service message.” For these types of texts, you don’t need extra permission, as long as your customer has given their contact details as part of doing business with you.

  That said, it’s always best to be clear. Make sure your Privacy Policy lets customers know you’ll be using SMS to keep them updated. This helps build trust and keeps you in line with data protection rules.

  When you set up SMS reminders through Faretext, you’ll also get helpful guidance to make sure you’re handling your customer data the right way.

• Are SMS reminders secure?

  Yes — SMS reminders are generally a secure way to communicate with your customers. In fact, text messages are often more secure than emails, though like any online service, no system is completely risk-free. The good news is, at Faretext, your security is taken very seriously.

  When you set up SMS reminders, sensitive details like usernames, passwords, and API keys are only shared with authorised people who need them. These details are securely stored and only shown to you during the initial setup. After that, even you won’t be able to view them again — keeping everything private and protected.

  Faretext’s platform is designed to make sure your data stays safe, so you can focus on sending helpful, timely reminders to your customers with confidence.

• Can customers opt out of SMS reminders?

  Yes, customers can opt out of SMS reminders if they choose to. Even though reminders are usually sent to help people stay informed about things like appointments, deliveries, or service updates, it’s important to give them the choice to stop receiving messages if they prefer.

  Although not mandatory (as long as another opt-out mechanism exists), including simple opt-out instructions — like replying with ‘STOP’ — is a great way to make sure your customers feel in control of how you contact them. This not only keeps you in line with good practice, but also helps build trust and keeps your communication clear and customer-friendly.

  As a customer of Faretext, we’ll provide help and advice on the best ways, to manage your opt-outs efficiently, whilst assisting you with respecting your customers’ preferences.