Do you check texts? (SMS)

[DoYouCheckTexts]

Who is in the right here?

Person A: a professional service provider, texts (SMS rather than WhatsApp) their client at 8am on the day of the appt advising the slot (which was for 6pm) is no longer available and asking them to come at 8pm that day or rearrange to a different day.

Person B: the client, has notifications turned off for SMSs on their phone as they get annoyed with getting lots of SMSs about parcel deliveries and from scammers. They don't see the message and turn up at the appointment at the original time to find noone there.

This was only the 2nd appt and Person A has previously communicated only by EMAIL.

VOTE:
YABU = Person A is correct. Person B should check SMSs, especially if they have an appointment.
YANBU = Person B is correct. Person A should have PHONED Person B to ensure they got the message, especially when they didn't respond to the text.

@LoveWine123 apparently she'd "forgotten" it was her child's parent's night that night...

If it's only your second appointment with him/her (if I've understood you correctly), then you don't really know that they cancel or reschedule appointments routinely. So maybe give them the benefit of the doubt.

However, they did contact you and you have chosen to turn off SMS so that's your issue. However, they should probably have also rang to double check you'd had the message as you didn't respond. I'd prefer a professional to contact me via SMS rather than WhatsApp tbh. I don't understand your issue with SMS notifications as opposed to other notifications!

I would need a response before I’d be happy they had received it

I would expect a text but then a phone call if no response to the text, given it included a question.

Very unusual decision to not check texts.

Texts are for quick instant short messages. Much more instant than emails and more convenient than answering a phone call. In fact far more people don’t answer calls.

Should have checked the texts

@NewYearNewJob2024 yes, just my 2nd appt so no way of knowing if she in particular cancels routinely (I won't be finding out as I won't be using her again - it's the sort of service where you need to be able to trust/rely on that person and gel with them personally).

What I'm trying to say is that in general, one should not have to check all forms of communication in the lead up to an appt as if being rescheduled on the day is half-expected. Cancelling should be v rare and done by phone call both as it's more courteous to do it personally like that and more chance you will pay attention to a call than a text (given calls are quite rare these days!). I feel a text being fired off gives a vibe of "no biggie" and "don't care if you actually get this message or not".

I don’t check texts. It’s all junk. I’m with you on this.

I'd be v interested to see if responses were skewed by age.

I think anyone 40-50 might be more likely to expect a phonecall.

If you provide your mobile number for communication to a service, I think it’s on you to tell them if you don’t actually want communication through that route (given sms and phone calls are both standard functions of a mobile number).

Im in the same age bracket, and would expect a text for an urgent message rather than an email.

Gold standard would be for them to confirm that you’d got the message and if not follow up with a phone call.

In our area the urgent info from schools all goes through an sms alert system.

Just to confirm, this is a sole, private practitioner so not an automated thing like the NHS or the school.

@ScaryM0nster is an "urgent" text from the school a mass message though? Being sent to hundreds of parents at a time? If so, that's the only practical method of comms.

Presumably an ACTUAL urgent message to ONE recipient like "your child is ill, please collect" would be a phonecall?

Person A should've sought confirmation from Person B.

Person B should read their texts, and also just post the thread from a normal first person perspective instead of this silly "person A person B" horseshit, especially when it's glaringly, transparently obvious who Person B wants you to root for.

I prefer text as I block all unknown numbers, so I would have to name the person who was calling or turn it off, though if it was a professional I used I would have their number named anyway, I rarely get scam messages anyway, I don't use WhatsApp

A text is the ideal way to communicate something like this, followed up by a phone call if necessary imo.

Many people can't just answer the phone due when at work (I can't), but I can check a text, and the text will be available to be read all day, a phone call won't be.

An email is fine, but it's less likely to be checked when it's an urgent message.

Did the professional know that the person doesn't check their texts?

Text messages are a good way of conveying a message if someone doesn't answer their phone.

B, if A changed the communication method and B did t get it it’s on A

Do most people have phones that require an actual check of any form of communication?

I can't remember when I had a phone that didnt display on the lock screen that there were unread messages of any type.

I guess I assumed all phones would be like that so even if you have it on silent you literally just look at the phone and see a notification

IYou can turn those notifications off too

I’m 41, call or text is fine because we live in a modern age. You failed to communicate your preferences of not reading text messages and it back fired now you’re blaming the person you had an appointment with.

I know, that isn't my point, I'm wondering why checking is necessary when a look is all that's needed. Once you've looked you then decide whether opening the message is necessary, at least that seems the best way to me not to miss anything important

If th person has their phone number down as a point of contact then it would be asssumed that contact via that means would be accessed.

I'm 54.

Would prefer a text.

I agree with the posters saying something like:
a text was perhaps ok in the first instance but when it asked a Q like "can you come at 8pm?" and no response was received, the service-provider should have realised it hadn't been read and followed up with a call

That scenario requires the recipient (the parent) to take action straight away though.

In your scenario you had a 10hr window before any action was needed.

I’m in the age bracket you quoted and I’d prefer a text as I can’t always answer a phone call if I’m working.

Messages I can check and respond to in my own time.

The vast majority of people will check their messages over a period of 10hrs even if they do have their notifications turned off. Not doing so is just a bit odd.