Expert: DebiN - 1/15/2010

Question
QUESTION: hi
im having trouble with my international texting. The people in the uk are recieving my text messages but i am not getting theirs at all? I have deleted contact etc they have deleted me and so on but im still not recieving theirs?Thanks Gary

ANSWER: If you can't receive their messages, it may be that they are not sending to you correctly or have you recently changed from another carrier to MetroPCS? If so, then it is very likely that O2 in the UK doesn't have the new information in their databases and can't get the messages to MetroPCS. When did you change carriers? Have you been able to text with these friends previously when you were with another carrier or ever? Let me know. Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi debi
yes its true i ported my number dec 30th 2009 from tmobile,according to metropcs/text global package o2 and various other companies are included in the plan.I was with tmo for 5 years and never had any problems?My friends have been sending replys various ways e.g 001617********** or+1617*********** and so on?


http://www.metropcs.com/customer_support/texttalk.aspx

I called their technical support and they have completed system/handset resets and have now given me a ticket trouble for friday 8th to call back and see if they have the problem which is possibly in the message center fixed? I hope that all made sense and i thank you for your time.Gary.

P.s. any answers would be greatly appreciated or another solution for cheap international texting would also help.

ANSWER: I'm so glad that you told me that you just ported your number. That is definitely the problem, I can assure you. Until MetroPCS gets this correctly into their database, or until T-Mobile gets it out, you will continue to have this issue. By the 8th, it should hopefully be cleared up. There is only one way for your friends to text you, they need the 0, but more than that, I would strongly recommend that after MetroPCS tells you that you are good to go, that you have your friends completely delete you from their contacts, then send a text to one of them, and then have them add you from that text back into the contacts and then reply.

A cheap solution is via instant messenger or other data method. Texting internationally is always expensive! I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi debi
still no luck with the texting,metro technicians have completed the 2nd trouble ticket and came up with the conclusion that the texting problem lies with te carriers in the U.K.(o2) As i said my friends are recieving mine but i am not getting theirs,they have also erased my contact information and tried replying to me but no such luck.According to metro they would like the persons who are trying to send the message call up their carriers and give them a more detailed description of the message being sent?They also believe that the systems in the U.K may not have metro pcs in their systems so that the messages may never come through??? At this point im so frustrated with metro although i have been able to recieve messages from my brother in thailand from his cell phone???? So lost with this your patience and help on this matter is greatly appreciated Gary

Answer
What you were told by Metro makes complete sense to me. I completely agree with them, but didn't say this earlier because it was best to first verify what was going on here. MetroPCS is such a small regional carrier that it is very likely that they cannot be found in the databases of the carriers abroad. If you were with AT&T or Verizon or Sprint, I don't believe you would have this issue, but with these small carriers, this is unfortunately, oftentimes the case. The best of luck to you in getting this resolved, but I do agree with Metro on this one. Thanks. DebiN