SMS/Short Code Vendor Warning!

Spiritman · 31st Jan 2012, 09:52 AM

Hey Guys,

I thought I'd take a second and give you guys a "heads up" in case you're shopping for a short code/sms provider.

I'd suggest you might want to think twice about doing business with Anchor Mobile anchormobile dot net (Maple Leaf Mobile in Canada mapleleafmobile dotcom)

I opened a "user" account in September 2011 at a very reasonable cost of $50 setup and $125/mo for some basic services with the intention of moving into a full white label account at approx $500/mo.

Shortly after I realized that the "notification" function didn't work when the person (i.e a real estate agent) was on the Virgin network.

(My analogy is...I bought a car. I really wanted to use it to race backwards. I found out the car didn't have reverse. So even if the car was bright and shiny and had a steering wheel and brakes and drove fine frontwards, it was basically useless to me for my "backwards racing".)

During October I had a couple of conversations with sales and tech folks trying to pinpoint the issue.

On November 10th I sent my first email, which means that's the only physical documentation I have. Over the next 2 months we went back and forth with the CEO getting on board and promising a quick resolution.

I was very patient with these folks, very willing to work with them while it got sorted out. I had no intention of leaving or even shopping elsewhere.

The quick resolution never came from the CEO. He maintained that it was a "carrier issue" and still holds that position.

Even though I told them in December that they should NOT withdraw my Dec 29th payment because their system wasn't working as promised...they did anyway.

Understand that the carriers are the big players here. Anyone wanting to play in the short code or aggregator arena has to make sure their system plugs into the carrier's properly.

Theirs didn't. But they called it a carrier issue.

Finally, after lots of warning, patience and attempts to make this right, and with the system still NOT working, I called my credit card fraud department on January 19, 2012 and filed a dispute in order to recoup my funds and stop any further charges.

This required a few phone calls, submission of an 28 page fax which included all the emails with Anchor mobile, CEO included, and will require additional snail mail etc etc etc. In short, it's a pain in the arse. In the meantime I'm out $500+.

I've effectively been out of business. Now I need to find a new provider and pay their upfront setup fees.

I had made the determination that even if they "fixed" the issue after 3 months, the way it had been handled was enough of a deterrent for me to decide that I didn't want a long term relationship with this company. After all, if they treated me this badly early on, how would they treat me when I'm really connected to them, have their short code all over the place and databases built on their system?

Incredibly, while this dispute is on they CHARGED MY CREDIT CARD AGAIN on January 30,2012!

If anyone wants more details feel free to pm me.

In the meantime, if you're shopping, take a pass on these guys.

btw...When a VP told me was a carrier issue in early January, I called a couple of competitors and they had no idea what I was talking about. They both set me up free demo accounts to check things out and both had no issues with the "notification" function being sent to Virgin.

It's like an ant trying to crawl on the back of an elephant, and when it can't, he says "It's an elephant issue".

Heads-Up.

Sean

ismaelmeskin · 31st Jan 2012, 01:10 PM

bad to hear that! When I've searched for a Short Code provider I've came across them and just by looking at their website I was not convinced. Anyway hope you get your money back and I would recommand you using LimeCellular, I'm using them since november 2011 and I'm very pleased with their coverage and service! At least their CEO is very responsive.

31st Jan 2012, 09:52 AM	#1
Spiritman Active Warrior Join Date: 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 34 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	SMS/Short Code Vendor Warning! Share on: Hey Guys, I thought I'd take a second and give you guys a "heads up" in case you're shopping for a short code/sms provider. I'd suggest you might want to think twice about doing business with Anchor Mobile anchormobile dot net (Maple Leaf Mobile in Canada mapleleafmobile dotcom) I opened a "user" account in September 2011 at a very reasonable cost of $50 setup and $125/mo for some basic services with the intention of moving into a full white label account at approx $500/mo. Shortly after I realized that the "notification" function didn't work when the person (i.e a real estate agent) was on the Virgin network. (My analogy is...I bought a car. I really wanted to use it to race backwards. I found out the car didn't have reverse. So even if the car was bright and shiny and had a steering wheel and brakes and drove fine frontwards, it was basically useless to me for my "backwards racing".) During October I had a couple of conversations with sales and tech folks trying to pinpoint the issue. On November 10th I sent my first email, which means that's the only physical documentation I have. Over the next 2 months we went back and forth with the CEO getting on board and promising a quick resolution. I was very patient with these folks, very willing to work with them while it got sorted out. I had no intention of leaving or even shopping elsewhere. The quick resolution never came from the CEO. He maintained that it was a "carrier issue" and still holds that position. Even though I told them in December that they should NOT withdraw my Dec 29th payment because their system wasn't working as promised...they did anyway. Understand that the carriers are the big players here. Anyone wanting to play in the short code or aggregator arena has to make sure their system plugs into the carrier's properly. Theirs didn't. But they called it a carrier issue. Finally, after lots of warning, patience and attempts to make this right, and with the system still NOT working, I called my credit card fraud department on January 19, 2012 and filed a dispute in order to recoup my funds and stop any further charges. This required a few phone calls, submission of an 28 page fax which included all the emails with Anchor mobile, CEO included, and will require additional snail mail etc etc etc. In short, it's a pain in the arse. In the meantime I'm out $500+. I've effectively been out of business. Now I need to find a new provider and pay their upfront setup fees. I had made the determination that even if they "fixed" the issue after 3 months, the way it had been handled was enough of a deterrent for me to decide that I didn't want a long term relationship with this company. After all, if they treated me this badly early on, how would they treat me when I'm really connected to them, have their short code all over the place and databases built on their system? Incredibly, while this dispute is on they CHARGED MY CREDIT CARD AGAIN on January 30,2012! If anyone wants more details feel free to pm me. In the meantime, if you're shopping, take a pass on these guys. btw...When a VP told me was a carrier issue in early January, I called a couple of competitors and they had no idea what I was talking about. They both set me up free demo accounts to check things out and both had no issues with the "notification" function being sent to Virgin. It's like an ant trying to crawl on the back of an elephant, and when it can't, he says "It's an elephant issue". Heads-Up. Sean

31st Jan 2012, 01:10 PM	#2
ismaelmeskin CoFounder at Pubmobile.ca Join Date: 2011 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: SMS/Short Code Vendor Warning! Share on: bad to hear that! When I've searched for a Short Code provider I've came across them and just by looking at their website I was not convinced. Anyway hope you get your money back and I would recommand you using LimeCellular, I'm using them since november 2011 and I'm very pleased with their coverage and service! At least their CEO is very responsive.