I'm getting text message meant for a number slightly different from mine.

For the past six months or so, I've been getting SMS text message from United Airlines with information about flights, baggage, etc. The messages come from United's texting number and the content looks legit. For the most part I've been ignoring them but today I decided to check further.

I called United Airlines because the text messages contained a Confirmation number which could then easily be traced to a customer. What was determined very quickly is that the other customer has a phone number which is identical to mine EXCEPT for the last digit. My number ends in 2, theirs ends in 1. It was also confirmed that the other customer was flying and the messages were legit. From United's point of view, everything looked good. My number on their file was correct, and the other number was (as far as I know) correct.

So why am I getting SMS messages obviously intended for another number which is just one digit off from mine? This has happened three or four times. And what I mean by that is three or four different flights with a handful of messages for each flight. Is the fault with United? or is it with Verizon? I'm not even certain if the other party is using Verizon.

I have not yet brought this up with Verizon, but I thought I'd post this here to see if anyone else had a similar experience. If it happens again, I may just text the other party involved to see if they are getting messages as well.

Accepted answers

SynthpopAddict

The airline may have the correct contact number for their customer in their files on some computer systems, but the bot which is sending out texts for the airline obviously doesn't, if there is a one digit difference in the number it is using. If the airline isn't willing to help you because you aren't the customer in question or maybe it's that you're not able to get to the correct tech support person to resolve the issue - then short of texting the airline customer to tell them all their texts are coming to you instead of them, you'd have to block the short code the airline is using to text you.

All comments

Verizon_Support

Hey, AZBruno, we know that must be frustrating to get texts meant for someone else. It sounds like the number associated with the other user's airlines account is entered incorrectly, which is why you're getting their confirmation details. We would recommend requesting with the airline to see if they can remove the phone number.

-Cait

AZBruno

Cait, thanks for your reply. But as stated very clearly in my post, the number on the other user's airlines account is not the same as mine and therefore no reason to assume it is incorrect.

SynthpopAddict

Verizon_Support

Hi AZBruno. Are you getting any other messages intended for that number or is it only messages from United Airlines? If it's just United Airlines, the issue is likely not with Verizn but rather the United Airlines system. A good next step would be for them to remove the number all together and then have them add it back. If it continues to happen, we can check for any SMS routing issues, but it's likely on United's end.

-Dee

AZBruno

I suspect you are right that it is United's failure. But I could not find a way to contact their technical people... all phone access is oriented towards flights, etc. And anyway, the problem is not with my account so I doubt the would do anything on my request.

My plan is that if it happens again, I will text/call the other party to encourage them to contact United to fix it.

Verizon_Support

Thanks for letting us know. I will send you a Private Note shortly. -Ross