Standard Short Codes

Industry Standard SMS Short Code Messages

Industry standard short code messages gives end-users control over the communications they receive from businesses. More information about proper use of these protocols is available in the Short Code Monitoring Handbook.

Cheat Sheet

Function

Default

Additional Options

Opt-Out

STOP

CANCEL, END, QUIT, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE

Opt-In

START

UNSTOP, YES

Help

HELP

INFO

Opt-Out

The opt-out protocol removes an end-user from a sender's distribution list. Users who opt out of SMS messages are added to a blacklist and receive a message confirming their opt-out decision.

The default opt-out message is:

You have successfully been unsubscribed. You will not receive any more messages from this number. Reply START to resubscribe.

  • The SMS sender can use received opt-out messages (e.g., "Stop") to keep track of end-users who opted out of SMS notifications or for any other relevant purpose.

  • Following an opt-out, any attempt to send a SMS message sent to the end-user from the sender's distribution list generates an error response from Plum (example below). However, the end-user remains able send SMS messages to the sender.

  • This behavior continues until the user explicitly opts-in to SMS notifications again.

{
   "status":"failure",
   "error":"Error sending sms request"
}

Opt-Out Keywords

The default keyword to opt-out is STOP. The default keyword is always available, even if you instruct end-users to use a different keyword.

Use any of the following keywords in addition to STOP to enable end-user opt-outs:

  • CANCEL, END, QUIT, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE

Opt-In

The opt-in protocol is for end-users who opted-out of SMS messages previously and would like to resume receiving SMS messages from the sense. End-users receive an automated reply when they choose to opt back in to a sender's distribution list.

The default opt-in message is:

You have successfully been re-subscribed to messages from this number. Reply HELP for help. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg&Data Rates May Apply.

  • Although this protocol is intended for users who have opted-out of a given distribution list previously, any end-user that sends an opt-in message to the sender receives the automated reply, even if that individual was not a prior recipient.

  • Plum customers see all incoming incoming opt-in messages. You can use this information to update customer data as necessary.

Opt-In Keywords

The default keyword to opt-out is START. The default keyword is always available, even if you instruct end-users to use a different keyword.

Use any of the following keywords in addition to START to enable end-user opt-ins:

  • UNSTOP, YES

Help

The help protocol sends an automated help message to the end-user.

The default help message is:

Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg&Data Rates May Apply.

  • Plum customers are unable to see when end-users send a 'help' message.

Help Keywords

The default keyword to opt-out is HELP. The default keyword is always available, even if you instruct end-users to use a different keyword.

Use the following keyword in addition to HELP to provide assistance to end-users:

  • INFO

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