I just found out they are using a service called Twilio which intentionally sends the text with random 10DLC's, I wish one of them was on the receiving end of a batch of work orders. Here is their website https://www.twilio.com/en-us
On Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 7:36 AM Chuck Hast <[email protected]> wrote: > Ted > Thank you for the excellent reply, see comments below: > > On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 1:14 AM Ted Mittelstaedt <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> I take it that's from this company: >> >> https://www.mhelpdesk.com/ > > > That is correct > >> >> >> You need to read up on this: >> >> >> https://www.reddit.com/r/VOIP/comments/180x3n5/i_want_all_of_us_to_bury_the_campaign_registry_in/ >> >> https://www.messagedesk.com/blog/a2p-10dlc > > > Looked at both of them and more now I understand what is behind the whole > mess. > >> >> >> Basically what mhelpdesk is doing is in violation of The Campaign >> Registry's requirements. They are NOT using TCR - either because of the >> Problems outlined with the reddit post, or they are not using it because >> TCR charges a fee per text. Most likely it's the fee. >> > > I kind of suspect the same. > >> >> TCR isn't going to go away, the major carriers (Verizon, ATT, etc.) >> colluded I mean cooperated to set it up, and they are pushing all of the >> Text-sending-companies to get setup with it. I would bet money that >> mhelpdesk is using SIP trunks from a skanky provider and >> Sending random forged calling numbers in the SIP header of every text and >> using some questionable sip-to-text provider that was setup >> > > Based on what I see, your information and what I have read I am suspecting > the same > thing. > > Prior to the formation of TCR - and is far FAR cheaper than TCR - and >> because nobody has complained to the carriers about mhelpdesk so far, >> Their texts are still getting through. >> >> If you were to contact your carrier and work your way up customer service >> and file a complaint against them, sooner or later your carrier will block >> those texts. >> > > Going to look into this. > >> >> In the meantime what you SHOULD have done is complain to mhelpdesk that >> their texts weren’t getting through at all and when you called your carrier >> your carrier said they are all being blocked because mhelpdesk isn't >> registered with an authorized 10DLC number and if they don't get registered >> soon you will find another software vendor. >> >> This is what happens to employers like yours who don't have a proper IT >> department and departments just run out there and buy software >> subscriptions without checking this kind of stuff out in advance the way a >> good IT department would do. I would bet money that there's nothing you >> can do because your accounting department and ops people are all heavily >> invested now in mhelpdesk and mhelpdesk knows it - so any threats you might >> make they will just laugh at - they know you WON'T be leaving them so have >> no incentive to doing things the right way - which is registering with a >> 10DLC number. >> > > We are a small company, but right now we are discussing alternatives as > the service is not > what we desire. Indeed we are looking for an open source customer service > solution that > has good field service support. > > >> >> I think the best you can do is turn the sound off on your phone. Or have >> mhelpdesk not text you but email you. >> >> Good luck finding an open source SMS tool. The only way I know of to do >> this with that is using adb and an android phone. For example >> >> adb shell service call isms 7 i32 0 s16 "com.android.mms.service" s16 >> "+123456789" s16 "null" s16 "'Hey you !'" s16 "null" s16 "null" >> > > I use Google Fi for my cell service. and I use Google Messages on my > computers to do text. I > have showed folks how to use Google Messages as a cheap solution for this > and it seems to > work. The low cost Google Fi service they offer a $35 service with 30gb > of data, and Messages is > working for several that need to send short text, with the very low end > ($20/mo) they used to offer > 6gb then $10/gb but now looks like the 6gb has gone away. > >> >> But of course, this then ties up a phone a cell account and you have to >> pay a subscription. Far from open source. >> > > Yes but getting started it maybe a lower entry cost then going through all > of the paperwork for > TCR and 10DLC. > >> >> SMS originated from the phone carriers and they made damn sure that there >> would be no way to access it for free. It's not like the Internet, it's a >> proprietary setup. >> > > Yes the cell vampires have us by the short hairs on that one. > > Thank you for the great info. > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: PLUG <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Chuck Hast >> Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2025 9:59 AM >> To: Portland Linux/Unix Group <[email protected]> >> Subject: [PLUG] Wits End >> >> Folks, >> This is not really linux related but figure that there are folks here who >> know how to deal with this (to me) stupidity. >> I have tried to figure out how to resolve an issue with a provider we use. >> The app is something >> called MhelpDesk and it is use to handle work orders >> >> My issue (the royal PITA) is this app sends order requests out as text. >> No issue there but it appears as though they use a whole block of phone >> numbers to send these text, so I cannot bin them and also tell the phone >> not to alert when it gets one. >> >> This can be very annoying when I am in a medical lab and a block of these >> things come rolling in. >> >> I do not understand why they need to use what appear to be random numbers >> from these area codes 401, 571, 703 >> >> I and another guy are looking for an open source solution so we can get >> rid of this service, but meanwhile I am trying to figure out how to try to >> get them to send these things from a single number >> >> I have many places that send me texts for different issues. None of them >> will send me text from what appear to be numbers out of a stack. >> -- >> >> Chuck Hast -- KP4DJT -- >> I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. >> Ph 4:13 KJV >> Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece. >> Fil 4:13 RVR1960 >> >>
