Why can't I reply to a text message?

Flexible_Friend

When someone from abroad sends me a text message I can't reply directly to their phone using "REPLY". I get "delivery unsuccessful" (I have delivery reporting switched on). However, if I create a new message and use "SEND" it works.

I tried sending and replying to my own phone and that works.

So what is wrong?

In_for_a_Bargain

Could it be that the codes are different for numbers abroad. Don't you have to remove some digits and add a zero from here or something similar? This may explain why you can do it on your own phone.

Flexible_Friend

It's the same number for a REPLY or SEND - with the correct country code added and "0" removed or whatever .... baffled ...

reelcrazy

Some phones have an option called "Use reply path" or something similar. Try changing this to "No" or "off" and see if it helps.

fonesaver

The person who sent you the text probably has 'reply using same service centre number' set to YES on their handset. This means that when you try and send a message you are attempting to use their service centre number not your networks number which is used when you send a text from scratch. This happened to me with a friend from Russia.
Hope this helps.

Flexible_Friend

Fonesaver - sounds plausible although it's happening with both her phones. It didn't used to. I will ask her. Perhaps it's a Network change somewhere abroad?

Reelcrazy - I don't appear to have that setting on my phone. The phone is an LG U8120.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far.

Alltheloginsaretakenappar

They could be sending the texts through the internet. In know that my Orange online account I can send text messages that appear to come from my mobile number but "The person who receives your message will not be able to reply directly, as it is sent from the Orange website". However, when my sister sends them from her O2 online account they can be replied to just as if they were sent from her phone