Question Unblock message sender without phone number

[KJM61]

Text messages from my bank are being blocked. I know how to unblock other senders, but with this one there is no option to unblock them. I think this because there is no sender number, just a name.

Ideas, please?

 

[B. Diddy]

How do you know they're being blocked? Do they show up in a Blocked list?

 

[KJM61]

Duh. Yes

 

[B. Diddy]

Duh. Yes

Hey, I'm trying to help, so there's no need for snark. The reason I asked the question was that I was wondering about the possibility of the phone not receiving short-code SMS (aka Premium SMS) messages, since some phones or carriers have a setting to disable that. We get members with a wide range of experience here, and I could easily imagine some members mistaking that situation as being blocked. So thanks for the clarification.

Which phone do you have? Menu options for blocked numbers might differ depending on the manufacturer.

 

[KJM61]

I was expecting a one-time-code but it didn't appear. I looked in blocked & spam and it is there. I wouldn't have thought that would be from a premium sender?
Other messages in the blocked & spam show an option to unblock, this one doesn't.
I have a Samsung A41.
Thanks for your help.

 

[B. Diddy]

I'll have to check my Galaxy A32 5G when I get back home from work, but it might still be tricky to test, since I don't have a SIM in that phone (and therefore some of the Messages app's functions may not work). I can tell you that in Google Messages on my Pixel 7 Pro, under Spam & Blocked, if I tap on one of the blocked messages, I get an explanation from Google saying "Why this looks like spam", but also an option to mark it "Not spam" -- do you get that option?

Alternatively, let's see if any of the other Ambassadors who use a Samsung phone as a daily driver (like @mustang7757) can weigh in.

 

[B. Diddy]

Actually, is Google Messages the default SMS app on your phone? I came across this support page from AT&T: https://www.att.com/device-support/article/wireless/KM1480045/Samsung/SamsungSMA536U. Just to be certain, are you saying that you've done those steps, and you don't see the Unblock option appear?

 

[mustang7757]

I'll have to check my Galaxy A32 5G when I get back home from work, but it might still be tricky to test, since I don't have a SIM in that phone (and therefore some of the Messages app's functions may not work). I can tell you that in Google Messages on my Pixel 7 Pro, under Spam & Blocked, if I tap on one of the blocked messages, I get an explanation from Google saying "Why this looks like spam", but also an option to mark it "Not spam" -- do you get that option?

Alternatively, let's see if any of the other Ambassadors who use a Samsung phone as a daily driver (like @mustang7757) can weigh in.

Which message app are they using Google or Samsung?

 

[B. Diddy]

Which message app are they using Google or Samsung?

Not sure yet, awaiting reply ...

 

[mustang7757]

Not sure yet, awaiting reply ...

I know Google if u set to high risk spam it will get blocked automatically

 

[KJM61]

Actually, is Google Messages the default SMS app on your phone? I came across this support page from AT&T: https://www.att.com/device-support/article/wireless/KM1480045/Samsung/SamsungSMA536U. Just to be certain, are you saying that you've done those steps, and you don't see the Unblock option appear?

Yes, Google Messages is the default. For most messages I see exactly what is shown in the article you linked, but not with messages from this particular sender.

 

[KJM61]

I'll have to check my Galaxy A32 5G when I get back home from work, but it might still be tricky to test, since I don't have a SIM in that phone (and therefore some of the Messages app's functions may not work). I can tell you that in Google Messages on my Pixel 7 Pro, under Spam & Blocked, if I tap on one of the blocked messages, I get an explanation from Google saying "Why this looks like spam", but also an option to mark it "Not spam" -- do you get that option?

Alternatively, let's see if any of the other Ambassadors who use a Samsung phone as a daily driver (like @mustang7757) can weigh in.

I get the "why this looks like spam" message when Google decides a message is dodgy, but not when I have blocked the sender myself.

 

[B. Diddy]

This is puzzling. Look through the rest of your Spam & Blocked messages -- are there any other senders that seem to have a name but no number?

 

[mustang7757]

Try Samsung messages see if you get the same issue

 

[KJM61]

This is puzzling. Look through the rest of your Spam & Blocked messages -- are there any other senders that seem to have a name but no number?

Yes, a department of my phone provider.

 

[KJM61]

Try Samsung messages see if you get the same issue

Good suggestion. I tried that, but I've never used Samsung messages before and I can't see how to block any of the senders, except for the ones from unsaved numbers.

 

[B. Diddy]

Yes, a department of my phone provider.

Does that also not give you the option to unblock?

 

[KJM61]

Does that also not give you the option to unblock?

Correct. It does seem to be the name instead of number that's triggering the issue.

 

[B. Diddy]

Really odd bug. Send feedback to Google about this from within the Messages app settings.

 

[KJM61]

Really odd bug. Send feedback to Google about this from within the Messages app settings.

I'll see if they respond. Thanks for trying.