Why do companies send you text messages that don’t work?

Recently, I had two texts related to medical issues that didn’t work.

First, I went to a podiatrist at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates because I had pain in my heel after going for a walk with my family at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The podiatrist said I had Achilles tendonitis because I didn’t stretch before I went on the walk.

A follow-up appointment was set. I was unable to keep the appointment, so I responded with a “No” to a text about the appointment. I assumed the text worked and the appointment cancelation was taken care of.

A few days later, I received an email asking me to fill out a form to check in for the appointment I thought I’d canceled. I was confused, so I called the doctor’s office about it.

The receptionist said, “Oh, those text messages don’t work.” I told her I hoped the office didn’t charge people who thought they had canceled their appointments with a text reply but hadn’t actually done it. She didn’t reply.

I also had problems with a faulty text message from Safeway. I need a refill for a prescription. Safeway sent a text, several in fact, saying no refills remained, but would I like to request a new prescription? I replied, “Yes.” However, when a friend went to pick up the prescription for me, she was told nothing was there.

I called Safeway about it. The reply was the same as the doctor’s office – the text messages don’t work. 

It’s frustrating that companies know that text messages, especially ones related to medical issues, don’t work, but they don’t do anything to fix the problem.