# SMS Notifications

ChargeOver can send SMS notifications to your customers' contacts for billing events such as new invoices and payment reminders. Messages are sent from a shared number on behalf of your account.

## How It Works

When SMS notifications are enabled, ChargeOver will automatically send text messages to contacts who have opted in. Messages are sent for the following events:

- **New invoice** — sent when an invoice is created
- **Payment reminder** — sent as part of your dunning sequence when an invoice is past due

## Contact Phone Numbers

SMS messages are sent to the **phone number on the contact record**. To ensure a contact can receive texts:

1. Navigate to the customer's contact list
2. Open the contact record
3. Enter a valid mobile number in the **Phone** field (E.164 format recommended, e.g. `+15005550006`)

A contact must have both a phone number **and** SMS consent recorded before they will receive any messages.

## Customer Consent (Opt-In)

ChargeOver requires explicit opt-in consent before sending SMS messages to any contact.

Contacts can opt in at the following points:

### Hosted Signup Form
When a customer completes your hosted signup form, they are presented with the following consent checkbox before submitting:

> *By checking this box, you agree to receive text notifications and reminders regarding your payments due. Standard message and data rates apply.*

The checkbox must be actively checked — it is not pre-selected. If the customer does not check the box, they will not receive SMS messages.

### Customer Portal — Edit Profile
Existing customers can opt in (or withdraw consent) at any time by visiting their profile page in the customer portal:

> **My Account → Edit Profile**

The same consent checkbox is displayed alongside their phone number. Unchecking the box and saving will immediately remove consent and stop future messages.



## Opting Out

Contacts can opt out at any time by replying **STOP** to any message they receive. Standard carrier opt-out handling applies. Consent can also be withdrawn by unchecking the SMS opt-in box in the customer portal profile page.


## Which Contacts Receive Messages

Only contacts meeting **all** of the following criteria will receive SMS notifications:

- Contact type is **Billing**
- A **phone number** is on the contact record
- **SMS consent** has been recorded (opt-in checkbox was checked)

If a customer has multiple billing contacts, each contact with consent and a phone number will receive the message.


## Billing & Message Costs

Every SMS attempt incurs a cost.

- **Sent, Queued, Undelivered** — charged at the standard rate
- **Failed** — charged a reduced processing fee

This means a message sent to an invalid or unreachable number will still result in a charge. Ensure phone numbers on contact records are valid and up to date to avoid unnecessary costs.