Your Texting Numbers

Every text Perceny sends leaves from a real phone number that belongs to your business, and clients can text it back. Your first number is free — it's included with your plan.

Getting your first numberCopy a link to this section

Messaging → Phone Number → Get a Number.

1. Pick a State and an Area Code. "Pick a state and area code, then choose the number you want to send from."
2. Perceny lists what is available — "N available". Nothing showing? "No numbers found. Try another state or area code."
3. Provision the one you want and confirm: "Provision {number} for your business? It will be used to send your messages. Your first number is free."

Then: "Your number is ready. Clients can text it, and your messages and reminders go out from it."

Pick a local area code. A local number gets answered; an out-of-state one reads like spam.

Carrier registrationCopy a link to this section

A brand new number needs registering with the carriers before bulk sending works. If you try a blast too early: "This number is still being registered for carrier delivery. Blasts can be sent once registration finishes, usually within a few minutes of getting the number."

One-to-one replies in the inbox are not affected. Just wait out the few minutes before your first blast.

More than one numberCopy a link to this section

Add Number again for extra numbers: "Additional numbers cost $X/month, billed to your subscription." The confirmation says so plainly rather than surprising you on the invoice: "Provision {number}? It adds $X/month to your subscription, charged to your saved card starting now."

Reasons to want a second number: a second location with its own area code, a front desk line separate from a stylist's, or a dedicated number for campaigns.

Extra numbers are an add-on on your subscription, but they are managed here — "Numbers are added and removed from the messaging page." See Your plan and add-ons.

Managing themCopy a link to this section

Messaging → Phone Numbers: "Add numbers, pick your default sender and assign numbers to members."

• Label — name it something you will recognise: "Front desk", "Downtown".
• Default — the sender used when nobody picks one. Set Default moves it. You cannot remove the default while it is the default: "Set another number as the default before removing the default number."
• Members — who may send from this number. "Empty means everyone can send."

At least one number must stay open to everyone, and Perceny enforces it: "At least one number must stay available to everyone so reminders keep sending." Automatic reminders are not sent by a person, so they need a number nobody has fenced off. If you have a single number, its assignment field says "Must stay open to everyone."

Sending as a specific numberCopy a link to this section

In the inbox and the blast composer, Send From picks the identity. Your default carries a Default badge and the last one you used carries Last Used, so a stylist who always sends from their own number does not have to hunt.

Sending as someone else is gated: "You are not allowed to send as someone else." A stylist is not silently able to send from the front desk's number.

Removing a numberCopy a link to this section

Remove Number, and read which confirmation you get:

• Free number: "{number} will no longer appear as a sender, but messages clients send to it will still reach your inbox."
• Paid number: "{number} will no longer appear as a sender and its monthly charge stops at the end of the billing period. You can restore it within 3 months; after that it is permanently released."

That grace period matters. Removed numbers appear under Removed Numbers with a Release Date, and Restore Number brings one back: "{number} will become active again and appear as a sender. If it is an additional number, its monthly charge resumes."

After the release date the number is gone for good, and a number your clients have saved in their phones is worth keeping. If you are unsure, restore it and keep paying the monthly rather than losing it.

Errors you might hitCopy a link to this section

• "This number is already provisioned by another business." — pick another.
• "The number purchase could not be completed and you were not charged. Please try again or choose a different number." — no charge was taken.
• "This business has reached the maximum number of messaging numbers." — contact support if you genuinely need more.
• "Messaging numbers cannot be provisioned right now. Please contact support." — a provider-side problem, not something to retry all afternoon.

Who can do all thisCopy a link to this section

The Manage Phone Numbers permission: "Add, label, assign and remove the business' messaging phone numbers." Numbers cost money and carry your identity — keep this with owners and managers. See Who can message and spend credits.