SIM Card Blocking and Recovery
What to do if your SMS account gets flagged or SIM card is blocked by your carrier. Learn prevention strategies and recovery steps.
Learn what happens if your SMS account gets flagged, how to recover a blocked SIM, and most importantly - how to prevent blocks in the first place.
What happens if my SMS account gets flagged?
If your SMS account gets flagged by your carrier, they may suspend or discontinue your number. However, recovery is often possible, and blocks are preventable with proper practices.
How SIM Blocking Happens
Common Causes of Carrier Blocks
Volume-Based Triggers:
🚫 Sending too many messages too quickly
🚫 Sudden spike in volume from a new number
🚫 Exceeding carrier's fair use policy
🚫 Sending 30+ messages in 30 minutes (Android warning threshold)
Content-Based Triggers:
🚫 Spam-like keywords (FREE, CLICK HERE, LIMITED TIME)
🚫 Links in messages (especially shortened URLs)
🚫 Identical messages to many recipients
🚫 All caps text or excessive punctuation (!!!)
Behavior-Based Triggers:
🚫 High opt-out rate (many "STOP" replies)
🚫 Recipients marking messages as spam
🚫 Low response rate combined with high volume
🚫 Messaging during odd hours (late night/early morning)
Prevention is Key: 90% of SIM blocks can be avoided by following proper warm-up procedures and best practices. Read the prevention section below carefully.
What Happens When SIM Gets Blocked
Immediate Effects
Messaging Stops:
❌ Outgoing SMS fail to send
❌ Messages show "GENERIC_FAILURE" or similar error
❌ WhatSnap dashboard shows failed deliveries
⚠️ Incoming SMS may still work (carrier-dependent)
Account Status:
Your number may show as suspended
Carrier may send notification (SMS or email)
Some carriers block silently without notification
Not Permanent (Usually):
Most blocks are temporary or reversible
Carriers prefer to warn rather than permanently ban
You can usually get number reinstated
Recovery Steps: How to Get Unblocked
Immediate Actions (First 24 Hours)
Stop All Messaging Immediately
Pause all WhatSnap campaigns
In GoHighLevel, deactivate all SMS workflows
Stop any drip campaigns
Don't send any manual messages
Stop the WhatSnap Gateway service
Open WhatSnap Gateway app on Android
Tap the stop button to halt service
Wait before contacting carrier
Don't immediately restart messaging
Gives carrier systems time to reset
Contact Your Carrier
Call customer support (don't use chat or email - call directly)
Be professional and prepared:
Explain: "I use SMS for legitimate business communications through my CRM"
Mention: "My customers have opted in to receive messages"
Ask: "Can you help me understand why my account was restricted?"
Key points to emphasize:
✅ Legitimate business use
✅ CRM messaging to customers
✅ All recipients have opted in
✅ You're committed to following their fair use policy
Request unblock:
Ask: "Can you reinstate my account?"
Ask: "What do I need to do differently going forward?"
Request: Clear guidelines on fair use limits
Document Everything
📝 Note date/time of block
📝 Record customer service rep name and ID
📝 Document carrier's stated reason for block
📝 Note any specific limits they mention
📝 Get confirmation of unblock (if approved)
Why This Matters:
Helps if you need to escalate
Reference for future carrier interactions
Evidence for dispute if needed
Restart Very Slowly (Re-Warm-Up)
Treat the unblocked SIM as a brand new number:
Week 1 After Unblock:
Days 1-3: 10-15 messages/day
Days 4-7: 20-30 messages/day
Week 2 After Unblock:
Days 8-10: 40-60 messages/day
Days 11-14: 75-100 messages/day
Ongoing:
Max 100-150 messages/day (50% of your previous safe limit)
Never exceed 1 message per minute sustained
Monitor deliverability closely
Real-World Example: Successful Recovery
What Happened:
Agency sent 2,000 SMS instantly without drip mode
SIM blocked by carrier within 2 hours
Messages stopped delivering
Recovery Steps:
Stopped all messaging immediately
Called carrier support the next day
Explained legitimate business use and CRM messaging
Apologized for the volume spike
Committed to following gradual send pace
Result:
✅ Number reinstated same day
✅ No permanent damage
✅ Carrier provided specific guidelines (max 250/day, 1/minute)
✅ Implemented proper drip mode going forward
✅ No further issues
Key Lesson:
Carriers are usually willing to work with legitimate businesses
Honest communication and willingness to follow rules goes a long way
One mistake doesn't mean permanent ban
If Carrier Won't Reinstate Your Number
When Unblock Isn't Possible
Reasons carrier may refuse:
Multiple violations/warnings
Severe spam complaints from recipients
Violation of terms of service
High-risk use case for carrier
Your Options
Option 1: Get a New SIM Card
Purchase new SIM from same or different carrier
Use a new phone number
Start fresh with proper warm-up
Cost: $5-30 for new SIM
Option 2: Switch to Different Carrier
Some carriers are more business-friendly
Look for carriers with explicit business use policies
Option 3: Add WhatSnap WhatsApp
WhatsApp doesn't have carrier SMS restrictions
Works alongside or instead of SMS
No number blocking issues
Option 4: Use Twilio for High-Volume
Traditional A2P SMS for high volume
More expensive but no SIM blocking risk
Can use alongside WhatSnap P2P
Prevention: How to Avoid SIM Blocks
Critical: Follow SIM Warm-Up Process
Most Important Prevention: 90% of SIM blocks occur because users skip or rush the warm-up process. Always warm up new SIMs gradually.
Proper Warm-Up Schedule:
Week 1:
Days 1-3: 10-20 msgs/day, 1 msg every 5-10 minutes
Days 4-7: 30-50 msgs/day, 1 msg every 2-3 minutes
Week 2:
Days 8-14: 75-150 msgs/day, 1 msg every 1-2 minutes
Ongoing:
Max 100-250 msgs/day (carrier-dependent)
Never faster than 1 msg per minute sustained
See: Complete SIM Warm-Up Guide
Message Quality Best Practices
Content Guidelines:
✅ Personalize heavily: {{first_name}}, reference past interactions
✅ Vary your messages: Don't send identical texts
✅ Avoid spam triggers: No "FREE", "CLICK NOW", "LIMITED TIME"
✅ No links initially: Especially in first message to new contacts
✅ Conversational tone: Write like a human, not a marketer
❌ No ALL CAPS: Looks like spam
❌ No excessive punctuation: Avoid !!!, ???
Example - Bad (Spam-like):
FREE OFFER!!! Click here NOW: bit.ly/xxxxx
Limited time only! Text STOP to opt out.Example - Good (Natural):
Hey {{first_name}}, hope you're doing well!
Quick question - are you still looking for help
with {{service}}? We've got some new solutions
that might be perfect for you.Volume Management
Stay Within Limits:
Check your carrier's fair use policy
Most carriers: 100-250 msgs/day is safe
Business plans: Often higher limits
Add more SIMs/devices to scale volume
Use Proper Drip Mode:
Configure GHL workflows with delays
Randomize send times (not batch sends)
Spread messages throughout business hours
Never send all at once
Timing Best Practices
When to Send:
✅ 9 AM - 7 PM recipient's local time
✅ Business hours (weekdays)
✅ Avoid late night (after 9 PM)
✅ Avoid early morning (before 8 AM)
✅ Consider time zones for multi-region campaigns
Compliance & Opt-Outs
Honor Opt-Outs Immediately:
Automatic DND on "STOP" reply (WhatSnap includes this)
Remove from all campaigns instantly
Keep records of opt-outs
Never message opted-out contacts
Verify Consent:
Only message contacts who opted in
Keep records of how/when they opted in
Don't buy or use purchased lists
Re-confirm old leads (2+ years dormant)
Multi-SIM Strategy for Risk Mitigation
Why Multiple SIMs Help
Distribute Risk:
If one SIM gets blocked, others keep running
Don't put all messaging on single number
Easier to manage lower volume per SIM
Stay Within Limits:
Each SIM handles 100-150 msgs/day safely
5 SIMs = 500-750 msgs/day capacity
Less stress on each individual SIM
Better long-term sustainability
Setup:
Connect multiple Android devices to WhatSnap
Use GHL workflows to distribute contacts
Monitor each SIM independently
Different carriers for redundancy (optional)
See: Multiple SMS Accounts Guide
Monitoring for Early Warning Signs
Watch for These Red Flags
Delivery Issues:
⚠️ Delivery rate drops below 95%
⚠️ Messages failing with GENERIC_FAILURE errors
⚠️ Longer than normal delivery times
Recipient Behavior:
⚠️ Higher than usual opt-out rate (>2%)
⚠️ Low response rate (<5% for good campaigns)
⚠️ Complaints from recipients
Carrier Warnings:
⚠️ SMS from carrier about usage
⚠️ Warning messages on bill
⚠️ Account notifications or emails
Action if You See Warning Signs:
Immediately reduce volume by 50%
Improve message quality and personalization
Check for spam-like content
Verify you're following drip mode
Contact carrier proactively to confirm standing
Summary: Block Prevention Checklist
Setup & Configuration:
Message Quality:
Volume Management:
Compliance:
Monitoring:
Related Resources
Database Reactivations - SIM Warm-Up
Avoiding Carrier Blocks
Got blocked or concerned about prevention? Contact support at support@whatsnap.ai for personalized guidance and recovery assistance.
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