# Sender IDs

A sender ID is the name a text message appears to come from, such as your organisation's name
instead of a phone number. Diarybook calls these **Branded Sender Ids**. A message sent from one
can't be replied to.

## Why this matters

A message that shows your organisation's name tells the client at a glance who it is from. In some
countries the sender ID is also regulated: in the Republic of Ireland, messages from unregistered
sender IDs are labelled "Likely Scam" and may be blocked.

A sender ID is also what makes one-way messaging possible. Any SMS reminder with replies turned off
has to be sent from one.

## Before you start

- Applying for a sender ID uses a **Settings** screen, so you need **Account Owner**, **Account
  Administrator** or **Change Settings**.
- A sender ID has **3 to 11 characters**, all capital letters from A to Z. No spaces, digits or
  symbols. The form converts what you type to capitals and removes anything else.
- **Republic of Ireland:** register the sender ID with the Commission for Communications Regulation
  (ComReg) **before** applying in Diarybook, and authorise Iflow as a provider on your registration.
  Apply in Diarybook once ComReg has approved it and Iflow is authorised.
- Branded sender IDs aren't available everywhere. If they aren't supported in your country, the
  screen shows **Sender Ids Are Not Supported** and there is nothing to set up.

Apply early. Approval takes time, and reminder settings with replies turned off can't be saved
until an approved sender ID exists. See [Your First Week](/docs/start-here/your-first-week/).

## Applying for a sender ID

1. Go to **Settings**  → **SMS Send IDs**. The screen is titled
   **Branded Sender Ids**.
2. Select **Apply For Sender Id** in the toolbar. If the account has no sender IDs yet, you can
   select **Add New** instead.
3. In the **SMS Alphanumeric Sender ID** form, enter the **Sender ID**.
4. Select **Apply**.

The sender ID appears in the list with the status **Pending**, and a notice says it needs approval.
Approval usually takes up to 48 hours, and you receive an email with the result. The status then
changes to **Approved** or **Rejected**.

## Removing a sender ID

The **Branded Sender Ids** screen has no option to remove a sender ID. To have one removed, the
**Account Owner** asks customer support. Check first that no reminder setting still uses it.

## Where sender IDs are used

Only **Approved** sender IDs are offered anywhere you pick one.

| Where | How the sender ID is chosen |
|-------|-----------------------------|
| [Reminder settings](/docs/reminders/sms-reminders/), SMS | With **Enable Replies** off, choose a **Sender Id**. With replies on, messages come from a Diarybook number instead |
| [Letter By SMS](/docs/reminders/letter-reminders/) | **SMS Sender Id** is always required |
| Sending an SMS by hand | The **Sender ID** list offers **Reply Number** (clients can reply) and each branded sender ID (no replies). Tick **Remember this selection** to make your choice the default next time |
| [ExcelSend](/docs/excelsend/) | Chosen when composing the message |
{.table}

## What to watch for

**The sender ID isn't in the reminder setting's list**
It is still **Pending**, or it was **Rejected**. Only approved sender IDs can be chosen.

**The reminder setting won't save**
With **Enable Replies** off, a sender ID is required. Apply for one, and wait for it to be approved.

**The sender ID came out different from what was typed**
Lower-case letters are converted to capitals, and digits, spaces and symbols are removed. The
form keeps only the first 11 letters.

**Clients reply, and nothing arrives**
Messages from a branded sender ID can't be replied to. If you need confirmations, use a reminder
setting with replies on, or collect them another way. See
[SMS Reminders](/docs/reminders/sms-reminders/).

**Messages fail with status 9132 or 9105**
9132 means the destination network doesn't accept alphanumeric sender IDs. 9105 means the account
has no valid sender IDs. See [SMS Status Codes](/docs/reference/sms-status-codes/).

**Irish recipients see "Likely Scam"**
The sender ID isn't registered with ComReg, or Iflow isn't authorised on the registration.

<!-- NEEDS CAPTURE: relationship between a sender ID and a DiaryPage channel (sender ID + matching
     domain pair) — cross-link to /docs/reminders/diarypage/. -->

## Related

- [SMS Reminders](/docs/reminders/sms-reminders/)
- [How Reminders Work](/docs/reminders/how-reminders-work/)
- [SMS Message Parts](/docs/reference/sms-message-parts/)
- [Your First Week](/docs/start-here/your-first-week/)

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Source: https://diarybook.com/docs/setting-up/sender-ids/