Texts to confirm appointment

retro:electro

So annoying! Grr! I've made my appointment, why do I need to respond to a text to now confirm my appointment that I initially made? Piss off.
Is this just a way for the company to make money? I doubt if you didn't reply that they'd cancel your appointment. Would they?

Barry Badrinath

Is it trivially annoying you?

livedadream

anna080 wrote: »

So annoying! Grr! I've made my appointment, why do I need to respond to a text to now confirm my appointment that I initially made? Piss off.
Is this just a way for the company to make money? I doubt if you didn't reply that they'd cancel your appointment. Would they?

its a way of making sure your still coming...
people forget to show up, sometimes people just flat out dont turn up and dont bother to contact a company...
its rude and costs them money.
get over it dude. there are bigger things to care about.

retro:electro

livedadream wrote: »

its a way of making sure your still coming...
people forget to show up, sometimes people just flat out dont turn up and dont bother to contact a company...
its rude and costs them money.
get over it dude. there are bigger things to care about.

More important than this, never :pac: But in my case I made my appointment an hour ago and just got a text to confirm my appointment which is not for a week. Plenty of time for me to decide I'm not going between now and then.
So are you saying they'd cancel it if I didn't text back, even though I just made it?

It is to make you actively think about the appointment closer to the time.

It cuts down on no shows.

Boom_Bap

Did you respond to the text?

retro:electro

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Did you respond to the text?

Not yet, just made the appointment an hour ago

Boom_Bap

anna080 wrote: »

Not yet, just made the appointment an hour ago

are you going to risk not responding and seeing if the appointment gets cancelled.

That would be badas$.

Lorelli!

I got an appointment text for the hairdressers a while ago and I didn't even make an appointment with them! I still went :pac:

The_Valeyard

I like those texts, otherwise Id forgot with all that's going on.

Boom_Bap

The_Valeyard wrote: »

I like those texts, otherwise Id forgot with all that's going on.

I think they also can be added automatically to your calender on your phone so that you get reminders.

biko

It's often an automated system to make sure you remember to show up.

Ah here. I bet it's just an automated text that's sent after appointments are made.

Respond or don't respond.

alchemist33

You only need to respond if it says you need to. Otherwise it's a reference for you if you forget the date/time.

Vela

It works. I got two this past week that basically guilted me into cancelling an appointment ahead of time - otherwise I'd have kept saying 'ah I'll do it later' until the day beforehand! They do work, and sure what's the harm?

carrieb

I LOVE them texts! I get annoyed if I don't get a reminder text! (Not the day I made it though, the day before is great)

Vela

Vela wrote: »

It works. I got two this past week that basically guilted me into cancelling an appointment ahead of time - otherwise I'd have kept saying 'ah I'll do it later' until the day beforehand! They do work, and sure what's the harm?

It's really crap to not cancel if that's what you want to do. Even if I can't make the hairdresser I'll ring to let then know. It's just a bit of respect for other people's time.

retro:electro

Ha! Clearly I'm the only person this annoys, back in me box :pac:

Winterlong

anna080 wrote: »

Ha! Clearly I'm the only person this annoys, back in me box :pac:

I think most people dont mind getting the text reminders. But to be fair being told to respond to the text is a bit unusual.

uck51js9zml2yt

Don't respond and your appointment will probably be cancelled.

ballsymchugh

we used those text messages at work. funnily enough, we had more shows when we used them so now we just call people the day before to remind them.

usually, there's a 'Reply with OK if you are still going to attend' but for some reason people reply with 'thanks' and 'grand'

super_furry

Those alerts are great. Saves you forgetting.

Cupcake_Crisis

We send them out to all our clients. I work in a really busy salon so if you're planning on not showing up to a 45 minute appointment and not letting us know, we can just cancel appointment and fill it with someone else!

retro:electro

Cupcake_Crisis wrote: »

We send them out to all our clients. I work in a really busy salon so if you're planning on not showing up to a 45 minute appointment and not letting us know, we can just cancel appointment and fill it with someone else!

So if the text is not responded to then the appointment is cancelled?

Cupcake_Crisis

anna080 wrote: »

So if the text is not responded to then the appointment is cancelled?

We send a text, if that's not responded to we call them the day before. If they don't answer we leave a message saying that if the appointment isnt confirmed by close of business the appointment will be cancelled.

Of course you go through all that, the client confirms and then STILL doesn't show up!

PARlance

Reminder: Don't forget to confirm your appointment OP.

Vela

Deleted User wrote: »

It's really crap to not cancel if that's what you want to do. Even if I can't make the hairdresser I'll ring to let then know. It's just a bit of respect for other people's time.

I know that - hence why I like getting the texts as a reminder! Some of the time I'm not sure if I'll have to cancel, so they give me a kick up the arse to decide

Jack the Stripper

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Is it trivially annoying you?

Glenster

If its an appointment that you paid for then its out of order, tell them to stop or you'll never come back.

If its an appointment that I pay for as a taxpayer, they should be allowed to do whatever they want to make sure you don't waste my money.

retro:electro

Glenster wrote: »

If its an appointment that you paid for then its out of order, tell them to stop or you'll never come back.

If its an appointment that I pay for as a taxpayer, they should be allowed to do whatever they want to make sure you don't waste my money.

An appointment I will be paying for yes. Normally I wouldn't care and can see the handiness of them, it's just getting one asking to text back and confirm an hour after ringing to make the appointment seems a bit cheeky.
Anyway I text back to confirm just incase. Was just wondering would it be cancelled if I didn't.

Bredabe

anna080 wrote: »

Ha! Clearly I'm the only person this annoys, back in me box :pac:

I hate them as well, am a grown up and well used to having to remember stuff! its a bit insulting(tho I completely understand from the other side) implies that I cant run my life. As for a txt an hour after making the app that's a week away! IF im that forgetful, I'll delete the txt in the meantime and forget it ever existed. If the service wasn't free to the business, I would demand they not do it.

DoozerT6

I'm sure this system is in place to try and stop the scourge of people forgetting/not turning up for appointments they've made.

Did the text message actually tell you to text back to confirm, or was it just a reminder?

Generally these texts are sent out closer to the time of your appointment, like two or three days beforehand, just to remind you. I think it's a great system myself.

YFlyer

It can be somewhat awkward if you are in Tenerife and the Social Welfare sends a text 'to sign' the next day.

I guess you can say the phone battery was dead.

ToddyDoody

Texts may not be suitable for older customers used to a phone call?

(is that ageist?)

Corruptedmorals

I haven't heard of having to respond to reminder texts. They are brilliant for public hospital appointments, often made a year in advance and the text goes out a few days before. The text states the appointment details, tells them it's an automated text and gives the number if they need to cancel. Many people checking in praise it and when an older person with no mobile is checking in we try to get the number of one of their children etc. for it, it definitely has a huge impact on the amount of people who don't attend with no notice given.

retro:electro

Corruptedmorals wrote: »

I haven't heard of having to respond to reminder texts. They are brilliant for public hospital appointments, often made a year in advance and the text goes out a few days before. The text states the appointment details, tells them it's an automated text and gives the number if they need to cancel. Many people checking in praise it and when an older person with no mobile is checking in we try to get the number of one of their children etc. for it, it definitely has a huge impact on the amount of people who don't attend with no notice given.

Never thought of it in that scenario. Yes that's very handy to be fair

No shows are a huge cost for our public hospitals and given the people missing the appointments didn't bother cancelling to allow some more needy person the slot there should be a strong financial penalty on all people who treat our scarce hospital resources like this.

This text is a good idea for all the airheads and eejits who haven't the wit, never mind the civic consciousness, to see the bigger picture.

retro:electro

[Deleted User] wrote: »

No shows are a huge cost for our public hospitals and given the people missing the appointments didn't bother cancelling to allow some more needy person the slot there should be a strong financial penalty on all people who treat our scarce hospital resources like this.

This text is a good idea for all the airheads and eejits who haven't the wit, never mind the civic consciousness, to see the bigger picture.

For that system where consulant apps are made months/year in advance of course it's an amazing idea! However I'm specifically talking about making an appointment today at 12pm and then got a text at 1pm to confirm my presence for next Friday! Bit mad like

Corruptedmorals

[Deleted User] wrote: »

No shows are a huge cost for our public hospitals and given the people missing the appointments didn't bother cancelling to allow some more needy person the slot there should be a strong financial penalty on all people who treat our scarce hospital resources like this.

There is a penalty which has gotten much less lenient over the years, not financial though. If you DNA (did not attend) your first appointment, they discharge you from the clinic with a letter telling your GP why. Existing patients are allowed two DNA's. After that you need your doctor to write a pleading letter to allow you back on to the waiting list. That is HSE-wide policy.

Anna, yeah there should be better timing than that. 2 days before makes more sense.