Choosing a bulk SMS provider looks easy until a message to 2,000 parents fails on the morning fees are due. Prices are close, so the real difference is in what happens when things go wrong. Use these eight checks before you pay anyone, including us.

1. Do you only pay for messages that were sent?

Ask what happens to credits when a message fails or a number is invalid. A good provider returns those credits automatically and shows it in your report. On Yoola SMS, failed recipients are credited back and numbers in the wrong format are rejected before any charge.

2. Can you see real delivery numbers?

A provider should show sent and failed counts per campaign, not just a "message submitted" screen. Look for a delivery report you can print or share with your manager or board.

3. Is there a public status page?

Platforms go down sometimes. What matters is whether the provider tells you. A public status page with uptime history and incident notes shows they have nothing to hide. Ours is at status.yoolasms.com.

4. Do you get a receipt every time you pay?

You need a record for your accounts. Check that you receive a receipt after every top-up, by email, with an amount, date and reference. For bigger amounts, ask whether the provider can issue an invoice and accept bank transfer.

5. Can you use your own sender ID?

Recipients trust a school or business name more than a number. Ask how sender ID registration works, how long approval takes and what it costs. Start on a shared sender while you wait, so you can send on day one.

6. Are the rates clear, with no expiry games?

Look for a published price list by volume and credits that do not expire. Beware of "cheap" bundles that expire in 30 days. Compare the cost per SMS at the volume you really send.

7. Does it protect your name from abuse?

A provider that lets anyone send scam messages puts every customer's delivery at risk. Ask whether messages are screened and whether accounts can be suspended for abuse.

8. Can you reach a real person?

When a campaign is time-critical, you need an answer in minutes. Test it: send a question on WhatsApp or email before you buy and see how fast and how clearly they respond.

How Yoola SMS scores on these checks

Do not take our word for it. Create a free account, send a few test messages and check each item yourself. Questions? WhatsApp us on +256 704 487 563.