Distill uses Twilio’s messaging API to send SMS alerts when a change is detected. An SMS alert’s template is:
Alert: <monitor_name>: <monitor_link>
So users get alert with monitor’s details in the alert. A few hours ago we received a notice from Twilio that some of the alerts sent have been flagged to contain forbidden content and the messaging service has been suspended without any prior notice. This is because of a message from user containing text/url that is not allowed by Twilio. We are working with them to restore SMS service as soon as possible. The expected ETA is unknown right now.
Workaround for our customers is to use alternate channels to get notifications on phone. Mobile push notifications using Distill’s mobile app is a good alternative to get change alerts on the phone. Get them for your phone from https://distill.io/apps/web-monitor/.
Some users use Discord alerts to get them on the phone.
Our sincere apologies for this disruption. We are working hard to resolve this asap. We will continue to share updates here as things progress.
I am a bit upset as I am paying for this service and now I don’t receive texts. I have not changed any option and even when I try and read the phone I don’t even get a verify text when I send it. Even tried my husband phone and he doesn’t get a text either. I don’t use this much so I honestly do it for an update here and there but it’s not working. Neither phone. I did get push notif just not a phone message. Why does a phone not work
Did you suspend the user? What was the link? Why don’t you post which links are prohibited so this won’t happen again? I’m a little lost as to why, because of a single user, the whole list of clients is impacted now.
yes, the sms sending capability has been disabled for the flagged account. there are potentially other users too that could be sending messages with forbidden content. we are building a way to block such messages automatically so that this problem doesn’t happen again in the future.
we are awaiting confirmation from twilio for clarifications about their policy that is taking some more time. we expect to start the rollout today and sms delivery should resume soon afterwards.
Hello. What do you mean with “messages sent to usa needs approval from twilio”? Won’t it be instantly, meaning that there will be a delay from the moment of the change on the website being monitored until the sms being sent or what? Thanks!
I’m having a 12 min delay since there’s a change on my monitors until I receive the SMS notification . Is this gonna be like that from now on? That’s too much for a delay
it is now done. messages are now being sent to the usa too.
not in general. we were awaiting verification and approval from twilio for sending messages to the us.
when receiving a message specific to a site for the first time after the resumption, distill will take some time to categorize and moderate domain and its content. this can take 2 to 20 minutes. once the domain and its content has been categorized, the result is cached. subsequent messages will be sent instantly.
. Is this gonna be like that from now on? That’s too much for a delay 