Cannot Reply to Text Message

Samsumg Mantra SPH-M340

My "old fashioned" flip phone is all I need. There was never a logical reason to buy a smartphone.

For many years I did not provide my cell number to any online retailer. Recently, I received a very
real looking (and completely fraudulent) PayPal receipt for an item I did not purchase. To increase
security, I provided my number to eBay and Amazon. eBay will send a text message or call if their
system detects unauthorized activity. Amazon did something very different with my cell number,
and that's the problem.

Amazon has added my cell number to the login procedure. I must respond to their text message
by "tapping a link" to verify it's really me trying to login. (See notification.jpg) I'm locked out of
my account, because my "dumb" flip phone cannot render links. I tried replying with words like
"approve." Doesn't work.

https://i.postimg.cc/W428YXWB/notification.jpg

I've had two lengthy conversations with Amazon customer representatives. They finally concluded
that I should create new account. I'll create a new account if necessary. Is there anything I can do
with my flip phone, that would be the same as tapping a link?

 

That Mantra says it's texts. Is the problem that you don't have text service ?

 

Tapping a link would imply that you have a phone that has a browser and is internet capable. A link takes you to a web page.

The logical reason to have a smartphone is for access to the internet from anywhere you have a cellular signal.

If you are too bull headed to upgrade your phone, find someone you know and trust and change your contact number to their phone number. Maybe a close friend or relative. Then anytime you have to "verify" you will need to call them on your antique flip phone. Then enter the verification code they received on your computer.

 

XSleeper, I have a desktop (built by me) and two laptops. GPS in my SUV and a nice digital
camera. I'm not stubborn or "bull headed." The people I know are addicted to their smartphones
like a drug. I will never join any online lunatic asylum and spend several hours each day tweeting.
I prefer wilderness hikes, scuba diving, and other healthy activities. I've never had any problems
with my flip phone, until I gave Amazon my cell number.

I don't want to shop online, but there is no choice. All the great "brick and mortar" stores are
rapidly failing. Not all change is good.

 

Many ways to address this,

Not sure what you mean by "render" links. If your phone can displays the link (but obviously you can't click on it), just copy it into any browser manually. Many flip phone allow you to forward text messages. Have it forwarded to an available smartphone to verify the code. Log onto Amazon. Eliminate the requirement for two-factor authentication that you agreed to.

If you mean it doesn't display the link correctly then....

Go to your carrier store and ask to get a new sim card for your phone # w/a small data plan. Insert the card into a smartphone that uses your carrier. Log onto Amazon. Eliminate the requirement for two-factor authentication that you agreed to. Get a new sim card to use your flip phone again.

I've never known a major company not to tell you what it is going to do with your phone number in regards to using two-factor authentication. It stated somewhere that you were authorizing it. I wouldn't blame them.

In regards to your

Don't blame the device. I echo your statement above but have a smartphone and use it when I need to. But I control my actions, I don't let the device control me. Are you concerned you do not have the self control necessary to avoid becoming like your "friends"?

 

I think you're pretty much in a pickle here. I'd call Amazon back & see if another representative can help you. If not, ask for a supervisor to get this situation resolved.... OR as you noted, just create another account.
The pickle here is, you're trying to do business in a "high tech" world with a "low tech" life style. I'm not faulting you, but as far as I know, you're just in a pickle.

The problem with creating a new account is, at some point, you're going to be back here at square one when Amazon or another company like your email provider, etc "Requires" you to provide a phone number to receive texts for an alternate way to get into your account incase you forget your password. The compounding word here is "Require" you to provide a number for texts. Then they'll require you to respond to the text to be sure its you, etc, etc...... Again, all the way back to square one.

I dont like it & you dont like it, but its the world we live in and if your gonna go to their house, you gotta play by their rules... just like when they come to your house, they gotta play by your rules.

 

Some telcos offers you to read sms and download the mms to pc instead of using phone. That may be a way around.

You know yourselves better than anyone, but I can tell you that It is possible to have a smartphone with lots apps without using them daily. ... but it is not easy.

 

Sure it is, I have one that pretty much sits on my desk collecting spam calls and texts everyday. I don't use it except for video Dr. visits during this pandemic otherwise it's nothing more than an overpriced brick. I hate using it mainly because of all the ads constantly on the screen and ad blockers I have tried don't help much.

 

Interesting. I have an IPhone I use all the time, and have never seen an ad on the screen and I don't use an ad blocker.

 

The workaround for a flip phone that doesn't have a web browser is to setup a google account for the phone number.

You use a web browser by going to voice.google.com to view and click on text messages.