We have better defined what is a "Quick SMS" by listing below the SMS that are free "Free SMS" and therefore included within free bundles. The details below also set out all the information you will need to understand the "fair usage" policy and charging of SMS

Surgery Connect SMS character count/limits vary per feature and can range from 160-450, depending on where the SMS is being generated from

Please check the SMS character count display which can be found at the bottom of all SMS feature windows

The original "fair usage" policy was undefined so we have set this at 5,000 SMS segments per month

* It should be noted here that no customer has come anywhere near this level of usage and hence no customer has been charged for exceeding fair usage

If that threshold is exceeded they will be charged at 2.19* pence per SMS segment

We will monitor the SMS threshold and we will contact you to advise you and identify ways to help if the threshold is exceeded

The following SMS features will be charged by segment and will have the 2.19* pence charge applied to them

These SMS are not within the definition of "Quick SMS"

For example; sending an SMS from a call flow (using the X-flow SMS block) can result in a customer using tens of thousands of SMS, since every patient who calls in on a mobile can receive several SMS segments

We want you to continue using our SMS features and have taken the decision to reduce the charge and only pass on the SMS NHS cost price of 2.19* pence per SMS segment

This is subject to change, see pricing table below

You can keep track of possible charges by using our SMS Overview Report

The larger character count messages can be split into 3 segments. On chargeable SMS you will be charged for each segment used. If you use your full character limit this would be 3 SMS segments