FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Q. What is Nixle?

 

A. Nixle is a community information service that alerts you to emergencies as well as important community information via cell phone texts, email and the web. The Guiderland Police provide these alerts through Nixle. Alerts are also published on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Q. How much does it cost?

 

A: Nixle is Free. It is important to note however standard text messaging rates may apply by your phone carrier. Most data plans include unlimited texting and if this is true for you then you will not be charged additionally by your phone carrier. If you are limited to the number of texts you receive each month you may wish to only sign up for email alerts and notifications.

 

Q. What type of alerts and notifications are there?

 

A.  There are three types of notifications:

• Alerts - Emergency type alert usually life threatening.

• Advisories - Time-sensitive and non-time-sensitive important neighborhood to community level information.

• Community information - Day-to-day, neighborhood to community-level information usually non-time-sensitive.

 

Alerts & Advisories are sent via text and email. Community information is sent by email only. You can further customize how alerts are delivered by logging into your Nixle account.

 

Q. How many SMS (text) messages will I receive in a month?

 

A. This will vary depending on the number of notifications published. The service is simple to change SMS (text) and email options by logging into your account and adjusting how you want to receive notifications.

 

Q. How do I customize who I receive alerts from and how they are delivered?

 

A. Simply log into your Nixle account and use the "Settings" tab to configure how messages are delivered and what agencies you wish subscribed to.

 

Q. I keep getting alerts while I am sleeping. Is there anything I can do about this without unsubscribing?

 

A. Yes, log into your Nixle account and customize what time you do not wish to receive alerts.

 

Q. How do I send the keyword ALERTMEGPD to 888777 to sign up?

 

A. Compose a new text message. In the To: field type 888777. Type ALERTMEGPD (not case sensitive, but all one word) into the message field and send. You will receive a confirmation you are signed up.

 

Q. I am a Sprint user and get a “Message Failed” response when I register using the 888777 shortcode. Why is that?

 

A. Sprint often disables access to all short codes (5 and 6 digit phone numbers) from their handsets. If you are a Sprint customer, and you receive a message such as “Message Failed. Shortcode may have expired or shortcode texting may be disabled,” you may need to contact Sprint to enable your phone to send and receive messages from short codes. Nixle uses the 888777 short code to send you timely messages. You may contact Sprint by dialing *2 on your cell phone or visiting www.sprint.com.

 

Q. I am a T-Mobile user and get a “Access denied” response when I register using the 888777 shortcode. Why is that?

 

A. T-Mobile often disables access to all short codes (5 and 6 digit phone numbers) from their handsets. If you are a T-Mobile customer, and you receive a message such as “Message Failed. Shortcode may have expired or shortcode texting may be disabled,” you may need to contact T-Mobile to enable your phone to send and receive messages from short codes. Nixle uses the 888777 short code to send you timely messages. You may contact T-Mobile by dialing 611 on your cell phone or visiting www.tmobile.com.

 

Q. Can anyone track my location by using Nixle?

 

A. No, Nixle does not track users.

 

Q. Is my contact information private? Will I be contacted by third parties?

 

A. Yes, your information is private. Information shared by users with Nixle is stored on a secure server in a secure facility. The company does not sell personal information to third parties. The privacy of your personal information is extremely important to Nixle. See Nixle’s privacy policy for more information.

 

Q. What if I forgot my password?  

 

A. On the web request to retrieve your password and enter your email address or phone number and a new password will be sent to you immediately. If you receive messages from Nixle by phone, text PASSWORD to 888777, and Nixle willl text you your new password.

 

Q. How do I unsubscribe?

 

A. Before unsubscribing consider logging into your Nixle account and adjust the agencies you are subscribed to and the how you receive the messages . To do this login and click "Settings".  You also have the option to eliminate all SMS messages under the "account" tab should you wish to completely unsubscribe. If opted in to texts only you may also text STOP to 888777 to unsubscribe.

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