Problems receiving verification / 2FA codes

A verification or 2FA (2-Factor Authentication) code is the text message that you may be sent to prove that you have access to the phone number used to sign up for a service.

For example, services like Uber, Instagram, Twitter, PayPal, Google, banks, etc. may send verification codes.

Chalkboard numbers are known as virtual or VoIP numbers, and aren't necessarily tied to a particular phone handset. Many services don't allow virtual phone numbers to be used during the verification process.

Often, this will simply mean that although the service will tell you to expect a verification code, they will just not send it. Sometimes, they will explain that they are not able to send the code.

Because virtual numbers are much easier to acquire, and work across multiple devices, they are seen as a less reliable way of securing or verifying an account.

It's important to note that this is not a Chalkboard specific problem. If a service does not support verification with virtual numbers, it's likely that you won't be able to sign up to that service with anything other than a phone number issued to a physical phone handset.

Unfortunately, it's not something that's within the control of virtual number providers like Chalkboard, and sometimes not within your control either.

The best approach is not to use your Chalkboard phone number for signing up for services, and instead use the 'real' or linked phone number behind your Chalkboard account instead.

If that isn't possible, there are some things you can try:

• Contact the service that you want to register with. If they can see that you have a genuine reason to use your Chalkboard phone number with their service, they can often whitelist the number so it can be used.
• Sometimes services offer a second/backup option to receive a call with a verification code instead of a text message. In some cases, this may work where the text message fails.