diff --git a/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py b/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
index 6daf54b55..6276d64cb 100644
--- a/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
+++ b/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
@@ -20,12 +20,7 @@ from app.models import SMS_TYPE, KEY_TYPE_TEST, BRANDING_ORG, EMAIL_TYPE, NOTIFI
 
 def send_sms_to_provider(notification):
     service = notification.service
-    if not service.active:
-        notification.status = NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE
-        dao_update_notification(notification)
-        current_app.logger.warn(
-            "Send sms for notification id {} to provider is not allowed: service {} is inactive".format(notification.id,
-                                                                                                        service.id))
+    if service_is_inactive(service, notification):
         return
 
     if notification.status == 'created':
@@ -69,13 +64,7 @@ def send_sms_to_provider(notification):
 
 def send_email_to_provider(notification):
     service = notification.service
-    if not service.active:
-        notification.status = NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE
-        dao_update_notification(notification)
-        current_app.logger.warn(
-            "Send email for notification id {} to provider is not allowed: service {} is inactive".format(
-                notification.id,
-                service.id))
+    if service_is_inactive(service, notification):
         return
     if notification.status == 'created':
         provider = provider_to_use(EMAIL_TYPE, notification.id)
@@ -199,3 +188,21 @@ def get_html_email_options(service):
         branding = {}
 
     return dict(govuk_banner=govuk_banner, **branding)
+
+
+def service_is_inactive(service, notification):
+    """
+    If service is inactive update the notification to technical failure and return true.
+    :param service:
+    :param notification:
+    :return:
+    """
+    if not service.active:
+        notification.status = NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE
+        dao_update_notification(notification)
+        current_app.logger.warn(
+            "Send {} for notification id {} to provider is not allowed: service {} is inactive".format(
+                notification.notification_type,
+                notification.id,
+                service.id))
+    return not service.active