diff --git a/app/celery/tasks.py b/app/celery/tasks.py
index b3f090127..8f609ed3f 100644
--- a/app/celery/tasks.py
+++ b/app/celery/tasks.py
@@ -203,8 +203,9 @@ def send_sms(service_id, notification_id, encrypted_notification, created_at):
                 )
 
                 client.send_sms(
-                    notification['to'],
-                    template.replaced
+                    to=notification['to'],
+                    content=template.replaced,
+                    notification_id=notification_id
                 )
             except FiretextClientException as e:
                 current_app.logger.exception(e)
diff --git a/app/clients/sms/firetext.py b/app/clients/sms/firetext.py
index 3a71ac048..d10f0f875 100644
--- a/app/clients/sms/firetext.py
+++ b/app/clients/sms/firetext.py
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class FiretextClientException(SmsClientException):
-    pass
+    def __init__(self, response):
+        self.code = response['code']
+        self.description = response['description']
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return "Code {} description {}".format(self.code, self.description)
 
 
 class FiretextClient(SmsClient):
@@ -28,7 +33,7 @@ class FiretextClient(SmsClient):
     def get_name(self):
         return self.name
 
-    def send_sms(self, to, content):
+    def send_sms(self, to, content, notification_id=None):
 
         data = {
             "apiKey": self.api_key,
@@ -37,13 +42,21 @@ class FiretextClient(SmsClient):
             "message": content
         }
 
+        if notification_id:
+            data.update({
+                "reference": notification_id
+            })
+
+        start_time = monotonic()
         try:
-            start_time = monotonic()
             response = request(
                 "POST",
-                "https://www.firetext.co.uk/api/sendsms",
+                "https://www.firetext.co.uk/api/sendsms/json",
                 data=data
             )
+            firetext_response = response.json()
+            if firetext_response['code'] != 0:
+                raise FiretextClientException(firetext_response)
             response.raise_for_status()
         except RequestException as e:
             api_error = HTTPError.create(e)
diff --git a/tests/app/celery/test_tasks.py b/tests/app/celery/test_tasks.py
index bb2a7bb3b..65abc977e 100644
--- a/tests/app/celery/test_tasks.py
+++ b/tests/app/celery/test_tasks.py
@@ -260,7 +260,11 @@ def test_should_send_template_to_correct_sms_provider_and_persist(sample_templat
         now.strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT)
     )
 
-    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with("+441234123123", "Sample service: Hello Jo")
+    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with(
+        to="+441234123123",
+        content="Sample service: Hello Jo",
+        notification_id=notification_id
+    )
     persisted_notification = notifications_dao.get_notification(
         sample_template_with_placeholders.service_id, notification_id
     )
@@ -292,7 +296,11 @@ def test_should_send_sms_without_personalisation(sample_template, mocker):
         now.strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT)
     )
 
-    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with("+441234123123", "Sample service: This is a template")
+    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with(
+        to="+441234123123",
+        content="Sample service: This is a template",
+        notification_id=notification_id
+    )
 
 
 def test_should_send_sms_if_restricted_service_and_valid_number(notify_db, notify_db_session, mocker):
@@ -317,7 +325,11 @@ def test_should_send_sms_if_restricted_service_and_valid_number(notify_db, notif
         now.strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT)
     )
 
-    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with("+441234123123", "Sample service: This is a template")
+    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with(
+        to="+441234123123",
+        content="Sample service: This is a template",
+        notification_id=notification_id
+    )
 
 
 def test_should_not_send_sms_if_restricted_service_and_invalid_number(notify_db, notify_db_session, mocker):
@@ -394,7 +406,11 @@ def test_should_send_template_to_correct_sms_provider_and_persist_with_job_id(sa
         "encrypted-in-reality",
         now.strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT)
     )
-    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with("+441234123123", "Sample service: This is a template")
+    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with(
+        to="+441234123123",
+        content="Sample service: This is a template",
+        notification_id=notification_id
+    )
     persisted_notification = notifications_dao.get_notification(sample_job.template.service_id, notification_id)
     assert persisted_notification.id == notification_id
     assert persisted_notification.to == '+441234123123'
@@ -490,7 +506,10 @@ def test_should_persist_notification_as_failed_if_sms_client_fails(sample_templa
         "encrypted-in-reality",
         now.strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT)
     )
-    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with("+441234123123", "Sample service: This is a template")
+    firetext_client.send_sms.assert_called_once_with(
+        to="+441234123123",
+        content="Sample service: This is a template",
+        notification_id=notification_id)
     persisted_notification = notifications_dao.get_notification(sample_template.service_id, notification_id)
     assert persisted_notification.id == notification_id
     assert persisted_notification.to == '+441234123123'