diff --git a/app/dao/services_dao.py b/app/dao/services_dao.py
index 3dd3ae933..ac28eaabe 100644
--- a/app/dao/services_dao.py
+++ b/app/dao/services_dao.py
@@ -273,7 +273,6 @@ def dao_create_service(
     user,
     service_id=None,
     service_permissions=None,
-    create_default_sms_sender=False,
 ):
     if not user:
         raise ValueError("Can't create a service without a user")
@@ -298,11 +297,8 @@ def dao_create_service(
         )
         service.permissions.append(service_permission)
 
-    # We are removing an sms default sender from being added to each
-    # service as it is created, but we will pass a default flag
-    # because some tests need a default number.
-    if create_default_sms_sender:
-        insert_service_sms_sender(service, current_app.config["FROM_NUMBER"])
+    # do we just add the default - or will we get a value from FE?
+    insert_service_sms_sender(service, current_app.config["FROM_NUMBER"])
 
     if organization:
         service.organization_id = organization.id
diff --git a/app/service/rest.py b/app/service/rest.py
index b05763c3f..9a833eaab 100644
--- a/app/service/rest.py
+++ b/app/service/rest.py
@@ -227,16 +227,8 @@ def create_service():
     # unpack valid json into service object
     valid_service = Service.from_json(data)
 
-    # Grabbing flag from request object for default SMS sender.
-    # This will only be true in our tests now; the value will default to false in normal app usage.
-    create_default_sms_sender = bool(
-        request.args.get("create_default_sms_sender", False)
-    )
-
     with transaction():
-        dao_create_service(
-            valid_service, user, create_default_sms_sender=create_default_sms_sender
-        )
+        dao_create_service(valid_service, user)
         set_default_free_allowance_for_service(service=valid_service, year_start=None)
 
     return jsonify(data=service_schema.dump(valid_service)), 201
diff --git a/tests/app/conftest.py b/tests/app/conftest.py
index ec31f19c8..55828ed35 100644
--- a/tests/app/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/app/conftest.py
@@ -219,12 +219,7 @@ def sample_service(sample_user):
     service = Service.query.filter_by(name=service_name).first()
     if not service:
         service = Service(**data)
-        dao_create_service(
-            service,
-            sample_user,
-            service_permissions=None,
-            create_default_sms_sender=True,
-        )
+        dao_create_service(service, sample_user, service_permissions=None)
     else:
         if sample_user not in service.users:
             dao_add_user_to_service(service, sample_user)
@@ -246,9 +241,7 @@ def _sample_service_full_permissions(notify_db_session):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
 def sample_template(sample_user):
     service = create_service(
-        service_permissions=[EMAIL_TYPE, SMS_TYPE],
-        check_if_service_exists=True,
-        create_default_sms_sender=True,
+        service_permissions=[EMAIL_TYPE, SMS_TYPE], check_if_service_exists=True
     )
 
     data = {
@@ -805,7 +798,6 @@ def notify_service(notify_db_session, sample_user):
             service=service,
             service_id=current_app.config["NOTIFY_SERVICE_ID"],
             user=sample_user,
-            create_default_sms_sender=True,
         )
 
         data = {
diff --git a/tests/app/db.py b/tests/app/db.py
index e6adec973..63d7720bc 100644
--- a/tests/app/db.py
+++ b/tests/app/db.py
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ def create_service(
     billing_contact_names=None,
     billing_contact_email_addresses=None,
     billing_reference=None,
-    create_default_sms_sender=True,
 ):
     if check_if_service_exists:
         service = Service.query.filter_by(name=service_name).first()
@@ -150,7 +149,6 @@ def create_service(
             service.created_by,
             service_id,
             service_permissions=service_permissions,
-            create_default_sms_sender=create_default_sms_sender,
         )
 
         service.active = active
diff --git a/tests/app/service/test_rest.py b/tests/app/service/test_rest.py
index f831c2424..9cf0829ea 100644
--- a/tests/app/service/test_rest.py
+++ b/tests/app/service/test_rest.py
@@ -380,13 +380,8 @@ def test_create_service(
         "created_by": str(sample_user.id),
     }
 
-    create_default_sms_sender = True
-
     json_resp = admin_request.post(
-        "service.create_service",
-        _data=data,
-        _expected_status=201,
-        create_default_sms_sender=create_default_sms_sender,
+        "service.create_service", _data=data, _expected_status=201
     )
 
     assert json_resp["data"]["id"]
@@ -404,6 +399,7 @@ def test_create_service(
     )
 
     assert json_resp["data"]["name"] == "created service"
+
     service_sms_senders = ServiceSmsSender.query.filter_by(
         service_id=service_db.id
     ).all()