diff --git a/app/celery/research_mode_tasks.py b/app/celery/research_mode_tasks.py
index 7ca2b9cc4..dd1f2545d 100644
--- a/app/celery/research_mode_tasks.py
+++ b/app/celery/research_mode_tasks.py
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ from requests import request, RequestException, HTTPError
 
 from app.models import SMS_TYPE
 
-temp_fail = "07700900003"
-perm_fail = "07700900002"
-delivered = "07700900001"
+temp_fail = "7700900003"
+perm_fail = "7700900002"
+delivered = "7700900001"
 
 delivered_email = "delivered@simulator.notify"
 perm_fail_email = "perm-fail@simulator.notify"
@@ -23,6 +23,17 @@ def send_sms_response(provider, reference, to):
     else:
         headers = {"Content-type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"}
         body = firetext_callback(reference, to)
+        # to simulate getting a temporary_failure from firetext
+        # we need to send a pending status updated then a permanent-failure
+        if body['status'] == '2':  # pending status
+            make_request(SMS_TYPE, provider, body, headers)
+            # 1 is a declined status for firetext, will result in a temp-failure
+            body = {'mobile': to,
+                    'status': "1",
+                    'time': '2016-03-10 14:17:00',
+                    'reference': reference
+                    }
+
     make_request(SMS_TYPE, provider, body, headers)
 
 
@@ -71,9 +82,9 @@ def mmg_callback(notification_id, to):
         status: 5 - rejected (perm failure)
     """
 
-    if to == temp_fail:
+    if to.strip().endswith(temp_fail):
         status = "4"
-    elif to == perm_fail:
+    elif to.strip().endswith(perm_fail):
         status = "5"
     else:
         status = "3"
@@ -90,8 +101,10 @@ def firetext_callback(notification_id, to):
         status: 0 - delivered
         status: 1 - perm failure
     """
-    if to == perm_fail:
+    if to.strip().endswith(perm_fail):
         status = "1"
+    elif to.strip().endswith(temp_fail):
+        status = "2"
     else:
         status = "0"
     return {
diff --git a/tests/app/celery/test_research_mode_tasks.py b/tests/app/celery/test_research_mode_tasks.py
index 753fd3819..b56de3bb4 100644
--- a/tests/app/celery/test_research_mode_tasks.py
+++ b/tests/app/celery/test_research_mode_tasks.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import pytest
 from flask import json
 from app.celery.research_mode_tasks import (
     send_sms_response,
@@ -24,18 +25,21 @@ def test_make_mmg_callback(notify_api, rmock):
     assert json.loads(rmock.request_history[0].text)['MSISDN'] == '07700900001'
 
 
-def test_make_firetext_callback(notify_api, rmock):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("phone_number",
+                         ["07700900001", "07700900002", "07700900003",
+                          "07700900236"])
+def test_make_firetext_callback(notify_api, rmock, phone_number):
     endpoint = "http://localhost:6011/notifications/sms/firetext"
     rmock.request(
         "POST",
         endpoint,
         json="some data",
         status_code=200)
-    send_sms_response("firetext", "1234", "07700900001")
+    send_sms_response("firetext", "1234", phone_number)
 
     assert rmock.called
     assert rmock.request_history[0].url == endpoint
-    assert 'mobile=07700900001' in rmock.request_history[0].text
+    assert 'mobile={}'.format(phone_number) in rmock.request_history[0].text
 
 
 def test_make_ses_callback(notify_api, rmock):
@@ -50,42 +54,49 @@ def test_make_ses_callback(notify_api, rmock):
     assert rmock.called
 
 
-def test_delivered_mmg_callback():
-    data = json.loads(mmg_callback("1234", "07700900001"))
-    assert data['MSISDN'] == "07700900001"
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("phone_number", ["07700900001", "+447700900001", "7700900001", "+44 7700900001",
+                                          "+447700900236"])
+def test_delivered_mmg_callback(phone_number):
+    data = json.loads(mmg_callback("1234", phone_number))
+    assert data['MSISDN'] == phone_number
     assert data['status'] == "3"
     assert data['reference'] == "mmg_reference"
     assert data['CID'] == "1234"
 
 
-def test_perm_failure_mmg_callback():
-    data = json.loads(mmg_callback("1234", "07700900002"))
-    assert data['MSISDN'] == "07700900002"
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("phone_number", ["07700900002", "+447700900002", "7700900002", "+44 7700900002"])
+def test_perm_failure_mmg_callback(phone_number):
+    data = json.loads(mmg_callback("1234", phone_number))
+    assert data['MSISDN'] == phone_number
     assert data['status'] == "5"
     assert data['reference'] == "mmg_reference"
     assert data['CID'] == "1234"
 
 
-def test_temp_failure_mmg_callback():
-    data = json.loads(mmg_callback("1234", "07700900003"))
-    assert data['MSISDN'] == "07700900003"
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("phone_number", ["07700900003", "+447700900003", "7700900003", "+44 7700900003"])
+def test_temp_failure_mmg_callback(phone_number):
+    data = json.loads(mmg_callback("1234", phone_number))
+    assert data['MSISDN'] == phone_number
     assert data['status'] == "4"
     assert data['reference'] == "mmg_reference"
     assert data['CID'] == "1234"
 
 
-def test_delivered_firetext_callback():
-    assert firetext_callback('1234', '07700900001') == {
-        'mobile': '07700900001',
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("phone_number", ["07700900001", "+447700900001", "7700900001", "+44 7700900001",
+                                          "+447700900256"])
+def test_delivered_firetext_callback(phone_number):
+    assert firetext_callback('1234', phone_number) == {
+        'mobile': phone_number,
         'status': '0',
         'time': '2016-03-10 14:17:00',
         'reference': '1234'
     }
 
 
-def test_failure_firetext_callback():
-    assert firetext_callback('1234', '07700900002') == {
-        'mobile': '07700900002',
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("phone_number", ["07700900002", "+447700900002", "7700900002", "+44 7700900002"])
+def test_failure_firetext_callback(phone_number):
+    assert firetext_callback('1234', phone_number) == {
+        'mobile': phone_number,
         'status': '1',
         'time': '2016-03-10 14:17:00',
         'reference': '1234'