---
title: "Private replies say \"Waiting to accept\""
url: https://www.mentbot.com/help/waiting-to-accept
description: "The private reply was sent. It waits in the person's message requests until they open it. Mentbot can't change that, but your public reply can point them there."
updated: 2026-10-20
related:
  - https://www.mentbot.com/help/private-reply-to-commenters
  - https://www.mentbot.com/help/facebook-blocking-replies
---

# Private replies say "Waiting to accept"

Nothing is wrong. The message was sent, but a Page's first message to someone lands in their *message requests*, not their chats. Mentbot shows this note under every private reply it sends, because it can't see whether they've opened it.

## It's in their message requests {#message-requests}

Messenger keeps messages from people and businesses someone hasn't talked to in **Message requests**. A private reply is usually your Page's first message to that person, so it lands there. If they've messaged your Page before, it goes straight to their chats.

How to tell: the comment shows the private reply with a note that it's waiting for them to accept.

1. Open the comment in [Comments](https://app.mentbot.com/dashboard/comments). The note sits under the message Mentbot sent.

   ![Comment detail with badge 1 on the note under the Messenger reply, saying it's waiting for Mintra to accept](https://www.mentbot.com/help/img/waiting-to-accept/waiting-in-mentbot.webp "Sent. It reaches them when they open their message requests.")

2. If someone asks where the message is, send them to [Where they find it](#where-they-find-it).
3. Tell everyone up front: [Point commenters to their requests](#point-to-requests).

The note stays even after they read or answer it. Their answer arrives in your Page's inbox on Facebook and in Mentbot's **Unread inbox**.

## Where they find it {#where-they-find-it}

What the person who commented does:

1. In Messenger, open the menu and tap **Message requests**. On a computer, open Messenger on Facebook and go to message requests from its menu.
2. Look under **You may know**. If the message isn't there, look under **Spam**.

   ![Facebook message requests with badge 1 on the Requests heading and badge 2 on Bella Fashion Shop's message in the You may know list](https://www.mentbot.com/help/img/waiting-to-accept/message-requests.webp "Where a Page's first message waits. Recreated Facebook screen.")

3. Open the message. Opening it doesn't tell your Page. Replying or tapping **Accept** moves it to their chats.

## Mentbot can't move it to their chats {#cant-change}

Facebook decides where a Page's message lands, for every app and for messages you send by hand. A Page can't skip message requests.

## Point commenters to their requests {#point-to-requests}

1. Open [Pages](https://app.mentbot.com/dashboard/pages), choose your Page, and press **Edit** on the Rule.
2. Under **Comment replies**, end each reply with something like "Sent you the details, check your message requests".
3. Press **Save settings**.

The Rule editor reminds you of this under **Send a message to the inbox**.

## On Instagram {#instagram}

- A business's first message lands in the person's Instagram message requests. In Instagram they open their messages and tap Requests at the top.
- In Mentbot the note says Instagram instead of Messenger.
- Tell them to check their message requests on Instagram, in the public reply.

## If it still doesn't work {#still-not-working}

### They looked in their requests and it isn't there {#not-in-requests}

Ask them to check **Spam** in their message requests. Then open the comment in Mentbot: if the private reply shows an error instead of the note, Facebook refused it. See [Facebook refused the reply](https://www.mentbot.com/help/why-no-reply#facebook-refused).

### Only some commenters got a message {#only-some}

If your Page shows **Private replies paced**, Facebook limits how many private replies it may send. See [Private replies paced](https://www.mentbot.com/help/facebook-blocking-replies#private-replies-paced).

### The comment has no private reply at all {#no-private-reply}

The Rule that answered has no message under **Send a message to the inbox**. See [Send a private Messenger reply](https://www.mentbot.com/help/private-reply-to-commenters#add-a-private-reply).