# Private message via URL doesn't work for automatic groups
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-via-url-doesnt-work-for-automatic-groups/47825
**Category:** Bug
**Created:** [July 26, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-via-url-doesnt-work-for-automatic-groups/47825 "2016-07-26T15:05:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Martyn](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Martyn)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-via-url-doesnt-work-for-automatic-groups/47825/1 "2016-07-26T15:05:52Z")
I’m trying to use the [message URL feature](https://meta.discourse.org/t/compose-a-new-pre-filled-private-message-via-url/35984/2) to create a button to easily message the automatic `@staff` group but even though messaging and mentions for that group is enabled, using the URL results in a “Sorry, you can’t send a message to staff”. Using it for the `@moderators` group doesn’t work either so it seems it’s broken for automatic groups.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-via-url-doesnt-work-for-automatic-groups/47825/2 "2016-07-27T01:45:40Z")
Any comment on this @zogstrip?
---
### Author:  [@zogstrip](https://meta.discourse.org/u/zogstrip)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-via-url-doesnt-work-for-automatic-groups/47825/3 "2016-07-27T17:17:25Z")
Just pushed a fix 🍄
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/ea59283c1e4ff4f378f92db9864d770ef8b981a9](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/ea59283c1e4ff4f378f92db9864d770ef8b981a9)
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-via-url-doesnt-work-for-automatic-groups/47825/4 "2016-07-27T21:52:00Z")