Virgin Texts - multiple charging

Stompa

Mrs Stompa uses a PAYG Virgin mobile, and I've noticed something very odd when looking at the way she's been charged for sending texts.

When viewing her recent calls online she seems to have multiple entries when sending text messages. So she sends a text and it appears 2, 3 sometimes 4 times on her statement. Before I query this with Virgin, is there a logical explanation for this?

[I'm assuming that she's not somehow inadvertently sending them more than once (I should probably check with the recipients)].

Thanks

Stompa

Stompa

Hmmm, having done a bit of Googling on this SMS messages seem to have a limit of 160 characters. If you write a longer message does it get split into multiple messages, and do you then get charged for each chunk?

Thanks

Stompa

nim_2

Stompa wrote:

Hmmm, having done a bit of Googling on this SMS messages seem to have a limit of 160 characters. If you write a longer message does it get split into multiple messages, and do you then get charged for each chunk?

If your phone is capable of doing this, then yes, messages are split into 160 character chunks and sent each as a separate SMS. The receipient may see this as several messages or as just one long one depending, again, on the capabilities of their phone.

Stompa

nim wrote:

If your phone is capable of doing this, then yes, messages are split into 160 character chunks and sent each as a separate SMS. The receipient may see this as several messages or as just one long one depending, again, on the capabilities of their phone.

OK, thanks for confirming. I'd better check out the phone - it doesn't seem to be mentioned in the manual, but may be obvious if I actually try it myself.

Stompa

Woby_Tide

check in the phone settings, there is usualy something along the lines of 'allow long messages' or 'fit into one message'. Should then warn or error when the limit is exceeded

Stompa

Woby_Tide wrote:

check in the phone settings, there is usualy something along the lines of 'allow long messages' or 'fit into one message'. Should then warn or error when the limit is exceeded

Thanks I've already checked. When you're composing a text it has a character count (which starts at 160) at the top of the screen along with 1/12. When you exceed 160 characters this increments to 2/12 and the 160 gets reset. So it clearly allows a maximum message length of 12x160 characters. Must educate Mrs Stompa to start using 'b4' instead of 'before' etc.... (though I have to say I find such abbreviations rather naff!!!).

Stompa

ash333

Just a note, I used to send long messages, whuch often ended up being split in 2. This costed me 20p a go, but it is usually cheaper to make a 30second call, and get it all sorted than texting. Also saves the other person paying for texts!

mdean

ash333 wrote:

This costed me 20p a go,

Not on virgin - txts are 3p (or pence to be accurate)

ash333

mdean wrote:

Not on virgin - txts are 3p (or pence to be accurate)

Virgin to Virgin texts are 3p, as you quote, but texts to other networks I think you will find are charged at 10p (or pence to be accurate!)

Ash333

Stompa

ash333 wrote:

Just a note, I used to send long messages, whuch often ended up being split in 2. This costed me 20p a go, but it is usually cheaper to make a 30second call, and get it all sorted than texting. Also saves the other person paying for texts!

Thanks. Personally I never have (or will) send a text, talking is much better. However, I'm not sure that I should suggest to Mrs Stompa that she makes a 30 second call instead - it'll undoubtedly turn into a much longer call - and since I'm footing the bill I'll probably go bankrupt!!!

Stompa