Watch out for O2 unlimited text charges

bobo73

Just queried why I have been charged for 0.99p for 3 x UK text messages on 24/12 which should be within my O2 unlimited texts in UK.

Customer service agent confirmed that group texts (i.e. one message - sent to multiple numbers) are classed as picture messages on O2 and chargeable!

Could have been much worse - I advised I was never made aware of this rule and so the kindly agent removed the charge (this time only)!

Rusty!

This is normal, all group texts are MMS

System

I must have a special arrangement (with various UK and foreign networks) as my group text messages are always sent as SMS to each recipient...

Rusty! wrote: »

This is normal, all group texts are MMS

Techhead_2

bobo73 wrote: »

Just queried why I have been charged for 0.99p for 3 x UK text messages on 24/12 which should be within my O2 unlimited texts in UK.

Customer service agent confirmed that group texts (i.e. one message - sent to multiple numbers) are classed as picture messages on O2 and chargeable!

Could have been much worse - I advised I was never made aware of this rule and so the kindly agent removed the charge (this time only)!

I think you've misunderstood. All that has happened is that your phone is set up to send group texts as MMS. This is not something that the O2 network does but something your handset does.

We must get posts like this once a month from people who have set up their handset this way (a polite way of saying RTFM). Perhaps the phone manufacturers should make this clearer?

So have a look in your handset menu and turn off the sending of group texts by MMS so that they are sent by SMS and you are not charged.