What are "TxtService calls"

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timmmay

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#151524 28-Aug-2014 09:03

My bill has "10 TxtService calls at $2.99 or less" on it, for a trivial amount of money. I'm curious what it is though. This page on their website says it's a premium txt service, which I don't remember using. It doesn't appear to be itemised. Anyone know what this is or how to find out? I can't find anything in their app or MySpark online.

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#1117141 28-Aug-2014 10:45

Does it display the short codes at all ?

Failing that, if I had the number & timeframe I could possibly dig up the short codes in question and let you know what they are ...

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#1117148 28-Aug-2014 10:51

Have you replied to any Dentist/Doctor appointment reminders or similar?

timmmay

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#1117178 28-Aug-2014 11:45

There are no codes or information at all. I get reminders from my osteo, but I've had a few this month and it's a 20c charge. I had one reminder from a different physio.

Obviously it's not the cost that's the issue, I'm just curious, plus the minor issue of the bill not being clear.

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#1117503 28-Aug-2014 19:57

Have you used your phone TXT to pay for parking meters?

timmmay

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#1117508 28-Aug-2014 20:04

Yes, I have. That's specified higher up on the bill.

matisyahu

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#1117666 29-Aug-2014 04:06

timmmay: Yes, I have. That's specified higher up on the bill.

Do you use something like WhatsApp?

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timmmay

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#1117702 29-Aug-2014 08:19

Yes I do use Whatsapp. What would there be a charge for something like that?

old3eyes

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#1117711 29-Aug-2014 08:38

timmmay: Yes I do use Whatsapp. What would there be a charge for something like that?

As WhatsApp is a data / wiFi only I can't see how this would incur any text fees..

Regards,

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timmmay

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#1117737 29-Aug-2014 09:22

I called Spark to ask them. Apparently a business called "winter sale" sent me an advertising message which I get charged for. I replied "stop" which prevented it happening again. The delivery company is bulletin.net, details here, found via here.

So apparently if you're not careful with where your number goes you can get charged by various companies wanting to send you various messages. I'm not particularly impressed. I'm sure that company has some kind of permission snuck past me somehow and it's only $0.20 so I'm not going to bother working out why/how.

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#1117763 29-Aug-2014 10:13

My last bill had 3 of those txt service calls itemised, presumably me confirming dental appointments but they weren't charged just added to the total txts sent under the txt allowance.

quickymart

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#1117850 29-Aug-2014 12:06

Bulletin.Net are the provider of the text service, not the product itself.

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timmmay

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#1117869 29-Aug-2014 12:15

Yeah, I wasn't clear on that in my post above.

savaii

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#1122492 5-Sep-2014 12:25

IIRC those are referring to MMS messages. I unintentionally was sending MMS messages whenever I used EMOJI which changed my SMS to an MMS message and was thus charged for it.

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timmmay

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#1122699 5-Sep-2014 18:19

savaii: IIRC those are referring to MMS messages. I unintentionally was sending MMS messages whenever I used EMOJI which changed my SMS to an MMS message and was thus charged for it.

Interesting, I'm sure that happens a lot. I don't think it was that for me, I just marked the answer above.

matisyahu

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#1122769 5-Sep-2014 21:23

old3eyes:
timmmay: Yes I do use Whatsapp. What would there be a charge for something like that?

As WhatsApp is a data / wiFi only I can't see how this would incur any text fees..

The verification text message that is sent to the phone with the six digit activation code.

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