Over charging for text messages

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Over charging for text messages

SpookyAwol

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#85997 29-Jun-2011 10:41

Ive found that I have been charged MMS rates for sending over the 160 chr limit.
Specifically for texts that are '3' texts long. I havent tested for any longer than 3 'pages' of 160 chr's

So, every time I send out a long joke txt for example, I get charged 50c

I have logged this with 2degrees and they are looking at a resolution for the issue. I have no issue with that, they are actively trying to find out what the problem is.

Im on the $19 prepay, so it obviously covers all data, text and phone calls within those limits (except MMS)
Ive never noticed it before, it may have been happening previously but I have a new phone and account type as of this month

The problem is 2 fold

a) Why does it charge me MMS rates for long texts?
Its agreed that multiple texts should not be charged at anything other than txt rates

Is it my phone setup?

Is it 2degrees?

b) Why doesnt 2degrees record it when it does?
Its agreed that sending an 'MMS' does it, however it does not show anywhere on my account that I have been charged for that MMS. No amount of filtering will show the charge.

So I may have incurred these costs previously, but the account does not specifically show those hidden charges

So, my questions are:

Has anyone noticed anything similar?

If it is my phone (Motorola Defy 2.2.2), what possible settings can be changed to ensure multi part txts are not sent as MMS? (Ive looked thoroughly through menus and not found anything)

I have APN's in place for 2dInternet and 2dMMS

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#487320 29-Jun-2011 10:49

Hmm that is strange, i'm running 2.2 and my long txts are automatically spilt into smaller multipart messages.

What messaging app are you using?

Seems unlikely to be a 2 degrees error. Surely the phone just says "hey i'm sending 3 sms here" or "Hey i'm sending an MMS here"

Edit: Also i don't have any APN set at the moment so possibly the phone defaults to MMS then goes to SMS if it can't send MMS

SaltyNZ

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#487321 29-Jun-2011 10:50

Sounds to me like your problem is not that you're being overcharged for text messages, but that your phone is sending MMS messages instead of SMS and you don't know why.

I assure you we have no magic black box that converts multi-part SMS messages into MMS messages instead and then charges you for those.

As to why your phone is doing that, I don't have any good answers, sorry. I don't have a Defy. But I have seen a few issues lately caused by Motorola Android phones doing dumb things with SMS.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

SpookyAwol

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#487324 29-Jun-2011 10:54

Correct.

Its the standard messaging system and there is a 'mms' icon on the screen for the longer message, however no option to change.

So yes, the phone seems to think its sending an mms - with no way to change.

The other issue, is that I would expect to see it recorded on my account online, but it isnt.
So although Ive sent from my phone (it seems as an mms) The charge doesnt get recorded anywhere other than seeing a decrease in my balance :-)

SaltyNZ

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#487329 29-Jun-2011 10:57

SpookyAwol:
The other issue, is that I would expect to see it recorded on my account online, but it isnt.
So although Ive sent from my phone (it seems as an mms) The charge doesnt get recorded anywhere other than seeing a decrease in my balance :-)

Hmmm, you're right about that, I don't see mine either and I know I sent a couple in the last few weeks. That's worth a call to customer care.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#487332 29-Jun-2011 11:00

SpookyAwol: Correct.

Its the standard messaging system and there is a 'mms' icon on the screen for the longer message, however no option to change.

So yes, the phone seems to think its sending an mms - with no way to change.

The other issue, is that I would expect to see it recorded on my account online, but it isnt.
So although Ive sent from my phone (it seems as an mms) The charge doesnt get recorded anywhere other than seeing a decrease in my balance :-)

Why not try a different messaging app, you can download Go SMS or Handcent from the market for free and see if the clear up the issue. Although i have never had any problem with the stock messaging app on Android.

Are you running a custom ROM?

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#487333 29-Jun-2011 11:01

seen this type of problem before where a friend have another android phone, and the longer sms gets auto converted to mms
not sure about defy but for other android
I remember there is a box in the settings that lets you stop the longer sms converting to mms
are you using stock android msgn app or did you use handcent or go sms type of apps?
I think I did some changes in the Handcent sms app settings to stop this happending for my lg android phone

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nickb800

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#487335 29-Jun-2011 11:03

I use handcent sms app on my 2.2 and that gives me the choice of how to deal with longer sms messages - splitting them into multiple sms or one mms

If your stock sms app is being funny then it might be worth trying handcent or another 3rd party app.

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SpookyAwol

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#487342 29-Jun-2011 11:15

For sure -Ill try a different app as well.

If I wasnt on a plan, it would have been quite hard to see that the credit was leaking out as I send very few long texts.