topic Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden in Mobile Services

Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

Ian267 — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 09:42:16 GMT

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

Chris_B — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 10:15:49 GMT

@Ian267 you only get charged if it’s a premium rate number, or you’re sending an MMS.

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

Ian267 — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 10:29:30 GMT

It was to my daughter who is 11 so no premium rate number, second time it’s done it , a bit confused really

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

Schockwave — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 10:36:53 GMT

@Ian267 , if it is a very long text, then that may be the reason, as it sees it as MMS, so over 160 characters, you would have to send two text messages, then you would not be charged.

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

Ian267 — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:14:45 GMT

No I was just telling her that I was home

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

Michael_D — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:15:14 GMT

Hi @Ian267

Welcome to the community.

If it was under 160 characters and you were at home in the UK, you shouldn't be getting charged.

When you look at the charge on the bill, does it show as a text, or is it listed as a MMS/picture message?

Michael

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

XRaySpeX — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:41:22 GMT

@Ian267 : Has she inserted an emoji or attached a picture or something to the text? These could turn the normal SMS text into an MMS which is chargeable outside your text allowance.

Re: Why am being charged for text messages all of a sudden

ee_user14 — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:39:38 GMT

@XRaySpeX wrote:
Has she inserted an emoji or attached a picture or something to the text? These can potentially turn the normal SMS text into an MMS which is chargeable outside your text allowance.

Fixed your comment for you.

Emojis do not automatically convert an SMS into an MMS. They can do, depending on your phone OS & setup.