[phases]

Anyone on 3's 321 pay as you go tariff? Found out I'm being charged 3p per text message, rather than 2p per message. Am I missing something here? I thought it was 3p per minute for calls, 2p per text message and 1p per megabyte for internet browsing? I've been sending out text messages and each time I've called to check up my remaining balance and it's definitely charging me 3p on each text message. What's going on? Anyone here experiencing the same thing?

[daleski75]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phases

Anyone on 3's 321 pay as you go tariff? Found out I'm being charged 3p per text message, rather than 2p per message. Am I missing something here? I thought it was 3p per minute for calls, 2p per text message and 1p per megabyte for internet browsing? I've been sending out text messages and each time I've called to check up my remaining balance and it's definitely charging me 3p on each text message. What's going on? Anyone here experiencing the same thing?

2p + VAT and then rounded up?? aside from that not sure maybe worth giving 3 a shout on twitter and see what they say.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phases

Anyone on 3's 321 pay as you go tariff? Found out I'm being charged 3p per text message, rather than 2p per message. Am I missing something here? I thought it was 3p per minute for calls, 2p per text message and 1p per megabyte for internet browsing? I've been sending out text messages and each time I've called to check up my remaining balance and it's definitely charging me 3p on each text message. What's going on? Anyone here experiencing the same thing?

IIRC there is an optional text "read receipt"( think that's what is called) that cost 1p and is set "on" by default. AFAIK you should be able to turn this off via customer services. If you explain that you were not aware of this you may get a good will credit.

[jonmorris]

The setting for delivery reports is on the phone. I've never had a phone where that's set on by default.

Personally, I find it worth the penny. It confirms that the message was successfully delivered. That said, it would be nice to have some more flexibility on a messaging app - perhaps to turn off the report quickly for one single message, or maybe only have reports for certain contacts. I might want to be sure my wife has got a text from me, but not care so much about other people. And especially not for services like checking your balance.

[phases]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

IIRC there is an optional text "read receipt"( think that's what is called) that cost 1p and is set "on" by default. AFAIK you should be able to turn this off via customer services. If you explain that you were not aware of this you may get a good will credit.

What is a "read receipt"?

Can I turn this off manually on the phone?

[jonmorris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phases

What is a "read receipt"?

Can I turn this off manually on the phone?

Yes, you should be able to. Go into your messaging app and select settings. You'll find a lot of options in there, some of which cost money.

Delivery report shows it was successfully delivered. Read receipt will say when it's been read.

[phases]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonmorris

The setting for delivery reports is on the phone. I've never had a phone where that's set on by default.

Personally, I find it worth the penny. It confirms that the message was successfully delivered. That said, it would be nice to have some more flexibility on a messaging app - perhaps to turn off the report quickly for one single message, or maybe only have reports for certain contacts. I might want to be sure my wife has got a text from me, but not care so much about other people. And especially not for services like checking your balance.

So they are delivery reports to confirm that the person you are sending the text message to has received your text?

I'm also on Orange at the moment and use delivery report confirmation, but they don't charge me for this. Is it just 3 that charges this?

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phases

So they are delivery reports to confirm that the person you are sending the text message to has received your text?

I'm also on Orange at the moment and use delivery report confirmation, but they don't charge me for this. Is it just 3 that charges this?

This is what I was talking about it was delivery reports not read receipts -


"Customer service from 3 so far (I was a bit concerned about this because of what I've read on here):

I seemed to be getting charged more than 2p for texts, so phoned them - free to call & got through in a couple of mins.

The chap on the phone told me they charge 1p for text delivery reports - slightly sneaky, but it's still only 3p per text & I can turn them off when I don't want or need them. So that accounted for the extra charges.


THEN - he said "because you didn't know, & because you're a new customer, & I want to make you happy (:smileyvery-happy: ), I've just added an extra £5 credit to your account"."

[phases]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

This is what I was talking about it was delivery reports not read receipts -


"Customer service from 3 so far (I was a bit concerned about this because of what I've read on here):

I seemed to be getting charged more than 2p for texts, so phoned them - free to call & got through in a couple of mins.

The chap on the phone told me they charge 1p for text delivery reports - slightly sneaky, but it's still only 3p per text & I can turn them off when I don't want or need them. So that accounted for the extra charges.


THEN - he said "because you didn't know, & because you're a new customer, & I want to make you happy (:smileyvery-happy: ), I've just added an extra £5 credit to your account"."

Yes it does seem rather sneaky as it doesn't say anywhere on their website that they charge you 1p for text delivery reports - it confuses people into thinking they are being overcharged. I will be keeping my text delivery report on so that I know if my text has been delivered or not. 3p per text message is still cheap.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phases

Yes it does seem rather sneaky as it doesn't say anywhere on their website that they charge you 1p for text delivery reports - it confuses people into thinking they are being overcharged. I will be keeping my text delivery report on so that I know if my text has been delivered or not. 3p per text message is still cheap.

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...,Case=obj(3318)


I agree it should be more prominent to avoid confusion.

[Three]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonmorris

The setting for delivery reports is on the phone. I've never had a phone where that's set on by default.

Personally, I find it worth the penny. It confirms that the message was successfully delivered. That said, it would be nice to have some more flexibility on a messaging app - perhaps to turn off the report quickly for one single message, or maybe only have reports for certain contacts. I might want to be sure my wife has got a text from me, but not care so much about other people. And especially not for services like checking your balance.

Worth the penny? Not if you've an £18 one plan contract with 5,000 texts included. Delivery reports can easily cost you £50 a month then!

[jonmorris]

Well, I don't send 5,000 texts per month. For the messages I sent, knowing it got through okay is worth the penny.

But as I said, I don't need them for every text. Currently it's a bit of a faff to go into the settings for each time - so I end up with it always on.

The highest charge on top of my £15 bill so far has been 26p. As you can see, I don't send that many texts these days. IM/email has long overtaken my use of text, which is always limited as it's just to a phone - whereas an IM can be picked up on multiple devices by the recipient.

[qasdfdsaq]

When did 3 start charging for delivery reports? They used to be free on all networks.

[jonmorris]

I am not sure how many charge now, but certainly once one did - others followed.

Orange was first (one of the many things France Telecom implemented to p**s off loyal customers). Yet I don't think T-Mobile did, and as a result I don't think EE does.

Wasn't O2 a network that didn't even support reports at all? The workaround was a code or something in the text (from my rather shaky memory). And I have a feeling you paid for that.

I must admit, while I don't worry about 1p given how few texts I send, I've not had a message fail for so long that I really could turn delivery reports off and be just fine.

[jabbamk1]

EDIT

I was wrong, only Orange and Three charge for delivery reports.
O2 don;t have the option of delivery reports.

[qasdfdsaq]

While not everyone "needs" it it's still a nice to have, and more about the principle of introducing charges for something most people have become accustomed to being free.

Orange didn't charge the last time I was with them, but that was many years ago. O2 indeed don't support the "standard" method but the workaround is free. EE don't charge and neither did Vodafone the last time I was with them (~3 years ago).

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

EE don't charge and neither did Vodafone the last time I was with them (~3 years ago).

Correct, Vodafone doesn't charge extra for delivery reports on supported handsets, that said I think all devices support del reports bar the iPhone?

[simon69c]

If you have the option of using a messaging app rather than SMS (e.g. Whatsapp, hangouts, iMessage) they usually show both delivery and read status, and may be cheaper than an SMS too due to the tiny data amount associated with them.

[qasdfdsaq]

Problem is everyone I know bar one has a mobile phone. Not everyone has IM and even then most of them are spread across a dozen different IM services.

[Dan 8t1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon69c

If you have the option of using a messaging app rather than SMS (e.g. Whatsapp, hangouts, iMessage) they usually show both delivery and read status, and may be cheaper than an SMS too due to the tiny data amount associated with them.

I can't speak for the other apps you mentioned but Whatsapp doesn't show read status - the first tick indicates your message has been submitted to Whatsapp's servers, the second that it's been delivered to the recipient's handset.

[Richard_T]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon69c

If you have the option of using a messaging app rather than SMS (e.g. Whatsapp, hangouts, iMessage) they usually show both delivery and read status, and may be cheaper than an SMS too due to the tiny data amount associated with them.

Although ive not used whatsapp/hangouts, will it send messages to old 'dumb' phones as well as the usual smart phones?