Do incoming (but not replied to) SMS messages count?

[BOSS10L]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered already, I did a few searches and didn't find anything. I got the 200 SMS messages/month account (I don't text), and aside from the 7 messages I've replied to with my brother, I've gotten a few weird messages. One was from another country (IIRC the country code was 011? The message itself was blank - wrong number maybe?), and the other one was a local number, but it was a text "chain letter".

Will AT&T charge these incoming messages to my 'used' messages if I don't reply to them? Also, how do I keep from getting the "junk" text messages?

Thanks!

 

[diamond.g]

Incomming and outgoing counts against you.

 

[TEG]

Yes, in the US, it is SOP for all incoming and outgoing communication to be charged against you (Nextel used to have free incoming calls before being bought by Sprint.)

TEG

 

[l4t13]

yes they do

 

[Buran]

You can however call and ask for credit for the spam. The 011- message is an international message and each of those costs 25 cents unless you have an international plan - they aren't covered under standard plans.

I have an Australian friend who knows to keep the messages down due to that, although I told him I like to hear from him anyhow; just don't overdo it!

011 is the prefix you dial to dial out of the US.

 

[BOSS10L]

Thanks for the replies. Any chance I can talk to AT&T and have my phone block all incoming calls/messages that aren't from certain area codes (specifically 585 and 315)?

 

[jdavtz]

Are you guys serious? In the US you get billed for (or have deducted from your plan) *incoming* texts and calls??? I knew the mobile phone setup over there was a bit behind the UK but I didn't realise it was that bad!

Is that actually correct?

 

[Bootsie]

Are you guys serious? In the US you get billed for (or have deducted from your plan) *incoming* texts and calls??? I knew the mobile phone setup over there was a bit behind the UK but I didn't realise it was that bad!

Is that actually correct?

Yes that is correct.

I don't know about the iphone, but on other phones if you do not open the message (i.e. ignore it) you do not get charged for the message.

 

[diamond.g]

Are you guys serious? In the US you get billed for (or have deducted from your plan) *incoming* texts and calls??? I knew the mobile phone setup over there was a bit behind the UK but I didn't realise it was that bad!

Is that actually correct?

Yup. Back in the day you used to be able to get the first incoming minute free, but no more.

 

[BOSS10L]

Are you guys serious? In the US you get billed for (or have deducted from your plan) *incoming* texts and calls??? I knew the mobile phone setup over there was a bit behind the UK but I didn't realise it was that bad!

Is that actually correct?

God Bless America indeed.

 

[ehoez]

what happens if someone SMS spam u? can u stop it?

 

[SFStateStudent]

Yep, my son...

loves to text message, and the first month of his 200 iPhone TM limit, he went over by 700+ and did the same the next month, 'cause he was under the impression that he had unlimited TM as he had with the Motorola RZR. And of course, we don't catch it until the bill shows up two months later with an extra $160+ for TM. We worked out a deal with AT&T, to do the retro on the TM charges, and set-up the Family Unlimited Text Plan for $29.99 a month for ALL four phones on my account.

 

[Daremo]

And if you send a message that has too many characters, and it splits the text into two messages on the recipients phone, you get deducted for 2 messages. I'm good with the 1500 plan, but unlimited is nice if you text a lot.

 

[Stardotboy]

Are you guys serious? In the US you get billed for (or have deducted from your plan) *incoming* texts and calls??? I knew the mobile phone setup over there was a bit behind the UK but I didn't realise it was that bad!

Is that actually correct?

I never knew that either, that must be horrible