Int'l Text Messaging charges

[MorningStar531]

ok here is the deal..Tmobile USA just started charging for international txt messaging August 31, 2004 -- $ 0.15 to send and $ 0.05 to receive!!! First of all, if you follow the links on their website under "plans", "international services" , " internation text messaging" -- you will see a table that breaks down or illustrates how this whole thing is suppose to work...according to their own website..if you are in the U.S. sending int'l txt msg, it will pull from your feature bucket or it's $0.05. In the same manner if you are in the U.S. receiving int'l txt msgs, it pulls from your feature bucket or it's $0.05 as well.

To me this means that as long as you have purchased like a bundle of text messages, that it will just pull from my pre-purchased bucket and not have to be charged anything! :mad: But according to them, not only is the $0.05 charge for sending int'l wrong (because it's really $0.15) but that the bundle of txt message feature we buy only applies to txt messages sent within United States. Their website is totally misleading, I don't mind paying but it's just the fact that they can't even get their stories straight that infuriates me!!! :mad: :eek:

[ariss]

I got the buddy time plan (unlimited sms + in network calling) way back in the day. To date I think I have sent and received over 10,000 international messages and I have yet to be charged extra for them. It wouldnt be right to just change the rules all of a sudden and start charging me extra for something I have been doing for over a year. I dont think intl sms costs more. :rolleyes:

[MorningStar531]

believe me...i argued that point too, that i should not be getting charged for it now because i've had the buddy time feature too for over a year and never been charged...but they just started it august 31, 2004...so beware, they will charge you :(

[Viipottaja]

what the.. this seriously sucks!!!!!! I send and receive a lot of international SMSs... man, the mobile carriers in the US suck so bad... Maybe AT&T would be better, they at least have EDGE.

[Initial_Dlux]

I work with several of the GSM companies... the prices go (for int'l txt)

T-Mobile $.15(outgoing) depending on your plan $.05 or free.
AT&T $.25(outgoing) Unlimited incoming.
Cingular $.20(outgoing) depending on your plan $.10 or free.

[C.P.]

I had the same issue. I signed up with t-mobile because they had cheap bulk sms deals and weren't billing any more for international text, but as of last month (aug 28th actually) they started charging 15c outgoing and 5c incoming.
I argued with them that, since I had signed up with the explicit understanding that international sms would be included and not be charged more. Their reply was that the sms billing is subject to change, and that the bulk sms options I've been using are not under a contract, but a month by month basis which can therefore be changed at their desire.
I also tried to get out of the last month's bill, since I run about 400sms internationally each month, but they stated they sent out a notice back in may (an insert to your bill) noting the increase.
I then brought up that their web site still lists the cost as free for those with a bulk plan and 5c otherwise. Their reply was to give me the address of their legal department if I wanted to enquire further.

For those that feel like running a long paper trail, the address is:

t-mobile wireless legal department
12920 S.E. 38th st.
Bellview, WA
98006

Good luck if you get anywhere further, I sure didn't.
My advice is to get their bulk sms package to avoid the incoming international cost, and then just foot the bill for what's left on your outgoing.
It was an eventuality that they'd finally start billing for this, I just hoped I'd be grandfathered in.
:(

[MorningStar531]

I had the same issue. I signed up with t-mobile because they had cheap bulk sms deals and weren't billing any more for international text, but as of last month (aug 28th actually) they started charging 15c outgoing and 5c incoming.
I argued with them that, since I had signed up with the explicit understanding that international sms would be included and not be charged more. Their reply was that the sms billing is subject to change, and that the bulk sms options I've been using are not under a contract, but a month by month basis which can therefore be changed at their desire.
I also tried to get out of the last month's bill, since I run about 400sms internationally each month, but they stated they sent out a notice back in may (an insert to your bill) noting the increase.
I then brought up that their web site still lists the cost as free for those with a bulk plan and 5c otherwise. Their reply was to give me the address of their legal department if I wanted to enquire further.

For those that feel like running a long paper trail, the address is:

t-mobile wireless legal department
12920 S.E. 38th st.
Bellview, WA
98006

Good luck if you get anywhere further, I sure didn't.
My advice is to get their bulk sms package to avoid the incoming international cost, and then just foot the bill for what's left on your outgoing.
It was an eventuality that they'd finally start billing for this, I just hoped I'd be grandfathered in.
:(


ok what do you mean exactly when you said "My advice is to get their bulk sms package to avoid the incoming international cost, and then just foot the bill for what's left on your outgoing." ? Do you mean that as long as you buy a bundle of SMS that you will only have to pay ($0.15) for outgoing Int'l text msgs and that the incoming Int'l text msgs we receive will be free? or do we still pay the 5 cents?

[ariss]

what about setting gprs as the gateway for the msgs? will that stop t-mo from being able to track whether or not the msgs are sent internationally? any ideas??

[Box215]

I mean you still pay the cheapest to send sms internationally. They're a business and they need to make money. Whether or not you signed up under the impression that international sms was free, they can change the price of their extra services as much as theyd like. No petition or letter is going to change it. Just my 2 cents

[SurrealNetworks]

Okay, alot of points brought up. First thing - the charge is .15 to send the intl sms but to recieve it comes out of your bucket of messages. IF you subscribe to a bundle of sms then its free for that number of messages, IF you do not subscribe then its .05 per messages like domestic. There is a nice way around the intl charge. Send it to the email address of your friends phone - for instance your T-Mobile address is yournumber@tmomail.net. If you send a message to an email address it is not billed intl sms charges and once you initiate the conversation you merely have to hit "reply" to volley messages back and forth.

Regarding the inquiring on "bypassing" the charge by using GPRS, it won't work. Even if you select GPRS as the bearer it still gets routed to the SMSC, simply via GPRS. I hope the number@provider.xxx solution works for all of you. Keep us updated!

Regards

[Box215]

Well i didnt think it was that bad, until i got my bill this month. $21 dollars in international texting charges!

[SurrealNetworks]

Ouch! Did you try the email addy of the other persons phone? Hopefully that will save you some cash.

[angelo10027]

Save on international text messages with Send2World.com.

Its a third party site that turns you domestic messages into international messages.