Incorrect O2 Travel charges applied

[Floridaboy]

I have just returned from the USA and whilst there I noticed I was being charged for O2 Travel when I did not use it. My data and roaming were turned off. I did not make or receive any calls and did not send any texts. I contacted O2 and they said I had sent texts on various days but could not tell me to who. I 100% did not send any texts. They have agreed to refund me. I am very concerned about how this occurred and am worried it will happen again in May when I’m next out there. This has never happened in the past.

All my messaging was done using WhatsApp when connected to WiFi. I also accessed a couple of airline apps but again, only when connected to WiFi.

Can anyone shed any light on why I got charged? 

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@Floridaboy 

There could be any number of reasons for your phone sending silent sms messages.

Most common are to register for iMessage and visual voicemail which is done automatically in the background.

If you are only using wifi, just remove your sim or put phone into airplane mode and then just connect to wifi.

[Floridaboy]

Hi,

I don’t use iMessage as it’s an android phone and didn’t register for visual voicemail.

what are silent sms messages?

[MI5]

@Floridaboy 

They are messages that register for services.

Any of your apps could be sending them to let servers know where the phone is.

[Floridaboy]

OK. Would turning off location services help?

[MI5]

@Floridaboy 

No, not at all.

You need to remove sim or use flight mode.

[Floridaboy]

So makes O2 Travel useless as I won't be able to receive calls or texts!

[MI5]

Unless you find and disable the app that is sending the texts, yes, but that is not under O2 control.

[Roger49]

Same thing happened to me. Seems to be system services in background. Mobile data off as well as roaming yet still did 2mg twice hence a £5 a day charge 

[Chief]

Having exactly same issues!  O2 deny a problem but its well documented on these threads!