Group messages sending as a multimedia message

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a few similar issues but none quite the same as mine;

About a month back I recieved a message from a friend saying O2 had sent her an email saying that I had sent her a photo. I thought this was rather strange but forgot about it, since then she has had 2 more of these messages. Again I just left it.

Now I have recieved my bill this month and I have been charged for 8 multimedia messages. Looking at the telephone numbers that these have been sent to, it is all the group texts that I have sent which involve the person above.

I have sent other group texts (and not been charged) but the ones that involve this girl have been.
Any idea why?

[MI5]

I can only think it is the number of people in the group that has exceeded the limit (5 people) or that these were also carrying a picture of some sort, or went over the 480 character limit for SMS......

[Anonymous]

'Are you going to the pub tonight?' is the longest
the most ive sent to is 4. No other picture.
Ive got to pop into the store after work anyway, will query it with them!

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/srvs/cgi-bin/webcgi.exe?New,KB=Companion,T=guruCase,VARSET_COBJID=52283,P...

"If you’re using a Smartphone to send text messages to more than one person at the same time, you could be charged the cost of sending an MMS (picture message)

This happens because either:

- The message contains icons, emoticons and symbols or an email address

or

- The way some applications, such as Facebook, integrate with your contact list

To stop this happening, if sending text messages to multiple contacts make sure they don’t include symbols, icons or emoticons.

Also you may want to disable the integration between your contact list and other applications, such as Facebook."

Or if you're using an iPhone:

"Below is a list of reasons why a text message is sent as a MMS (picture message) and how you can avoid this.

1. Text messages to email addresses - Don’t use an email address in the ‘To’ box when creating a text message.

 2. Text messages sent to multiple contacts which include email addresses and mobile numbers – Send to mobile numbers only. If you need to send to an email address send it separately.

 3. Using subject headers – Don’t use subject headers

 4. Contact cards – Don’t send contact cards

 5. Attachments (pictures, videos, sounds, music, drawings and locations) – Don’t add any attachments to the text message.

Note – Your phone will tell you if it is changing your message to an MMS (picture message). Keep your eye out for it and don’t ignore it."

[Anonymous]

Ahh okay. That makes sense - i was using an email address becuase one recipient doesnt recieve it if i send it via the mobile number. Will just send that person an individual text from now on!

[Bambino]

This is a problem that always crops up around this time of year, particularly on New Year's Eve.

[MI5]

Sending a text to any email address will send as an MMS regardless of you sending it individually or not.....

[Anonymous]

My Xperia does not tell me it is changing my message format, O2 billing tells me this is a software issue with Sony who tell me no this is O2 changing the format. Whoever is responsible I am paying extra that in no handbook is an expected outcome of my group messaging so once again the consumer sits in the middle with no offer of redress!

[MI5]

It's part of all the latest smartphone software. Sony are remiss by omitting the warning option.

[Anonymous]

Hi and welcome to the Community.

In android many phones have the setting to tell you when converting from sms to mms. Please try by going into your messages, then clicking settings then something similar to mms alert and select your alert

Please let me know if this works for you