What is Premium Text Messaging?
How can one be billed without signing up? A: Premium text messaging refers to special marketing programs that charge a fee to subscribe. It allows you to sign up for sports score alerts, weather updates and daily horoscopes, download ringtones or vote in TV contests like “American Idol.” Charges range widely, and the fees are usually on top of standard text messaging fees. Most programs require you to opt in, but some consumers, like Stambor, say they were charged without agreeing to such services. “Some customers may have signed up by mistake, but others are the victims of a mobile scam,” said Jay Edelson, a Chicago attorney representing consumers in several lawsuits related to premium text messaging. “We’ve had cases where people have mobile devices that can’t get text messages and they’re being billed.” It’s often not clear on the cell phone bill what the charges are for and why, he said. If you look into it further, you may realize the carrier and the content provider don’t know ei
Premium Text Messaging refers to special programs that require an additional fee to subscribe. A premium charge for the subscription is billed to your mobile phone account or deducted from your pre-paid credit, in addition to the standard messaging rates that will be billed for all messages that originate from or terminate to your handset. Premium Text subscriptions are initiated through special numbers, which are 4, 5, or 6 digit numbers called ‘Short Codes’, and always require your consent for the purchase before any messaging content is distributed or participation in any premium messaging program is allowed. Examples of Premium Text subscription campaigns are: • Sports alerts: MLB, NFL etc.. • Weather alerts, jokes, stock quotes, horoscopes, etc.. • Trivia. • Mobile coupons. • Interactive Radio requesting a song to be played. • Interactive TV shows and voting such as Deal or no Deal and Rockstar. Standard messaging rates always apply along with premium charges. Back to top • What i
Premium Text Messaging refers to special programs that require an additional fee to subscribe. A premium charge for the subscription is billed to your mobile phone account or deducted from your pre-paid credit, in addition to the standard messaging rates that will be billed for all messages that originate from or terminate to your handset. Premium Text subscriptions are initiated through special numbers, which are 4, 5, or 6 digit numbers called ‘Short Codes’, and always require your consent for the purchase before any messaging content is distributed or participation in any premium messaging program is allowed. Examples of Premium Text subscription campaigns are: • Sports alerts: MLB, NFL etc.. • Weather alerts, jokes, stock quotes, horoscopes, etc.. • Trivia. • Mobile coupons. • Interactive Radio requesting a song to be played. • Interactive TV shows and voting such as Deal or no Deal and Rockstar. Standard messaging rates always apply along with premium charges.
