Facetime is deactivated but I am still getting multiple facetime related charges. Help!

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Level 1

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Facetime is deactivated but I am still getting multiple facetime related charges. Help!

I had a look at my phone bill and noticed multiple charges to the same phone number in the UK. They were listed as sms charges. There were 41 sms charged against this number in just one month I did not know the number and I called my cell service provider. They told me these numbers are charged for facetime calls.

I have not activated facetime and I never use it. (In fact, right under the facetime activation option in Settings, it says 'activation unsuccessful'.) However, I DO get multiple alerts in a month that 'activating facetime may result in a charge for activation' or so. These are never linked to any activity that would be related to actually using facetime and I always just press cancel. I now realize that EACH time I received this text, I was also charged against this UK number.

Can someone please help with this? I don't know what else I can do to 'further' deactivate facetime than I already have.

iPhone 6s, 12

Posted on Feb 11, 2019 3:36 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

FelipeV

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 11, 2019 4:24 AM in response to teatimes

Then the issue could be with your carrier. Try to troubleshoot iMessage/FT:

If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime - Apple Support

If the above does not work then make sure the carrier is provisioning your line/number for the iPhone correctly. Clearly they are not. A trip to a carrier store might solve it faster than trying to do it over the phone.

If the phone is properly provisioned, iMessage/FT should activate and at the most you should get charged for ONE SMS only (most official carriers do NOT charge for this SMS).

Good luck.

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Answer 2

FelipeV

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 11, 2019 3:40 AM in response to teatimes

Are you using a supported iPhone carrier? If so, then make sure the phone is properly provisioned. FT calls are not charged, but some carriers might charge for the activation SMS.

Make sure BOTH iMessage and FT are OFF and not activated, in order not to get the SMS charges.

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Answer 3

FelipeV

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 11, 2019 3:52 AM in response to teatimes

Ask your carrier if they are an official iPhone carrier. In any case you can check here:

Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone in the United States and Canada - Apple Support

If the phone is unable to activate FT/iMessage it will send multiple SMS until it succeeds. If you iPhone is properly provisioned this should not be happening.

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Answer 4

Feb 11, 2019 4:20 AM in response to teatimes

You will continue to be charged until FaceTime has successfully signed in, then you will no longer be charged once activated.

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Answer 5

FelipeV

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 11, 2019 4:26 AM in response to teatimes

The issue is with the carrier. You experiment has proven that.

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Answer 6

teatimes Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2019 4:30 AM in response to FelipeV

Thanks...that seems helpful. I think it seems that I need to go to the carrier store and get them to activate it properly. In the meantime, I'll just keep both iMessage and FaceTime deactivated.

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Answer 7

teatimes Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2019 3:44 AM in response to FelipeV

I'm not in the US so I don't know if it's a supported iPhone carrier.

I'll try turning off iMessage as well. HOWEVER - I would like to point out that I am *not* using FaceTime at all, nor trying to activate it, so I don't understand why I would be getting charged.

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Answer 8

teatimes Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2019 3:55 AM in response to FelipeV

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I don't live in Northern America. I live in Asia. And I doubt there are 'official' carriers here. However, the phone i bought was also from Asia from an official Apple store and it was a factory unlocked set when I bought it.

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Answer 9

FelipeV

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 11, 2019 4:06 AM in response to teatimes

You were clear, but I guess you DID NOT bother to follow instructions and failed to click on the link above. Title of the link aside, if you would have bothered to click on the link you would have found out, that the link contains a list to all of the official iPhone carrier (including Asia).

Have a nice day.

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Answer 10

teatimes Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2019 4:24 AM in response to andreafromadelaide

Hmm...I've been turning Face Time on and off today so that I could activate it and then deactivate. But each time, I get a message that 'activation was unsuccessful'. (I also realize I'm getting charged each time I try to do this).

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