Apple have charged me 62 times for imessage activation

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Level 1

9 points

Apple have charged me 62 times for imessage activation

Hello,

I have been trying to contact Apple Support for over a week now. I have the iphone 7 for almost 2 years. I activated imessage when I first purchased the phone. Recently I noticed on my phone bill, several charges for an sms to a UK number (which I never sent). I queried this with my mobile carrier, who advised this was a handset initiated sms to activate imessage. I advised my mobile carrier that imessage was activated almost 2 years ago , and I didn't authorise or initiate these text messages to activate it again. My mobile carrier told me this was a fault with apple & would need to contact them. I have researched this and called apple support, but it was an automated phone service. When I entered my IMEI number, the automated service advised I was not covered for technical support. I have since switched off my imessage setting as when I switch it on , I'm getting several charges per day for the activation text message. Can anybody help me with this issue, as I am unable to contact Apple by phone or email.

Many Thanks

iPhone 7, iOS 10.1.1

Posted on Aug 9, 2018 4:18 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 9, 2018 6:18 AM in response to alisonb_MUA

Supported carriers should never charge for that activation SMS. But unsupported carriers will, and as you’ve found that also means your iMessage will need to be re-activated frequently, each time incurring an SMS charge. That’s inherent to using a carrier that is not fully support Apple iPhone features and services.

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Answer 2

Aug 9, 2018 7:32 AM in response to alisonb_MUA

As long as you’re using an unsupported carrier, you will be repeatedly charged for the activation SMS. There is no fix, other than changing to a supported carrier.

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

226,026 points

Aug 9, 2018 6:31 AM in response to alisonb_MUA

If you're using an unsupported carrier, you will have to work this out with them. If you don't want the phone to generate the activation messages automatically, then turn of iMessage and FaceTime completely.

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Answer 4

Aug 9, 2018 4:24 AM in response to alisonb_MUA

Is the carrier who provides your cellular telephone service an iPhone supported carrier? - those are listed here:

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

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Answer 5

ervau

Level 2

252 points

Aug 9, 2018 5:30 AM in response to alisonb_MUA

Hi Alison,

are you sur you are charged or does your carrier only report the sms?

Here in germany Vodafone had a huge problem reporting sms twice per day and more but they didn't charge; system problem!

And I am convinced that this is a carrier problem and not an Apple problem. No cell phone will send sms by itself. My 6 f.ex. was at Apple for repair, the sim was on my desk at home but sms were sent anyway.

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Answer 6

KiltedTim

Level 10

226,026 points

Aug 9, 2018 6:40 AM in response to alisonb_MUA

alisonb_MUA wrote:

I really want to resolve the issue

The only way to "resolve" this issue is to switch to a supported carrier.

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Answer 7

alisonb_MUA Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 9, 2018 6:29 AM in response to ervau

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. Yes the charged me 62 times on my most recent bill. When I rang them to query these text messages, they advised me that its a handset initiated text, and on apples website it states that the sms is chargeable. I cannot find anything about this on apples website, but as the text was inititated so many times, I got charged for each one. My imessage is switched off now as I was afraid I would be charged again.

I don't know how to resolve this, and this has only become an issue recently, and I've had the phone for almost 2 years.

I'm arguing with my carrier that I shouldnt have to pay for text messages that I did not send, but they keep repeating themselves that this is an apple issue... Very frustrating.

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Answer 8

alisonb_MUA Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 9, 2018 6:35 AM in response to Michael Black

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your reply. Do you know of anyway to have the imessage activated. When my carrier advised that this is a handset inititated sms, and that if I check my settings , under imessage it will appear "waiting activation". This was the case. Which I find really strange when my imessages were always switched on and I never had this problem before. So I left my imessage switched on (waiting for that message to disapear) it never disapeared, and there were several sms charges every few minutes to this UK number. I really want to resolve the issue, but if I switch my imessage back on, I will continue to be charged these sms charges every few minutes. I tried to research this issue, and found it was a common problem. Some people suggested logging out of icloud, and logging back in , powering the phone off etc. I did all of that, and nothing, just more charges to this UK number. Very frustrating.

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Answer 9

alisonb_MUA Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 9, 2018 4:52 AM in response to Michael Black

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your reply. I don't see the carrier listed under my country in the link you sent, but I would have always thought they were supported as I have the phone so long & this has never happened before.

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Apple have charged me 62 times for imessage activation

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