$10,000 Bill... For Text Messages

Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:49PM EDT

See Comments (194)

The cell phone industry hasn't exactly been shy about billing its customers for all manner of things. Roadside assistance... without your asking for it? That'll be $2.99 a month. Ha, that's nothing. Now one customer, Sean Clark, has been slapped with a bill for a whopping 10 grand, because his developmentally disabled daughter sent a mound of text messages to a "premium" chat line, which billed an extra $1 or $2 per message it sent out.

Ironically, big texting bills drove Clark to upgrade his daughter's cell phone plan to an "unlimited" texting plan. What he didn't realize was that she was sending messages to a premium text system, the equivalent of a 1-900 telephone number. These services sent numerous messages to the daughter for a buck or more a pop, billed over and above any standard texting fees. The come-on: the promise of "romantic dialogs with 'cool guys.'"

Given the back-and-forth nature of a text message chat, bills can skyrocket quickly. $100 an hour wouldn't be unusual at all.

Clark's carrier, Sprint, offered a 50 percent refund considering the circumstances, but the third-party services running the chat systems haven't budged. He's clearly hoping awareness will help his cause and hopefully save others the same headache.

If your kids (or anyone else) carry cell phones, remember that premium texting services are almost never blocked by default, and many carriers don't offer a way to block them at all. Call your carrier and ask about blocking if you're worried such a situation could happen to you. If it isn't offered, you might consider turning off text messaging altogether.

Comments on $10,000 Bill... For Text Messages

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 46 Posted by zbmwzm3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    MOBILE SKYPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 47 Posted by saintsfan70 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sorry you wouldn't get a dime from me guess my credit would have to take a hit.

  • 48 Posted by dittebrand on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    A cell phone should only be a cell phone but with advances a lot of people with the easy way to do things. I use my cell phone for its inteded purpose I make calss and receivce calls on it period. I have had text messaging disable on my phone. Partners need to be more aware of what the phones can do and the days of just siging a contract without reading all the print on in are gone. Also some cell phone companys do not give a ----- about the customers. I have been with Alltell since 2001 and I have had a few problems and when I called them they took care of it they still have Customer Service wich is something that is lacking these days.

  • 49 Posted by accuratebooks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I work as a rep for ATT Mobility, we would have gladly rerated his bill, eg. charge him for the unlimited text messaging and credit the usage. I think its terrible that a customer should get stuck with such an outragious bill. Linda Tasker

  • 50 Posted by darwincollins on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    The article did say 'developmentally disabled daughter' so the kid did would have at least some adult supervision around her. Even, then its not hard to find an adult that doesn't know how to unlock their phone, or know that 'premium' costs when texting certain companies.

  • 51 Posted by engelaugen_56 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    After working with special needs students with varying capabilities for many years, and their parents, I understand the reason some parents get their child a cell phone(for safety and allowing them some freedoms). I also understand that some kids with lower ability levels do not comprehend the complex issues related to technology. It was very clear to a girl that wanted to be needed by a young man, that she would chat with hot guys. Black and white. I can't say the entire fault lies with the cell phone carrier either. As a parent who provides a phone for my daughter as she is in college, I continually watch the bills and question everything. My carriers representatives discussed with me all of the options as I was buying the phone, so I immediately purchased the texting package. However, premium numbers was not mentioned, and I personally feel it should be; along with a way to disable that feature.

  • 52 Posted by ian_lainof on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Maybe you pay more attention to what your developmentally disabled child is doing...----- ...

  • 53 Posted by jeff.m.hunt@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is very commonly known that the "Premium" text messaging services cost money other than what you pay for monthly. As someone has already pointed out. Its like a 900-number, you pay for your phone bill then you are also charged 4.95 every minute. Same instance with the text messaging. As for the free ringtones that someone also mentioned. Those are monthly billings. Stupid people need to learn to read the fine print or not do it at all. I think sprint is being VERY generous about absolving half the bill. And no one is to blame but those in the household.

  • 54 Posted by onetreasuredpet on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    OMG I would have a heart attack at that. My son ran up a 500.00 cell phone bill but I have since changed his service so that wont happen again and he knows better then to do any other texting except for friends. Considering the girls developmental issues, they should be force to forgive the charges completely. The cell phone industry takes advantage of consumers with charging for every little thing they can think of. But as an experienced mother of a cell phone armed teenager, I have learned to block things I don't want my son to utilize!

  • 55 Posted by geekmom@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've been there, too. Luckily I caught my daughter at about $600 before putting unlimited text messaging on her phone. I don't get how they do that so quickly.

  • 57 Posted by lonelygirl_sweetheart on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    The problem with taking her phone from her is that she is handicapped. Removing the phone completely could harm her mentality completely. The best solution would yes have a instant messanger enabled phone and unlimited texting plan.

  • 58 Posted by btrfli1172 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow! The people suggesting that Sprint credit all of the charges are the types who don't take personal responsibility for any of their own actions! Sprint offered to give half credit which is more than generous! And for those of you complaining that the service should not have been enabled: please! If it hadn't been enabled then someone would complain about that! Funny, no one has mentioned anything about the company sending the text messages not offering ANY credit! It's so easy to blame the cell phone company!!

  • 59 Posted by timbill_99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Stuff like this is nothing but a scam and should be illegal. These services should require authorization in writing from the account holder.

  • 61 Posted by stonewalus on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with bruno about text messages are just a modern day telegram. Are there any Morse heirs alive to sue

  • 62 Posted by kellador71 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    One of the the reasons that I blocked my text messaging and Sprint PCS

More Posts: First Prev … 2 3 4 5 6 … Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.