HN Explorer

Why do incoming spam SMS cost money in the US?

18 points by ceoloide ↗ HN
I'm originally from Europe, where strong consumer protection laws make it free to receive SMS.

Here in the US I activated a prepaid plan, which charges $0.20 per SMS, including incoming ones.

The problem is that the phone number I got must have been used in the past, because I receive tons of confirmation SMS and marketing spam, which all are charged against my plan.

How is this legal? I purchase $10.00 of credit and it gets spent on nothing I personally did, with no way for me to block it.

This looks really punitive to the people who cannot afford the $19.00 option for unlimited text!

Are there ways to deal with this situation? If not, how can I help the US society to change this practice?

16 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 73.2 ms ] thread
laken
For automated texts, legally, there have to be ways of unsubscribing. Try replying to them with "STOP," as even if the spammer doesn't configure it, usually the upstream SMS provider has it built-in to remove you from getting further texts.

In general, essentially everyone in the US has an unlimited message plan, and if not, many carriers don't charge for incoming. My recommendation to how to fix this is to vote with your wallet. Switch to a prepaid provider with better SMS rules.

I'm assuming based on the $0.20/message cost, that you're using AT&T prepaid, which has some of the highest SMS fees for prepaid plans.

ceejayoz
STOP is required for SMS short codes (5/6 digit numbers). I'm not aware of it being required (let alone working) on the ten-digit numbers. I'm quite certain I've texted "STOP" to various family members at times, and I still get texts from them.

All the text spam I get is from random ten digit numbers, a new one every time.

You can text the spam message to SPAM (7726) and it'll ask you for the number that sent it. I've no idea how effective those reports are, though.

laken
heh, unfortunately, it doesn't work on family members.

That is why I specified "automated," as Twilio even seems to implement it automatically for any messages sent via the API.

It also doesn't help spam sent from physical phones with unlimited plans, and custom apps built to mass text though.

ceoloide
You are right, and I know AT&T is not the cheapest, but I am forced to use it for the time being. There are a number of reasons why one would need to stick with one operator or the other.

What I question is the fact that I have no control on incoming SMS, and still I get charged for them.

Most of the 4-5 digit numbers mention the STOP options, but I get messages from 10-digit numbers like the following:

"Tracie! Breaking report: This fruit burns up to 10lbs of fat in 14 days! Enjoy this special update here al49.xyz/ketonews"

The same message, a different number every time. Basically everyone in the US is forced to have unlimited text and calls in order not to pay for incoming marketing, how fair is this?

laken
Huh, I don't think I've ever gotten spam like that before via SMS.

It seems to be personalized to the previous holder of the number, who I assume is named 'Tracie.' I'd see if you're able to get another phone number, as this 'Tracie' was quite liberal with giving out their number to anyone and anything.

wprapido
Unlike E-Mail and landline phones, unsolicited calls and messages on mobiles and in regular mail are not illegal. Perhaps because both USPS and AT&T make a decent amount of cash off this.
ismail
WhatsApp and other messaging apps have practically killed sms for personal one on one communications. The only thing still prepping up SMS is the bulk messaging such as notifications and marketing.
colejohnson66
“practically killed”? No one I know uses WhatsApp; they all text
wprapido
Depends on where. Europe, Asia, Latin America. SMS is dead. Messaging apps rule. Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, WeChat, depending on region.
quickthrower2
SMS is still used a lot down under. For most its included in the plan and super convenient. If someone has called you you can send an SMS to their number. WhatsApp requires some party pre-coordination, so is more of a long distance friends and family thing.
codegeek
US Telecom and Banking industries are very primitive compared to many countries, so no you cannot do much. Sad but reality. You can either pay for unlimited text or pay for each SMS.
olliej
Yeah this was mind blowing when I first moved to the US.

The idea that someone can cost you money without your consent is insane. I vaguely recall incoming calls also costing money when I first came here - and I got a lot as the previous owner of the number clearly hadn’t been paying bills...

murukesh_s
Calls are something you can choose to not accept, but SMS is not..
olliej
Yes, but if you don’t know who’s calling you, and you’re expecting a large number of calls (as happens when you first move to a country), or if you don’t have caller id (which can lie, or just isn’t present of land lines) you have to pick up. And then you get charged for having a “conversation”.

I feel the rate of spam would decrease somewhat if telcos in the US were not permitted to charge for receiving calls or text messages. (Maybe the latter “service” messages requiring an explicit acceptance message before they’re allowed to charge?)

[deleted]
(comment deleted)