Three plans to quietly jack up the price of texts in the coming weeks, affecting all users nationwide.
The price hike affects multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages specifically, with the cost rising from 17.4p to 40p per text, even if you’re on an unlimited text plan. MMS messages are the ones that automatically convert from standard SMS messages when you include media content – like an image or video.
Unfortunately, there’s a catch, as first reported by the Mirror: MMS messages can be triggered by “emojis and multiple recipients”. The newspaper spoke to James Walker from complaints resolution service Resolver, who said:
“It’s quite shocking that Three can implement such a big price rise, but in all likelihood they can get away with it. They key is whether or not Three set out their right to raise the prices at the point of sale. If they did, it should be in your terms and conditions – the small print of your contact. If not, then you should be able to cancel your contract without any penalty.”
Jackson isn’t happy
While Three’s new price hike certainly sounds large, it actually puts the company more in line with rivals: EE charges 40p, O2 charges 40p, and Vodafone charges 45p. The new pricing will go into effect from June 13.
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It’s also worth noting that if you’re trying to send media messages – including images, videos, music, locations, and contact cards – it’s good practice to send it over the internet, not text. This option is available in default messenger apps like Apple’s iMessage and Google Hangouts, as well as third-party services like WhatsApp and Kik.
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What phone network are you with? Do you like it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
