Premium text services
Get the lowdown on what exactly a premium SMS/text is, what costs are involved, who might provide this service, and how to stop receiving them.
Jump to section: What do they cost? | Who provides these? | How do I stop them? |
So, what exactly is a premium SMS?
Premium SMS (more commonly known as text) services are offered by third-party content providers offer both domestically and abroad. Usually, any number with three, four, or five digits in ads is considered a premium text number and will have a different price (ie a premium rate).
If you're texting in to enter contests, vote on TV or radio, donate to a good cause, or score some ringtones or games for your phone, you're hitting up a premium text service. And if you're getting handy updates or alerts about your deliveries or bookings on your phone, that's also the premium text.
Each service is linked to its own specific short code. Texts sent to these codes must be initiated by the user. You may have also opted in to receive reminder or marketing texts by providing your mobile numbers to businesses like hair salons, banks, pet food delivery services, or gyms.
Premium text messages are charged to your Kiwi Mobile account. As you're responsible for all calls, texts, and purchases listed on your bill (even those made by others without your awareness), it's essential to carefully review the terms of any Premium Service you choose to subscribe to. It pays to check that fine print, just in case.
Check the service's advertisements thoroughly to make sure you understand the initial costs and any continuing obligations, such as subscription fees or agreement to receive promo messages
What do these premium services cost?
The cost of each premium text sent or received can vary, and sometimes is even free, but it depends on the service. If you search the number of the service on this pdf (kindly provided to us by 2Degrees whose network we leverage) you’ll see the costs associated with each text.
The first welcome message from the service and the original promotional materials should transparently display the cost information upfront. It shouldn't be hard to find or hidden in the fine print.
Premium text messages are billed to your Kiwi Mobile account. Calls or texts to Premium Services won't be covered by your plan's text or call allowance, and if you text a Premium Service while abroad, roaming charges will apply.
Before you sign up, it's a good idea to make sure you understand what you’re signing up to and what it’s going to cost. Some Premium text services offer a subscription, some offer a one-off service.
Who provides these services?
Premium text services are managed by other companies and Kiwi Mobile doesn’t accept responsibility for them, aside from making sure that they play fair and comply with our strict content standards.
Check out this document for a list of Premium Messaging Partners and services that we currently support via the 2Degrees network.
If you feel you weren't given the full picture about the price and content of a Premium Service that you've been billed for, you have the right to contest these charges. First you need to do this by contacting the service provider. If you don't have any luck, contact our team on live chat who will see if there is anything we can do to help.
How do you stop/cancel these premium SMS?
Reply to the message you receive with the word STOP at any time to stop a premium text service. If the messages or content continue after you’ve sent the STOP message, get in touch with the relevant business.