Apple charging for free downloads and updates?

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So i noticed on my vodafone account, and my friend's accounts, both of us having iphones, that there are charges for texts to this international UK number.

we never texted those. so i contacted vodafone asking *** was up.
they sent it through to their technical team and they said it was for me downloading apps.

apparently downloading an app or an update had sent a request to a UK number which had charged me $0.31. nine times. so like nearly $3.

*** is this?

i said no, apps come from the app store through apple. but they are certain that UK number is from apple apps
 
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Vodafone UK - wouldn't trust them to give me the time of day without lies and mis-information. (sorry very very poor customer 'service' experiences).

But, my Vodafone bias aside, downloading from the App Store, including in app purchasing does not use text messaging as a charging mechanic. All charges are debited from your iTunes account.

The only way I can see this happening is using a webapp - which is just like being on a web page so all bets are off. Though I can't think of how a) this could happen without user knowledge and b) I don't think the web browser has access to the SMS system.

I'd get back in touch (without holding your breath) and ask for details - dates, times, number used etc.

Knowing which number these texts went to may help track it down.
 
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Its actually vodafone new zealand which is why its charging heaps for international texts

the texts are going out to 00447786205094

nothing shows up on my phone, only my bill.

i contacted them but their technical team isnt budging and told me to follow it up with apple =\.
 
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That number stems from a bug back in 2010 when it was used to activate FaceTime.

Should still be happening from what I understand. Which version of iOS are you running?

Could be worth making that call to Apple.
 
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Reading further FaceTime or iMessage activation sends these texts. If the iPhone is on a supported carrier these messages are non-chargeable.
 

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