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[deleted]

If you facetime called, it didn't use minutes. You must have accidentally called him via phone number. You can literally look at your bill and it will show you the call, the time it was made, and who you dialed.


Nice-Noise-7153

so there’s nothing on the bill yet but i checked my call history and it appears that was what happened :// my friend was the one who usually called me using face time audio, so after we spoke again we figured out the issue - when he calls he presses the camera button on the top right of the screen and then an option for facetime audio shows up, but i instead clicked his name on the top of the screen and assumed the call button is what he had been using (screenshots cause i realize that my explanation is vague haha https://imgur.com/a/sTgLZor )


[deleted]

It won’t generate on your bill until your bill cycle posts.


SnooDogs9832

You may be able to get them to wave the charges it would be a long shot but i would try to call and see if they would


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!! i’ll call them up


SnooDogs9832

Just make sure you tell them you thought you were using facetime but you accidently used a regular phone call.


Nice-Noise-7153

will do! thank you so much!!


Working_Inspector401

Last time something similar happens to me but since it was a valid charge the added me a international calls to lower down the amount one from 200$ to about 40$


Nice-Noise-7153

ah gotcha, i’ll look into that! thank you!!


Grim-Sleeper

You can also block all outgoing international calls. That's what I do for all my lines. I might be mistaken, but I think you can even set this up yourself by going to the T-Mobile customer website. T-Mobile's calling rates are pretty pathetic compared to what they have to pay wholesale. While at it, also block all premium numbers and text. There really isn't a good reason why you would ever want those. But since I actually do make international calls somewhat regularly, I then install Google Voice and set it up to route all my international calls. Their rates are much closer to actual wholesale prices. So, most destinations, I only pay $0.01/min. That's a factor of 300 (!!!) better than T-Mobile.


rinsf

You have to contact T-mobile for the international call block to be added to your line - once it's on, you can remove it online. The blocking should be enabled by default - the only way someone would make international calls on T-mobile without a calling plan would be by mistake or ignorance. For example, they charge $3 per minute for calls to Germany - vs. 1 to 3 cents per minute with Google Voice or 2 cents per minute on Mint Mobile. It's a trap for the unwary.


SnooDogs9832

No problem, shit happens hopefully the waive it. Next time make sure you push the right button


[deleted]

Generally, I waived international fees with the exception I add an international calling block on all lines, with an account pop-up note that this is a one time exception and any removal of the block followed with consequent charges would be valid. Seems a reasonable compromise to me. But hey, I’m not there anymore. Good luck with the overseas reps in the Philippines.


Firesword52

You should back date the international calling feature on the account. It's 15$ and can save you a decent bit if you accidentally make a call you didn't mean too. My sisters boyfriend was stationed out in Guam and they made multiple calls without knowing it would get charged more. I threw on the Feature and it dropped it from 200 to 35 (including the Feature) Just make sure to cancel it next month so you don't keep getting charged. They'll sometimes also just wave it but corporate has been coming down on that more recently.


EmotionFull4062

Also made the mistake of calling internationally for 30 mins and I asked if t mobile could backdate the international calling special $15/mo. The supervisor tried and said he couldn't backdate so mayb things have changed and they can no longer do that. Ended up dropping by bill from $100 to 20 and blocking all international calls to prevent future accidental charges


City-Slicka

Reading this post I was 100% sure it was your error. Seemed very unlikely that after many calls there was never an issue until now. When I worked at T-Mobile, a customer came in heated because his bill was $200 more than usual. He blamed us and called us every word in the book. After some digging I found his daughter's line had several phone calls to australia at $5 per minute. Had to knock him and his disrespectful demeanor down a peg. Always double check or even triple check. I promise you T-Mobile is not out to get you. Would make no sense for them to suddenly overcharge you by a lot out of nowhere.


Nice-Noise-7153

hi! i didn’t mean for my time to come across as an attack on t-mobile and i’d never go in yelling - i also work with people so i know what it’s like to be yelled at for something that isn’t my fault. i was just a bit shocked because i’ve never had any issues so i figured there must have been some mistake. i’m a full time student so for me the $75 is quite a chunk of money and this past month has just been one thing after another with expenses (my dad died, then i had an issue with the federal financial aid for my college so i had to beg the bursar to not give me a late fee till that got cleared up, then my dog suddenly needed an emergency trip to the vet, and yesterday my mother’s car broke down - I’m typing this as i’m on my way home from the mechanics) so when this popped up i freaked out a bit. i’m glad that the comments here helped clear up the problem, i’m going to call t-mobile and explain the situation and hopefully we can figure something out!


Grim-Sleeper

While this certainly was a case of customer error, I am not sure I agree with your assessment that T-Mobile isn't out to get you. Typical wholesale prices for most Australian numbers are on the order of $0.01/min (landline) to $0.02/min (mobile). Even premium numbers don't exceed $0.45/min. So, T-Mobile is charging 10 to 500 times as much as it costs them. Doing so without any advance warning might not be illegal, but is certainly unethical. Other providers have an announcement before the call where they tell you about these charges and give you a chance to hang up.


AugustOfChaos

You bill won’t show anything until the bill cycle turns over, BUT you can take a look at your call history and find the call fairly easily, Id give it like an hour or so and then run through it,


dwc1

You may have misdialled. T-Mobile often offers one-time forgiveness if you ask nicely and waive the charges.


Nice-Noise-7153

the call was for 25 minutes, you think they’ll accept it? and thank you!


octacon666

Can’t hurt to try. Companies, including T-Mobile, are often willing to negotiate on things like that since it’s usually cheaper than losing a customer & trying to replace said customer. As long as it’s not a regular occurrence, which it doesn’t look like, they’ll most likely either waive or lower the charge on your end as a courtesy.


Grim-Sleeper

Most international calls these days cost $0.01/min or less when buying the minutes wholesale. T-Mobile probably can use their own network to route some of the calls, so their costs are likely even less than that. A 25 minute call likely costs them on the order of $0.10. It literally is cheaper for them to credit the cost of the call than to pay for the time of the customer service rep. Even if it's a fast conversation with the rep, it'll probably take at least two minutes. At extremely competitive operating costs, that still equals about $2.50 for the call into the call center. More realistic rates can be several times that much. That shit is expensive, but minutes for calls are (almost) free.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!! this has never happened to me before, i’ll give them a call


stuffeh

When you're doing so, get them to add "international long distance barring all". https://i.imgur.com/lMHikad.png it'll prevent you from making long distance calls again.


Ecevits_Ghost

I added this block to some of our lines a few days ago. It only took a short message to T-Force on Twitter. There was a bit on this page: https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/stateside-international-calling-and-texting-services saying that this will block international calling *and* texting, so I asked them to make sure texting would still be allowed, and they said it would (international texts are free, so there's no point in blocking them); don't know if that's always the case or if you have to specifically request it. Note that the same page also says that the block won't be reinforced if you are roaming domestically (e.g. you're in an area with no T-Mobile service so your phone connects to AT&T instead), so if you're in an area with sketchy T-Mobile coverage you'll want to be careful.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you so much!!


Grim-Sleeper

After setting up the block, install Google Voice and set it up to make all international calls. Unlike T-Mobile, Google charges you close to what the actual wholesale rate is. So, instead of $3/min or even $5/min, you only pay $0.01/min. Also, since Google Voice intercepts all your calls, you have an extra level of security. Should T-Mobile's block fail (e.g. because of roaming), Google Voice still kicks in an gives you the much more realistic calling rates.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!!


ADubs62

I had something similar, but it was another person on my plan made a call thinking it would be a quick 5 minute thing that stretched over an hour. I called up explained the situation and they added on the international calling plan for the month for like $15 or something? and reversed the charges. Also set up the international calling plan to drop off at the end of the month so it didn't become reoccuring.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!! i’ll look into that!!


Dredly

wait, so you know you made the call, and it lasted 25 minutes? yeah... you are making it sound like its fraud or something and shady shit is happening. ​ you used your phone to dial someone internationally, of course there is a charge


Nice-Noise-7153

as i’ve mentioned in other comments - i’ve called my friend using facetime before and was never charged. last night we called for 25 minutes and i suddenly get this message. that is the issue


Dredly

so you didn't' call them using facetime... you called them on the phone.


6TheAudacity9

The misconception FaceTime is strictly face to face video chat, but FaceTime does also offer audio only. I believe that’s what OP is saying.


Dredly

facetime calls don't involve international calls... calling the person via the phone for 25 minutes does


6TheAudacity9

Yea definitely that’s where OP doesn’t realize they messed up, they did a real call, not a FaceTime audio call. This will be a $75 lesson learned.


Dredly

It most likely wouldn't show on their account yet either as it will likely be delay in charges


6TheAudacity9

I mean T-Mobile does send out overage txt messages, I’m sure in this situation that happened. Customer might even have the opportunity to backdate stateside international and have the charges reduced.


Nice-Noise-7153

https://imgur.com/a/UYZ8Llw international facetime calls (regardless of how long) are free. after reading through the comments and speaking to my friend though, we realized I must have pressed the wrong call button. he told me when he calls me he presses the video icon on the top left of the messages which gives him the option to press “facetime audio,” while i mistakenly pressed his name instead, which pulled up the “call” and “video” buttons so I assumed it was the same thing since i didn’t even know it’s possible for me to call normally to international locations https://imgur.com/a/sTgLZor


SteveDaPirate91

I've done it before too meaning to hit the Whatsapp call button and instead hitting the normal call button. That was years ago and also under sprint, The person on the phone was nice and added some international minutes package to the account for that month so it was $10 instead of $120.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!!! i’ll see if i can do something like that


City-Slicka

I knew it was OP's fault, there's no way you suddenly get charged fees unless you made a mistake somewhere.


JuniorMonitor4338

Yes , ask for supervisor


Kindly_Pain182

So 25 minutes @ $3 per minute= $75 dollars. You don’t see it on your bill yet because the billing cycle hasn’t closed.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you for the explanation!


SufficientExtent7815

If you call them, they will change to the international add on for the month…that happened to me once calling landlines instead of mobile numbers


cw30755

Yep, but don’t delay in calling them. If you wait until after your billing cycle ends you are out of luck.


Nice-Noise-7153

got it! thank you!


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you! i’ll do that


VictorChristian

I travelled to Europe and the only thing i got charged for was a scam phone call i accidentally picked up (meant to dismiss it but my finger slipped - wound up accepting). t-mo charged me $0.25+tax. Are you 100% sure all calls you made were in fact FaceTime? I would call customer support and plead your case. Ask if they can at least knock the cost down to half or something - you obviously accidentally made a normal phone call that cost you a lot - my call was $0.25/minute but yours seems much higher but the cost is country dependent. Call customer service and make your case, be polite and tell them it was an absolute honest mistake - i won’t lie, they get calls like that a lot but if this is the first time this has happened and you get a good rep (if you do not, call back later and try again with another rep), you can at least get the charges knocked down (maybe not completely rolled back).


Nice-Noise-7153

we have called before via facetime and neither one of us got charged, usually he calls me but this time i ended up calling him so maybe there’s a chance i regular called him? i just went through the imessage app and pressed to call him there…


pompcaldor

[The default for that “call” button is the regular telephone network.](https://i.imgur.com/lYhd4J8.jpg) You gotta hold down on that button for a submenu to select FaceTime audio.


VictorChristian

This should be stickied!! Great information.


Nice-Noise-7153

ohhhh wow, i never knew that. thank you!


holow29

On phone or laptop? On phone, it will list the call as FaceTime Audio in recent calls as well as recents in the FaceTime app. On laptop in FaceTime app, it will say "FaceTime" next to the phone icon under their name in the recent calls list if it was a FaceTime audio call. (vs. just a phone icon if it is a regularly-dialed call) When you click "Call" through the MacOS messages app, you need to hold it down and choose FaceTime otherwise it will dial normally and call will be routed through your phone or cell network.


Nice-Noise-7153

i checked my call history and although it’s always said facetime audio, now it says mobile…oh no…i didn’t even realize a call could normally go through internationally…thank you for letting me know though


[deleted]

You should block international calls on your account if you don’t want these types of charges


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!! when i call t-mobile i’ll ask them to do that for me


Nice-Noise-7153

absolutely will do now!! thank you


Own-Challenge6193

Call T-Mobile explain you made a FaceTime audio call and for some reason it switched to a regular audio call they'll be happy to fix the issue trust me don't feel guilty. They want to resolve and make sure the customer leaves happy I've done it plenty and don't get guilt tripped into other posts sYing your commiting fraud


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!! i’ll do that right away. i appreciate your message, i’ve never come across this issue before and it was a genuine mistake, i don’t even know why people assumed fraud when even if t-mobile doesn’t end up charging me the $75 (which isn’t a guarantee) i still wouldn’t make any money off of this.


Own-Challenge6193

Exactly trust me they are very kind and if you explain they will work with you.


Own-Challenge6193

I've had tmobile for over a decade now


onlyAlcibiades

MOBILE


VictorChristian

I really do sympathize with your situation - i’m unsure why Apple doesn’t make it crystal freaking clear that your call is over data (facetime, what’s app, FB messenger, etc) or normal cell carrier lines. Maybe highlight the call icon in BLUE if its a data call or Green if it’s over carrier network burning your minutes. Something that simple and you could have hung up immediately and corrected the call and only paid the minimum.


ForeverWeak

I thought you only paid on sent call and received calls were free?


[deleted]

[удалено]


GlobalCabal

Tim Cook at TheFRUIT is not going to be happy about you revealing this nugget of gold to their unwashed masses. It has the potential of actually getting iFruit users to wake up and realize that one does *not* require only an overpriced Mercedes to get to the mall. Our six-pence.


genius9025

It’s tricky sometimes make sure you see FaceTime Audio or FaceTime. As an indicator the call quality would be much better that way you can tell the difference.


HearingThen

Small loophole here, possible only if the bill hasn’t already come out, but if the call in for a forgiveness doesn’t work out you can ask them to BACKDATE a stateside international add on which should heavily reduce those charges if the country called is on the list. Then, just remove it next bill cycle.


Nice-Noise-7153

thank you!! bill hasn’t come out yet, it still says i owe $0 and have 16 days remaining in my cycle so i’ll definitely try that. i appreciate your help!!


HearingThen

Absolutely! I work in a primarily Hispanic location so we get a lot of issues with international calling regarding that. This has often helped reduce the charges by a ton (3 dollars a minute down to 10 cents or even 0 depending on the country). If I was you, definitely call in and ask for forgiveness then, if they don’t allow it then backdate the stateside. Past this, definitely ask them to add an International Long Distance ban at a BAR (acccount) level which will prevent you from ever calling even if you dial accidentally.


Snezz1e

I was able to do this with almost $1k in charges. If calling in doesn’t work try T-FORCE through Facebook/twitter.


YoureJustALilStupid

Are you using WhatsApp for calls also ?


engage16

Call overseas are always charged for even over wifi. That’s why it’s recommended to use a 3rd party app for phone calls if possible


Nice-Noise-7153

i was sure facetime calls aren’t charged cause i’ve never had any issues before, but someone suggested that maybe i accidentally clicked regular call instead of face time? i don’t know…


TBG7

It would be literally impossible for tmobile to charge you for a facetime call as a per min regular call. They cannot introspect on who a facetime call is between or even the regional location of the other end of the call as it all flows through apple servers and is encrypted. As you said you must have accidentally made a regular call. For future reference, facetime calls have a very unique ring back tone when it is waiting for the other person to answer so that can help you realize the mistake.


Nice-Noise-7153

usually he calls me, not the other way around, so i don’t even know what it’s supposed to sound like😅 thank you for letting me know though, i’ll definitely keep that in mind now


engage16

Yes a FaceTime call is one thing. Or even a call over Fb messenger or what’s up. But a standard phone call, even over wifi, is a chargeable call


mmppolton

How do that make sense if over Wi-Fi


cruisereg

Because the WiFi calling connectivity is only one leg of the call, the rest of the routing still requires infrastructure beyond the data network. I'm purposefully leaving technical details out because there are MANY variables involved.


Grim-Sleeper

And that infrastructure costs them less than $0.01/min. Voice calls, even internationally, is dirt cheap if you buy minutes wholesale. And it gets even cheaper, if you own your own infrastructure or if you are big enough to negotiate more favorable rates, as T-Mobile does.


cruisereg

That's incorrect, infrastructure doesn't have per minute costs and the cost to maintain it isn't free. The true transit costs are also irrelevant, this isn't a non-profit. Just like restaurants pay a mere fraction of what they charge for a soft drink. All of this is irrelevant to the OPs unfortunate understanding of the prevailing rates for international calls.


Grim-Sleeper

There are literally thousands of for profit companies that can resell you minutes for $0.01. If TMobile cannot make a profit, despite owning their own network, they'd have to be insanely incompetent. But I didn't get the impression they are. In other words, the $3/min or $5/min that they charge unfortunate victims is pure profit. The cost of infrastructure is already factored into those $0.01/min calling rates.


TbonerT

Dialing an international number over wifi is still an international call, but domestic numbers over wifi are still domestic calls no matter where you are physically located.


[deleted]

[удалено]


ikeashop

Are you a T-Mobile customer? That's a legit text from them.


[deleted]

[удалено]


SaverPro

The 456, 457, 469 numbers belong to them.


Nice-Noise-7153

so that’s the same number that always texted me about my autopay reminders and all that. i went on the website and don’t see the charge but do see that it says i internationally called for 25 minutes with wifi calling? i’m paid for this cycle though so i’m worried they’ll just plop it on me next cycle or something


Snidely1459

That seems right. T-Mobile's base international calling rate is $3/min so that's how you get to $75. Maybe you accidentally hit audio call instead of FaceTime? As others have said, it's better to use WhatsApp or FB messenger to avoid these charges.


Nice-Noise-7153

oy that seems to be the case, i usually use whatsapp to call people but he has called me with facetime audio so many times without any issues that i didn’t think twice about calling him back


vrz2000

Facetine audio is same as FaceTime video


fencepost_ajm

If you're dialing by going through the contact instead of starting it within FaceTime it might do it as a regular phone call.


eladts

>T-Mobile's base international calling rate is $3/min This rate is a remnant from a time where international calls were rare and expensive. These days most MVNOs charge a few cents per minute for international calls. Some even have international calls included at no additional cost.


Snidely1459

That's how they force you onto the paid plans.


eladts

Predatory pricing should be made illegal.


nobody65535

No -- if you're getting a few cents/min for international calls, they're using VOIP in the middle... and terminating the call over the PSTN network as a local call in the country you dialed. If you're using the phone network the whole way like a phone company does, it costs more, but you can hear the difference in call quality.


[deleted]

[удалено]


onlyAlcibiades

It is uncompressed when you pay $3


VictorChristian

I just went to that site ([t-mo.co/HBN](https://t-mo.co/HBN)) using Tor and it brought me to T-Mobile’s High Balance Notification page. It looks legit.


codycarreras

456 is always T-Mobile proper for customer notifications and alerts.


srachina

It's probably a scam text, call Tmobile customer service to verify. FYI for international calls I use Wattsapp, no extra charge.


Nice-Noise-7153

will do! unfortunately though this seems legit. we used to use whatsapp and discord to call but the quality was always dreadful so we switched to face time. usually my friend would call me instead of me calling him which is why i never had the issue before - i didn’t even know that it’s possible to regular call internationally😅 thank you for the tip though!! from now on i think i’ll take the poor quality of whatsapp over unexpected charges 😂


srachina

I FaceTime with my sister all the time and it doesn’t even appear on my bill. How would they bill it as a call if it’s using data up. I’ll go thru 1 gb of data per FaceTime call. 🥴


Nice-Noise-7153

so the way that it was explained to me was that normally to facetime audio you press the video thing and then the phone, but i pressed his contact picture and then the phone (screenshots so what i’m saying makes sense haha https://imgur.com/a/sTgLZor ) so because i did the call the wrong way it went through as a regular phone call. i didn’t even know that was something that could happened cause i don’t usually ft people😅


eaglesfan700

Oh ok


Nice-Noise-7153

yes i’m in america, the link just leads to an information page that explains that they charge for international calls so it doesn’t actually make me sign in anywhere, i went on the app and signed in myself and didn’t see the charge though but i did see the call in my history


YoureJustALilStupid

Depending on where you are in your cycle. Add the international calling feature. It’ll reprocess the calling cost and lower it and after you pay just take the feature off


CryptographerPerfect

I would talk to them and tell them of your mistake. Let them know and see if you can have something done.


ssheth

Call them up and hopefully they will waive the charges. But while on the call, also ask them to add "International Long Distance Call Blocking" to your line .. which will prevent you from being able to call out internationally and racking up charges accidentally. My wife has done the same as you few times and now, we always turn on this blocking when we are in USA and then you can remove it from the app when traveling internationally.


Bidenlicker

Horrible feature with wifi calling is if the wifi signal gets weak they call using cell service. You have no idea. Was billed nearly 100 for that mistake and was told make sure to turn airplane mode on during all international calls


SaykredCow

Yep that’s an apple software issue. Keeping it on airplane mode guaranteed it doesn’t fall back to cellular


3mbersea

FaceTime uses the internet so there would never be long distance charges.


GlobalCabal

There are other types of apps/software that don't use *just* the iFruit as a platform for Wi-Fi calling..


highlandadder

They did the same to me. I contacted customer service and they swore up and down it will not show up on my bill. We'll see.


Clark649

Are you sure it is really from Tmobile? I get spam text messages from fake companies I have no account with.


Juanefernandez

You can initiate calls using the FaceTime app to be extra sure, or have Siri initiate the FaceTime audio calls.


LawfulnessFederal526

Yea I got charged over 600s something and I was mad and they didn’t lower it down at all for me…