How many characters in a text to international number?

[Spud]

I sent a relatively short text message to my sister in America. I was charged for three text messages at 48p each making a total charge of £1.44 for one message. Customer services said I had exceeded the limit for a single text message and I had been rightly charged for 3 texts. Firstly I was not aware of a limit in character numbers in a text. The wording of the help FAQ simply states the cost of a text message with no mention of limits to length. Secondly does anyone know the maximum character number for a text message? Thanks

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

160 characters for a standard text but it may have converted to mms if emojis were used?
https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Accidental-MMS-Sending-and-How-to-Avoid-it/ba-p/1014132

[Marjo]

Hi @Spud, just wanted to check if you got all the information you needed and have any further questions?

[Spud]

Thanks MI5, I counted my characters and there was just over 200. Enough to be charged for 2 messages but not 3. I did not use emojis. I shall be more careful in the future.

[Spud]

Marjo, thanks, my questions answered but I think the limit on characters should be more widely advertised.

[MI5]

You're welcome @Spud

[Marjo]

Hi @Spud good to hear that you got the info you needed, thanks for coming back to let us know. And thanks for your feedback as well! Are you talking about the help pages on the O2 website where you think the information should be made more accessible? Happy to pass this on.

[Helsan]

I just had this issue with texts to channel islands. Nowhere does it say 150 characters which I assume uses spaces. This should be very clear or state amount in bill for longer texts eg 3 x cost with (450) characters. This is mot clesr anywhere. I even rang once and was told zid probably deleted some of my texts!! 

[madasaf1sh]

@Helsan 

SMS has always been 160 characters and it is globally acknowledged and has been around since day one of mobile phones been able to send text messages, so not sure why you think its a secret, or o2 need to tell you. 

And it is also globally acknowledged that more than 160 characters will cost you more.. 

Have a look here as well, and its your responsibility if you have never used a mobile phone or SMS to check the parameters.. 

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/text-and-picture-messaging

[Bambino]

@Helsan To avoid any charges for texting, you and the people you're texting need to download WhatsApp. You can call, text, and video call over WiFi to anyone else who has the app anywhere in the world for free.