With Facebook’s membership growing exponentially every day and the vast SMS TXT message service usage at it’s all time high, I thought it was my duty to share with you an issue I see with this.  Mobile phone providers usually offer an unlimited usage plan for TXT messages, meaning you can send and receive as many TXT messages as you want.  However, what they don’t tell you or what you might miss in the lengthly terms of service agreement is the “Premium TXT Message” service.  These are provided by a third party.  When you use this type of service, they charge your mobile phone provider and in turn your provider charges you.  Now it’s not clear if your phone provider makes any money on these, but the amount that is charged to you could be very high.

Now when you mix Facebooks ability for anyone to create their own application along with premium TXT services it could be a real money maker for the creator of that application. As a result this can be a hole burner in your wallet.

Now, premium TXT service might be ok for some, but here are some tips to try to avoid these types of charges by premium TXT services.

• Never give out your mobile phone number in return for services.  If you do, read their fine print.  There is one particular application that I know of on Facebook called MY IQ QUIZ.  I know people that have been burnt by this one.
• They usually want you to confirm your membership with them by sending a TXT message to you and having you reply to it.  As soon as you reply, they start charging you. 
• Call your mobile phone provider and ask them to block Premium TXT services.  I know Verizon Wireless offers blocking, so I can only think that other providers would follow suit.

Bottom Line:  Treat your mobile number as you would a credit card or your social security number.