Unknown International SMS Charges?

[Lolita_Magnum]

I have these charges for International SMS (not sure if they are incoming/outgoing), for usage that I didn't even do.
The SIM is in my iPhone 15 Pro, and I went through message logs and didn't find any messages pointing to the phone numbers mentioned in the bill.
Nor did I find any SMS during these days. I didn't have this during my previous months, and charges for other incoming SMS seem fine.

I don't have these numbers saved and googling these numbers, they show up as Airtel SMS Center numbers. (Not sure what they mean)
Did anyone ever have a similar experience, do you know how to avoid this?

I filed a complaint with Airtel for dispute, but I am not hopeful.
Note: I am not on an International Roaming Pack, as I have no use and I use local SIM.

Text Format:

 20 27/SEP/2025 13:45:38 Vodafone-Ireland 911725699995 1 1 0.00
 21 27/SEP/2025 14:12:47 Vodafone-Ireland 919892082061 1 1 0.00
 22 29/SEP/2025 16:11:26 Meteor-Ireland 919831029344 1 1 25.00
 23 29/SEP/2025 16:11:38 Meteor-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 25.00
 24 29/SEP/2025 16:11:51 Meteor-Ireland 919845060893 1 1 25.00
 25 29/SEP/2025 16:12:03 Meteor-Ireland 919831029344 1 1 25.00
 26 01/OCT/2025 08:09:13 Meteor-Ireland 919845060893 1 1 25.00
 27 01/OCT/2025 08:10:23 Meteor-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 25.00
 28 01/OCT/2025 08:10:27 Meteor-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 25.00
 29 01/OCT/2025 20:20:54 Meteor-Ireland 919831029344 1 1 25.00
 30 08/OCT/2025 06:16:38 Meteor-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 25.00
 31 12/OCT/2025 01:40:56 Vodafone-Ireland 919839099999 1 1 0.00
 32 12/OCT/2025 13:28:49 Vodafone-Ireland 917021075036 1 1 0.00

Image:

 

[pillaicha]

I feel like you roamed onto a network that's not actively supported by Airtel in Ireland? So incoming SMS got charged roaming rates perhaps? Cos Vodafone-Ireland seems to be charging nothing but Meteor-Ireland is charging you.

 

[Lolita_Magnum]

@pillaicha, that's a good point and for now I have manually set network to Vodafone.
However, there is an additional problem. I don't have any SMS (incoming/outgoing) from these numbers or during the mentioned timestamps.

 

[pillaicha]

They could simply be Class 0 messages. Those useless messages that show the remaining balance/validity/data information as a popup. They're also technically incoming SMS messages.

 

[Lolita_Magnum]

You get those messages on Postpaid, as well? Never seen them, what a waste of 250 INR.

 

[Rajneesh Rana]

Airtel used to charge for iMessage activation.
If you switched sim cards or enabled/disabled then it could have triggered such verification messages.

 

[Lolita_Magnum]

Ah, interesting... That'd make sense on why there are no messages.
Guess I'll disable iMessage as well.

 

[Lolita_Magnum]

So on other days, SMS to/from these numbers seem to be charged at 0 INR. @pillaicha 's theory of "not supported by Airtel" might make sense.

Example 1:

 77 22/OCT/2025 22:15:13 Vodafone-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 0.00
 78 22/OCT/2025 22:15:25 Vodafone-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 0.00

Charges with Meteor:

 27 01/OCT/2025 08:10:23 Meteor-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 25.00
 28 01/OCT/2025 08:10:27 Meteor-Ireland 919892341012 1 1 25.00

Looking at the behaviour of these messages are just between few seconds of each other, @Rajneesh Rana you might be right, they could be iMessage.

Example 2:

79 22/OCT/2025 22:15:37 Vodafone-Ireland 919831029344 1 1 0.00

Charges with Meteor:

22 29/SEP/2025 16:11:26 Meteor-Ireland 919831029344 1 1 25.00

 

[imdarkray]

@Lolita_Magnum I also believe, as @Rajneesh Rana said, that these charges are for iMessage activation. I experienced similar fees when I had an iPhone. Good riddance.

 

[pillaicha]

iMessage needs verification every few days? Try to disable iMessage for a month and see if such bills show up. In fact, disable iMessage and manually select Meteor-Ireland and leave it for a billing cycle.