What happens if a marketing template is sent during an open service conversation?
Sending a Marketing Template During a Service Conversation
Example Scenario
Hour | Action | Conversation impact | Charged? |
|---|---|---|---|
0 | Customer sends a support question | Opens a Service conversation (free) | ❌ No |
5 | Agent sends a Marketing template (e.g., "20% off offer") | Opens a Marketing conversation | ✅ Yes |
6 | Agent sends a free-form support reply | Uses existing Service window | ❌ No |
Why This Happens
- Service conversations are free and triggered only by customer-initiated messages
- Marketing, Utility, and Authentication templates always open new chargeable conversations unless the same category is already open
- Each category has its own billing window, and they can overlap
Key Takeaways
- You will be charged for a Marketing conversation even if a free Service window is active
- Use caution when sending templates during customer support interactions
- Meta separates Service and Marketing categories for billing—even if messages happen in the same chat thread
Related FAQs
- What is a Service conversation?
- How is a conversation charged when a template is sent?
- Why did I get charged even though the customer initiated the chat?
Updated on: 21/09/2025