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WhatsApp Business Accounts Face Service Message Halt Without Payment Method
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News18•01-10-2026, 11:30
WhatsApp Business Accounts Face Service Message Halt Without Payment Method
- •WhatsApp Business accounts using the Business Platform via a Solution Provider or direct integration must add a payment method by September 30 to avoid service message delivery disruption.
- •Meta is introducing charges for WhatsApp service messages from October 1, ending the previous free period for these messages.
- •Businesses without a registered payment method by the deadline will no longer have service messages delivered once the new charges are implemented.
- •Service messages are non-template replies used by customer service representatives or AI systems to respond to customers who have initiated contact.
- •The new pricing expands the number of business messages that will incur charges during a customer conversation, with rates varying by market.
Key Questions Answered
Businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform that failed to register a payment method by the September 30, 2026 deadline will have their service-message delivery stopped starting October 1.
Meta is ending the free period for service messages as part of its H2 2026 pricing updates, making non-template service and certain utility messages chargeable.
Meta charges businesses on a per-message basis for actually delivered service messages rather than sent ones, with rates aligned to utility and authentication rates in each market.
