topic Re: Roaming notification, but never left Canada in My account

Roaming charges being near the U.S. and never leaving Canada

mema — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:12:15 GMT

Wondering how other people who either live near the border or drive close to the border and Bell charges you for your phone accidently pinging a USA tower. They wont reverse the $10 charge when it accidently picks up a tower on the other side of the border. All they could suggest is to cancel my better roaming. This still wont solve the issue of my phone pinging a tower not inside Canada. Any other solutions and how do I make Bell reverse this $10 charge ?

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

BellAntonie — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:05:57 GMT

Hey there @mema,

Welcome to the Community and thanks for your post.

Yes, when living and/or traveling near the Canada/USA border, there is a possibility to connect to a USA tower.

If and when this occurs, Bell sends a notification on the phone right away via SMS to advise you of the change to a USA network and usage cost.

Re: roaming charges and never even leaving the country

AlexS — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 19:48:59 GMT

U can try turning on the flying mode when the area u stay is risky.

Re: Roaming on my cell phone number in the US

Jim4 — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 10:46:49 GMT

I finally got to talk to a Bell person and the best explanation is that a US tower picked up my cell phone. We live in Canada relatively close to the boarder.

Roaming notification, but never left Canada

cynthiale — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 21:31:22 GMT

Hi,

I received a text saying that I am now roaming. I immediately turned it off as I am near the boarder but am afraid that I will still be charged despite never leaving the country.

Who do I contact about this and is it reversible online?

Re: Roaming notification, but never left Canada

WelshTerrier — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:53:41 GMT

It is not reversible online via MyBell.

Talk to Bell Mobility. They can do one of two things for you. If you live near the border and are travelling in Canada but are being advised that you are Roaming even though you have not left the country, they can remove roaming from your mobility account or they can apply a restriction that you can remove on a need be basis when you are Roaming outside of Canada.

Call Bell Mobility at: Customer service: 1 (800) 667-0123

Why was my roaming activated?

euglena — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 00:03:27 GMT

I just traveled to Niagara and kept my roaming turned off on my phone, but my roaming is activated though. Will I be charged?

Re: Why was my roaming activated?

WelshTerrier — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 10:11:24 GMT

You could be charged if you make or receive any calls & roaming is turned on.

The problem with travel near border crossings, is your device might be picked up by a U.S. cell tower that is near the border. If you live near a border or you frequently travel to border cities & do not want to be billed for roaming services, I would remove the feature or restrict it on my account.

For your reference, once you've enrolled in Roam Better, you will be covered for all future trips and will only be charged on days when you use your phone in a Roam Better destination. You will not be charged when you are not roaming. If you'd like to unsubscribe, please BELL Mobility. Taking this feature off via online is not available.

To contact Bell Mobility call: 1-800-667-0123

I received a message from Bell that my phone is roaming...but it is not. What should I do?

CICI_25 — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:10:55 GMT

I received a message from Bell that my phone is roaming...but it is not. What should I do?

Re: I received a message from Bell that my phone is roaming...but it is not. What should I do?

WelshTerrier — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 03:26:13 GMT

You can turn off Roaming on your device in settings or use Airplane mode.

If you'd like to unsubscribe, please call BELL Mobility. Taking this feature off via online or using text messaging is not available. The service representative will remove this feature immediately while you are on the call.

To contact Bell Mobility call: 1-800-667-0123

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

Jim5 — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 22:10:42 GMT

I live in Niagara Falls and have had this issue time and again. I had the issue supposedly resolved and the charges removed. The next month there it was again and when I called the customer service clerk told me it was my problem. I hung up and called right back and got another rep who sorted the issue and sonehow blocked the US Roaming. Just keep calling back until you get a rep with a brain.

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

WelshTerrier — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 23:17:30 GMT

It is very difficult to control Roaming when you live close to the border. You did the right thing by contacting Bell Mobility. There is little that can be done when a device is picked up by a U.S. tower when travelling nearby.

I can only offer up the following suggestions if you wish to avoid a similar problem in the future when visiting a Canadian border community or if you live & travel close to the border.

You can do one of three things:

Have the Bell representative permanently remove the roaming feature from your account.
Have the Bell representative place a partial restriction on the roaming feature that can be removed when you are travelling in the U.S. or any other country.
You can turn off Roaming on your device in settings or use Airplane mode.

To contact Bell Mobility call: 1-800-667-0123

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

ktompson — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:15:11 GMT

As long as you don’t use your phone when that ping goes off (answer phone calls or text or use internet) it won’t charge you. I’ve asked this question to customer service before as in sooke, BC there’s a section of west coast road that pings to the United States

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

Brian-88 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 21:33:25 GMT

This might not be an issue anymore. Telus signed a deal with Rogers in Oct to use Rogers' towers along Hwy 17. Bell uses the Telus tower network so should also benefit from this new agreement. I left Bell to Rogers because of this issue shortly before this deal occurred so current Bell customers should confirm with the company that they also benefit from the new agreement.

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

ktompson — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:55:05 GMT

Well I know my friend who has phone through me has that issue and when I pay the bill there’s no extra charges as check the bill regularly and I get notified when she’s “roaming”

Re: Cell phone US roaming charges when I have not left Canada.

BigYearBob — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 22:16:50 GMT

You can turn Roaming off in your setting on your phone. Problem solved

Re: Roaming charges being near the U.S. and never leaving Canada

Theresa — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:42:25 GMT

Went to my cottage near lake erie for 3 hours after i switched to bell and some of my phone settings reset. Wasted 45 minutes of my time today online chat who asked to call me and then i sat on hold for 29 minutes for them to tell me id have to check back another time and just tried to sell me on home internet in a pushy mannet

Re: Roaming charges being near the U.S. and never leaving Canada

WelshTerrier — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 23:54:15 GMT

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

It is very difficult to control roaming when you live close to the border. You are doing the right thing by contacting Bell Mobility. There is little that can be done when a device is picked up by a U.S. tower when travelling nearby.

I can only offer up the following suggestions if you wish to avoid a similar problem in the future when visiting a Canadian border community or if you live & travel close to the border.

You can do one of three things:

Have the Bell representative permanently remove the roaming feature from your account.
Have the Bell representative place a partial restriction on the roaming feature that can be removed when you are travelling in the U.S. or any other country.
You can turn off Roaming on your device in settings or use Airplane mode.

To contact Bell Mobility call: 1-800-667-0123

Take care & thank you for posting your question.

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

Gurpreet Malhi — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:48:39 GMT

No sms sent tom me. Bell Charge 3 diff. Time When I visited white rock bc Canada. $13 each.

Re: roaming charges and never leaving country

dks — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:40:56 GMT

Slipping into US providers is a risk in border areas. If you look at the helpful replies, with green check marks, you will find ways to prevent such charges.