At what point is Roam Better activated?

[jzwanzig]

When travelling in France, for example, with Roam Better, I assume that if my phone is on and in airplane mode, I'm not charged, can someone confirm? What about if I have Roaming data services turned off on the phone, am I still charged? I would like combination of settings such that I can use the phone on WiFi but not be charged the $15/day for Roam Better (unless I have to make a call or something).

thanks!

[Darcarys]

Hi i am travelling to India right now and was charged  extra 48$ i.e. 3 days of international roaming. I only switch off airplane mode to receive some imp text messages from my bank. Nothing else was used. Will i get charged even for receiving text messages as well? 

[WelshTerrier]

If you turned off airplane mode and sent or received any text messages, you were accessing data. Unbeknown to you, when airplane mode is turned off, your apps and device can be accessing data as well behind the scenes.

If you are travelling outside of Canada, you may not be using Roaming, however your device can access data unknowingly to you. If you do not completely power your device off and / or turn off roaming & data, your device can be doing updates, etc.

While outside of Canada, making and receiving calls, sending text messages, checking your voicemail, and using data (including Instagram, Whatsapp, or TikTok, and sharing or receiving a picture via text) all count as roaming usage. Keeping your device data turned on may also trigger roaming usage, as most applications on your device refresh content in the background, resulting in roaming charges.

You will still be able to connect to a Wi-Fi  network & use Bluetooth. You would just need to turn them on manually.

Take care

[Wondering2024]

SVP Charges….once I return home from a USA trip, I put in my Canadian SIM card. When I got my bill I noticed a SVP charge on the day that I exchanged SIM cards. Why is that?

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

SVP Charge Explanation: Roaming is only activated once your SIM card connects to a network outside of Canada. Therefore, if you remove your SIM card prior to arriving in the country and connecting to their network, roaming will not be activated. If your device is in Airplane mode, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network & Bluetooth manually. You should have removed your SIM card prior to leaving Canada & entering the USA. In the event there is any mobile network connection active on the phone, once the SIM card is inserted and its able to connect, Roam Better is initiated.

Thank you for posting your question.

Take care.

[Lancaster43]

How does roaming work in Portugal and the Netherlands?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

I have included the following Bell Mobility Roam Better Coverage map. Please select your location.

Coverage Map & Travel Options | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

You can add Roam Better with home data in MyBell or Text Roam to 8000.

• Roam Better – with home data is available to customers on most monthly plans. It is not available on prepaid plans.
• Roam Better does not cover roaming charges on cruise ships and in-flight services.

Whether you’re at one Roam Better international destination or travelling between multiple destinations or time zones, the Roam Better – with home data international daily fee covers you for any usage within the same day.

Roam Better with home data is $16.00 /day. The fees cover usage from the time you first use your device until 11:59 p.m. (ET) the same day, regardless of which time zone or eligible European country that you are travelling.

Roam Better FAQ | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

Hoping this information has been of assistance to you.

Take care.

[JavierG]

I turn off my data thinking that was safe for using my phone. Every time we use it on WIFI and we came back to over 1000 dollars in charges for text messages. Some that we received and not even answered. I try to call customer services and is impossible to communicate with the people I got on the line. How could I get some help with this issues 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

This is a peer-to-peer website. As such, we do not have access to this type of account & billing information.

Roaming is only activated once your SIM card connects to a network outside of Canada. Therefore, if you remove your SIM card prior to arriving in the country and connecting to their network, roaming will not be activated. If your device is in Airplane mode, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network & Bluetooth manually.

While outside of Canada, making and receiving calls, sending text messages, checking your voicemail, and using data (including Instagram, Whatsapp, or TikTok, etc., and sharing or receiving a picture via text) all count as roaming usage. Keeping your device data turned on may also trigger roaming usage, as most applications on your device refresh content in the background, resulting in roaming charges.

Powering your device on & activating an eSim or dual SIM for travel SIM outside of Canada will also trigger data usage & roaming charges. To avoid a roaming charge, remove your Bell SIM beforehand.

You are not charged for using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth if your device is in Airplane mode  and /or if your Bell SIM has been removed prior to connecting to a network outside of Canada.

You are going to need to discuss this matter with a Bell Customer Service representative. If need be, request to speak to her manager. Please call: Bell Customer Service Accounts & Billing: 1 800 667-0123 or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device.

We are unable to assist you with an account & billing matter,

Thank you reaching out to the community.

Take care

[ML1964]

I’m in the Caribbean and received an email from Bell letting me know I’ve been roaming but I' in airplane mode. Will I be charged?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Yes, you will be charged. Your device has connected to a network outside of Canada. You should power your device off & remove your SIM card.

The surest method to avoid any roaming charges when you travel is to remove your SIM card. Roaming is only activated once your SIM card connects to a network outside of Canada. Therefore, if you remove your SIM card prior to arriving in the country and connecting to their network, roaming will not be activated.

1. Turn your device Airplane mode to on.
2. Power your device off & remove your SIM.
3. Power your device on.

Unbeknown to you, keeping your device data turned on may also trigger roaming usage, as most applications on your device refresh content in the background, resulting in data usage & roaming charges. Powering your device on & activating an eSim or dual SIM for travel SIM outside of Canada will also trigger data usage & roaming charges. To avoid a roaming charge, remove your Bell SIM beforehand.

If your device is in Airplane mode, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network & Bluetooth manually. You need to remove your SIM card prior to leaving Canada. In the event there is any mobile network connection active on the phone, once the SIM card is inserted and its able to connect, Roam Better is initiated.

If you do not want to be billed for any future roaming services, you can remove the feature or restrict it on your account. This can be done by calling Bell Mobility at: 1 800 667-0123 or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device.

Thank you for posting your question.

Take care.

[saelom]

The bill was deducted today, but there is something I don't understand about my charges.

 Because I was in Korea all of April and had my data turned off, so I didn't use it, but I was charged $16 for a special event at April 16th and I don't understand why.

I couldn't understand why I kept getting charged for long-distance calls before, so I just paid it thinking I might have used it unknowingly. But this time, I really didn't use it, and seeing the charges now makes me doubt all the payments I've made before.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

If you do not want to be billed for any future roaming services, you can remove the feature or restrict it on your account. This can be done by calling Bell Mobility at: 1 800 667-0123 or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device.

This will solve all of your issues in terms of charges that you believe to be incorrect.

The surest method to avoid any roaming charges when you travel is to remove your SIM card. Roaming is only activated once your SIM card connects to a network outside of Canada. Therefore, if you remove your SIM card prior to arriving in the country and connecting to their network, roaming will not be activated.

Unbeknown to you, keeping your device data turned on may also trigger roaming usage, as most applications on your device refresh content in the background, resulting in data usage & roaming charges. Powering your device on & activating an eSim or dual SIM for travel SIM outside of Canada will also trigger data usage & roaming charges. To avoid a roaming charge, remove your Bell SIM beforehand.

If your device is in Airplane mode, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network & Bluetooth manually. You need to remove your SIM card prior to leaving Canada. In the event there is any mobile network connection active on the phone, once the SIM card is inserted and its able to connect, Roam Better is initiated.

Thank you for posting your question.

Take care.

[john2072]

I simply turned my phone off and on twice—on April 29 and May 5—to switch to a prepaid data SIM card while traveling abroad. However, I was charged $13 and $16.

Isn't this excessive?

I’ve been using Bell since I first arrived in Canada on a working holiday visa, and now you're hitting a foreigner unfamiliar with the system with these outrageous charges.

If those charges really occurred just from turning the phone off and on, that’s a serious problem.

Please let me know if there is any way to reverse these charges. Also, please make sure international data roaming is completely disabled on my account.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

Billing issues such as this cannot be resolved on the Bell Community Forum. You will need to speak to a Bell Customer Service Representative. We do not have access to your account & billing records.

If you do not want to be billed for any future roaming services, you can remove the feature or restrict it on your account. This can be done by calling Bell Mobility at: 1 800 667-0123 or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device.

This will solve all of your issues in terms of charges that you believe to be incorrect.

The surest method to avoid any roaming charges when you travel is to remove your SIM card. Roaming is only activated once your SIM card connects to a network outside of Canada. Therefore, if you remove your SIM card prior to arriving in the country and connecting to their network, roaming will not be activated.

Unbeknown to you, keeping your device data turned on may also trigger roaming usage, as most applications on your device refresh content in the background, resulting in data usage & roaming charges. Powering your device on & activating an eSim or dual SIM for travel SIM outside of Canada will also trigger data usage & roaming charges. To avoid a roaming charge, remove your Bell SIM beforehand.

If your device is in Airplane mode, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network & Bluetooth manually. You need to remove your SIM card prior to leaving Canada. In the event there is any mobile network connection active on the phone, once the SIM card is inserted and its able to connect, Roam Better is initiated.

Thank you for posting your question.

[oharaG9]

I had assumed.ed WhatsApp is free?