Data roaming charges while Cellular Data is off

[SomeScreenName]

One of the phones on my plan went to the US for a month. They turned Cellular Data off in Canada and didn't turn it back on until they got back. They were charged for 4 days of roaming for data events while there, and no one can explain why. One customer service rep said it was because WiFi assist was turned on, but apple says that WiFi assist won't switch to cellular if you are roaming. How do I know what really happened so it doesn't happen again for the other travel to the US we have planned?

[Traveling]

I received similar message for $16/day with  roam better while i am in China. but I didn't turn on data roaming at all. it is always disabled. how is the roaming charge enabled? receiving message text (by the way, I haven't opened the message yet)?

 Can you help to clarify it? can you also suggest how to avoid the roaming charges? i do need to receive message text randomly due to so many two-way authentication services.

[Vantez]

I have this issue right now and am on with a Bell rep that has no idea why.  Small packets of data triggered roam better charges even though data roaming is always off.  This is definitely a Bell issue that they can't figure out.  I shouldn't have to turn my phone to airplane mode when data roaming is off.  Bell get your act together

[User09]

This isn’t an issue specific to Bell. If you Google this problem you will get threads from lots of customers with other providers. 

[Fmulder67]

Turning the phone into airplane mode turns off the cellular network and Wi-Fi. Is there something in the settings that allows AP mode to still use Wi-Fi?

[Fmulder67]

My roaming data was turned off but it still charged me for roaming while I was using Denver and Ohara airport Wi-Fi. This is what everyone is saying here. They are being falsely charged for a service when the service was shut off. I even turned unchecked the "ask me first" and just turned it completely off. The answer I got from Bell was it automatically came on because the airport Wi-Fi may have been weak. How is that my fault? This should not happen and it's a way of cell phone companies charging you for stuff you don't want and have to complain to get the charges reversed. That's called fraud. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

You can use airplane mode to avoid roaming charges when travelling. You won't be able to send or receive text messages or phone calls, or use data services. You could connect manually to a Wi-Fi network to check your email or browse the internet. (By default, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are disabled in airplane mode.) You can listen to music, play games, watch videos, and use other apps that don't require network or phone connections.

When travelling & where available, you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while in Airplane Mode. You would need to turn them on separately to connect.

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.

Airplane mode will turn off all cellular data usage eliminating any unnecessary charges that might be incurred.

Take care.

[DAli]

I just faced the exact same problem, accruing around $200 in roaming charges over a month in Pakistan while my mobile data was turned off. Same issue, with the usage report showing small packets of data being exchanged e.g. 0.0244mb, 0.0488mb, 0.0732mb. I was using Fido before using Bell with roaming included in my plan and have spent many months in Pakistan with my mobile data turned off. This has never happened with Fido. So while it might happen with other providers that still does not disregard that Bell can and should get their act together if there exist competitors who do not cause the same issues for their customers.

[Murrman]

Hi I was told that with the new iOS you can still be charged even if data roaming and cellular data is off. I was told we couldn't use Wi-Fi or risk being charged. Is this accurate?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

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

Although you may not be using roaming, 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 still be doing updates, etc.

The surest method to avoid any further roaming charges is to turn your device Airplane mode to on or remove your SIM before travelling. This will eliminate any potential future 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.

[MartinC1]

This is ridiculous, I was told by the Bell agent the only thing to do to prevent the charge is to remove the SIM card, turning off the data roaming on the phone will not do anything.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

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.

The surest method to avoid any further roaming charges is to turn your device Airplane mode to on or remove your SIM before travelling. This will eliminate any potential future charges. You will still be able to connect to a Wi-Fi  network & use Bluetooth. You would just need to turn them on manually.

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.

Take care.

[MartinC1]

You should add the following to the description: Turning on the phone with the sim card in will also get charged even with data roaming turned off on the phone.

2. How does the Roam Better daily fee work?

You’ll only be charged the daily fee when you make or answer a call, send a text message, or when data is sent or received while in your Roam Better destination. The Roam Better – with home data daily fee covers each day of usage until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), regardless of which time zone you’re roaming in. You’ll only be charged for a maximum of 20 days per line within the same billing period, after which you can continue enjoying unlimited talk and text and continue to use the data from your account at no additional cost for the rest of the billing period. If you exceed the data included in your rate plan, you’ll be charged the rates that apply to your domestic plan/usage.

Note: the 20-day maximum Roam Better fee applies separately to the U.S. ($13 a day) and all other eligible destinations ($16 a day). For example, if you spend 20 days in the U.S. and then 10 days in Mexico within one monthly billing period, you’ll be charged 20 days for the U.S. ($260 total) and 10 days for Mexico ($160 total).

For any days that you don’t use voice, text or data in a Roam Better destination, you won’t be charged the Roam Better – with home data daily fee. If you’ve added Roam Better but don’t want to be charged when arriving at your Roam Better destination, make sure data roaming is turned off on your device, don't make or answer any calls, and don't send any text messages.

The daily fee applies separately to each line using Roam Better – with home data.

[MORK2024]

I had a similar issue recently, receiving Bell's text notifications that I was roaming outside the country while in the UK and on a cruise. The data roaming and mobile data were off. According to the customer service rep, the only way to ensure that "incoming" voice calls or texts are disabled is to have the phone in Airplane Mode or to have the phone turned off in addition to the "mobile data" and "data roaming." Unfortunately, this is not something that is advised to customers by Bell or on the Bell website when traveling outside the country.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

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.

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.

The surest method to avoid any further roaming charges is to turn your device Airplane mode to on or remove your SIM before travelling. This will eliminate any potential future charges. You will still be able to connect to a Wi-Fi network & use Bluetooth. You would just need to turn them on manually.

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.

Coverage Map & Travel Options | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

Roam Better FAQ | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

Take care.

[Trickyrick]

Can I use airplane mode on bell sim and use an esim for the country im in, or do I have to remove the bell sim card