Roaming Cost question

[alam]

hi everyone, i am about to go to the USA and i have a 20gb data plan call text Canada free, and my question is when i go to america, is there a way I can use my data without making calls and all, just data when i roam around at no cost.

[dks]

You have a couple of options. You can shut your cellular data off entirely or you can add the Roam Better add on which will allow you to use your data you have on your Bell account already. See here. https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Coverage_map

[WelshTerrier]

Before you leave Canada, turn off Data, & Roaming in your settings. Turn on Airplane mode. By following these steps you will not  be charged for data, etc. You will be able to manually connect to a Wi-Fi  network & Bluetooth. You will be able check your email using a browser when connected to a network. You will be able to view movies, listen to music, etc. previously download. You will not be able text, message, etc.

Enjoy your holiday!

[Silverfox]

What is best for our phones when travelling to the Dominican. We may use data

[WelshTerrier]

Could you explain further?

Do you want to use data or do you want to avoid using data? If you want to avoid using data, then please review my earlier reply. "Before you leave Canada, turn off Data, & Roaming in your settings. Turn on Airplane mode."

By following these steps you will not be charged for data, etc." You will still be able to connect to the internet by connecting manually to a local Wi-Fi network.

If you plan on using data, texting, email, social apps, etc. then Roaming or Pay per use are the only other viable options. I have included the following for your reference. Select your country & you will be able to view comparative costs.

 Coverage Map & Travel Options | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

 Take care & enjoy your trip.

[Roaming Billing]

The Canadian Telecommunications commission mentions that providers should not charge more than 100$ per billing cycle.  Please clarify ?https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/mobile/trav.htm#

[WelshTerrier]

Your provider is required to notify you when you are roaming and must limit data roaming charges to $100 per billing cycle, unless you explicitly agree to more charges.

The $100 data roaming block that was mentioned is specifically only for if you have pay per use, also know as not having Roam Better added onto your account. Once you hit that $100 limit, you would be prompted to add Roam Better to your plan to continue using data.

With Roam Better specifically, the daily fee is capped to 20 days each billing cycle. This is calculated separately for US roaming as opposed to international roaming; so you can have 20 days of US roaming and 10 days of international roaming, but not 25 days of US roaming and 5 days of international roaming, for example.

For more information, take a look at our Roam Better FAQ .

Thank for for contacting the Bell Community Forum.

Take care.

[Service User]

• If I am in a different country than Canada. Do I get roaming charges for receiving text as well ?

[WelshTerrier]

Yes.

While outside of Canada, making and receiving calls, sending & receiving 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 and / or Pay Per Use usage rates. 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.

If you want to avoid any charges while travelling outside of Canada, turn off your data & roaming in settings on your device. You should also turn on Airplane mode.

Airplane mode setting when turned on, will eliminate all potential roaming charges when travelling. You won't be able to send or receive text messages or phone calls, or use data services, but you can connect to a Wi-Fi network to check your email or browse the internet. This by far is the safest method of avoiding all roaming charges. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can also be enabled separately while the device is in Airplane mode.

Than you for reaching out to the Bell Community Forum.

Take care.

[George3]

I have Roam Better and am in the U.S. If I text once per day, am I charged $13 for each day?

[WelshTerrier]

That is correct.

You’ll 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.

Thank you for your question.

Take care. Enjoy your trip.

[Eddie66]

What do i add  to my plan to travel in the USA for 3 days so I can use data

[WelshTerrier]

Which mobility plan do you subscribe to? Roam Better - with home data is available to customers on most monthly plans. It is not available on prepaid plans, corporate accounts and plans that include roaming services.

To get Roam Better - with home data, simply text ROAM to 8000 or add Roam Better through MyBell. Once you add it, you’ll automatically enjoy affordable daily rates for each day you call, text or use data with your phone when roaming in any of the Roam Better destinations.

The following web link will answer most of your Roam Better travel questions:

https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Coverage_map

Thank you for contacting the Bell Community Forum.

Take care. Enjoy your trip.

[MichelK]

Hi it has been 2 time I’m travelling those 2 pasts month. Everytime either I want to make sure my phone is not connecting to the network or I want to insert a local SIM card to avoid roaming fees. 

my wife has the same service as me and try to do the same. But the fees are so high that it makes it almost impossible to avoid any fees. At 5$/mo of data. Even if you only connect for a fees second you get your email downloaded and many other thinks on a modern phone. 

how is it possible to turn your phone on and not get charged something. Even the SMS telling you that you are in another country seems to count as roaming. 

This doesn’t make sense. 
is there a way to get the money back?

its clearly not attended to be used but used against my will. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the bell Community Forum

Roam Better is a feature on your Bell Mobility Plan that is only activated once your SIM card connects to a network outside of Canada. Therefore if you remove your Bell Mobility SIM card prior to arriving in the country and plan to connect to their network, Roam Better will not be activated.

If you plan on connecting to the local network that you are travelling to, make sure your Bell SIM card is not in the device. This will prevent any roaming charges.

If you do not plan on connecting to the local network, then there is no need to remove your Bell Mobility SIM card. In this case, you only need to turn  Cellular Data & Roaming off; & turn  Airplane mode on to avoid Roaming charges.

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.

If you'd still like to unsubscribe from Roam Better - with home data, please call BELL Mobility. This can be completed immediately by the Customer Service representative. Taking this feature off via online is not available. 

To contact Bell Mobility call: 1-800-667-0123  or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device. It can be removed immediately while you are online with them.

Thank you for reaching out to the Bell Community Forum.

Take care.

[JA1]

Hello what is roaming usage? I am in Belgium. I was notified by email and text that I am using Roaming services but my cellular data setting is off. Would I be charged for Roaming even when my cellular data are off?