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

[mema]

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 ?

[BellAntgio · Accepted solution]

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. 

[AlexS]

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

[Jim4]

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.

[cynthiale]

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?

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

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

[euglena]

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

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

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

[CICI_25]

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

[WelshTerrier]

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

[Jim5]

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.

[WelshTerrier]

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:

1. Have the Bell representative permanently remove the roaming feature from your account.
2. 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.
3. 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

[ktompson]

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 

[Brian-88]

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. 

[ktompson]

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”