Unsubscribe from Roam Better

[queequeg]

It was as easy as sending a text message to subscribe to Roam Better.

However, Bell makes it insiduously difficult to unsubscribe (probably in the hope you forget your setting and pay a 14$/day fee next time you travel with your SIM card and you forget you had the service on: it will charge you as soon as any app on your phone ping the network, which means almost certainly every day of your travel).

The MyBell app (mobile or web) does not permit you to deactivate the feature, what gives? Bell wants you to *contact them* to unsubscribe. Seems very dishonest to me!

Anyone knows if there is a text message option to unsubscribe, just like the one that allows you to subscribe?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.
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.

[Kevinkk]

That’s fair. Actually I been a BELL customer for years. This service is ensuring the usage of data with free worries so don’t complain. Just turn off roaming and would be fine if we don’t want to be charged. 

[RRH]

How do I turn off my travel?

[WelshTerrier]

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

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 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.

Take care.

[Val]

The whole point of this thread is about Bell's behavior. I would like to have FULL control of my phone without having to ask, beg, or whatever it takes to get Bell to turn off roaming. Bell's policy creates a situation where I will be charged for roaming. Turning on Airplane mode is not a solution since most travelers use travel eSIMs. So, Airplane mode is a no-go. If Bell cared about their clients (and not just trying to rip them off), it would allow users to control roaming from the app. SO simple.

I regret signing a 2-year contract, which would be too expensive for me to break. But as soon as the term ends, I will leave Bell's service and never look back. Realistically, with my experience, Bell is losing. The number of potential clients I advised against Bell is significant, and Bell has lost a lot.

All the best.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

@Val Please see my earlier correspondence. If these suggestions are inconvenient & not to your liking, there is one other choice that may be of assistance.

You mentioned most travelers use travel eSIMs. If that is the case, when you are travelling & you have purchased an eSIM, there is no need for you to use the Bell SIM. Power your device completely off before travel & remove your Bell SIM.

Activating an eSIM or inserting a dual SIM can trigger a roaming charge if the Bell SIM is left in place.

You now a number of choices:

1. Call Bell Mobility & remove the feature or restrict its use on your account.
2. Turn off data & roaming.
3. Turn on Airplane mode.
4. Remove your Bell SIM before travel & activate a travel SIM or eSIM.
5. Leave your device completely powered off.

These are only suggestions for you to consider so that you can avoid all travel charges.

Take care.

[Val]

yes, you are "right". Especially number 6, but I will do #7 as soon I can - change the provider. The number 7 would give me a perfect option to use esim and use my regular phone calls and messages without triggering roaming. it's called WiFi calling, but Bell decided to rip us a little more by blocking that option. Higher than other providers' roaming fee. 
Option 7!!! Unless Bell would change the policy 
Nothing personal, I am just trying to let other people know that Bell Mobility is not the best option for several reasons. I have used cell phones for many years and help my customers when some issues arise. I can compare the customer service, reception and other features. Bell is far from being a good service provider. Again, my point - Bell should give an easy option to control the services customers are paying for. 
all the best

[JPBCan]

Val,

I completely agree with 7.  Technically there is nothing preventing that … moving to an eSIM and disabling my home sim means that i receive no inbound calls or texts. If i leave my CDN sim on and remove roam better (it is $2.50 per minutes and $.99 per text) There is no way Bell could come up with an affordable plan and profitable (sarcasm).  When an eSIM costs $30 for two weeks vs. $16 x 14 … the choice is obvious to go with an eSim as primary.  But even then, 20 or 30 texts from home defeats the whole purpose of it, considering the voice network and sms are separate from data, this shouldn’t be a problem to solve.  They need a voice & sms only, roam better plan without data or enable a reasonable wifi calling plan.  I am now paying 99 cents for every text message so i have disabled my Canadian SIM.  Even in an environment of no real competition, this will have me looking to leave after being a customer for 30+ years.

[Du]

I traveled outside Canada. But the bell chafe me 160 every month without any usage. The SIM card was taken out from phone. How can I cancel the roaming service 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

If you do not want to be billed for roaming services, I would remove the feature or restrict it on my account. 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.

[Tommy 2 Phones]

So here’s the trick everyone is looking for. 

The cancel or unsubscribe to Roam Better, simply text REMOVEROAM to 8000. You’ll immediately get a response confirming the cancellation. 

just did it and it works fine. 

hope this helps everyone here. 

[Irritated customer]

Absolutely the worst feature of all.  Money grab.  Now I have to call you slow customer service and wait hours.  

[Gdub]

This is absolutely ridiculous. I'm on a cruise in the middle of the ocean and every island we go by I get a text saying I'm roaming like home. There's absolutely no way for me to turn it off. How is this not just a toggle within your account. This is predatory. 

[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. 

In the interim, please follow these steps that I have included. This will solve your immediate issue in terms of any unwanted charges until you return to Canada. If your device is in Airplane mode, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network & Bluetooth manually.

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

Upon return to Canada, if you do not want to be billed further roaming services, I would remove the feature or restrict it on your account. This can be completed immediately by calling a Bell Customer Service representative. Taking this feature off via online is not available.

To unsubscribe from Roam Better - with home data, please contact Bell Mobility at: 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.