Mobile Data Roaming off, still get charged

I’ve the same issue on an IPhone XR.

I’ve an eSim from another country with data roaming turned off. Regardless, I get billed data roaming charges from the provider for a few kB. It is a small amount of data, often around 1.72kB upload and 0.29kB download per connection, nevertheless it adds up. For the current billing cycles, data roaming charges are already at 4.5 EUR.

Observing the matter, my suspicion is that whenever the iPhone regains cellular connection (e.g After restart/airplane mode) charges occur.

When I switch off data roaming, I expect there to be no data connection via that sim.

Please rein estimate this issue.

thank you

I've just had the same problem with my iPhone 11 Pro Max (iOS always updated). I live in EU and have an eSIM from a local provider. I went to UK for the holidays and followed Apple's instructions about roaming to the letter:

About mobile data roaming options for your iPhone and iPad – Apple Support (UK)

Actually, Data Roaming is always OFF on my phone. Nevertheless, I'm being charged for internet roaming — all the same, small amounts of data here and there.

So, if it's happening with different customers, on different providers, in different countries, if it's happening even if we follow Apple's official support guidelines about roaming — which are pretty clear —, how is it possible that it's a carrier problem — every carrier, everywhere? — and not a phone problem? Dismissing it like that is not only ridiculous, but disrespectful.

I shouldn't have to bother about towers and antennas, that's why I chose Apple. It shouldn't even reach for data! Data Roaming Off doesn't work as it should, just acknowledge it, for honesty's sake.

There are 4 system services that keep on doing this, even when wifi is connected.

Push notification

software updates

find my

cellular services

from itemized bill from provider, it says after very 15 mins, iphone keep doing 1024 kb of data transfer.

At this point of point seems to be Apple's issues.

I have the same issue with my iPhone X with a physical SIM card from an EU country. On a recent trip outside of EU, I turned off roaming, but still incurred charges for tiny amounts of data even though I do not have mobile data on. The bill showed 41 connections at about 48 KB each over a period of about 1 week. I contacted the carrier but they cannot provide any more information about these.

I believe this is an Apple problem, because if my phone’s UI tells me data is off and roaming is off, then there should be no data traffic whatsoever.

Hey there Joel,

While 6KB is extremely small, you'll want to reach out to your carrier regarding billing details involving cellular usage. Regarding your questions about roaming with your carrier, this is also something you'll need to reach out to your carrier to ask.

If you believe there's a technical issue occurring from the Apple end of things, please provide us more details as to why you think that is. The more details we have, the better we'll understand what's happening.

Cheers!

Thanks for following up Joel1010,

Roaming charges are recorded by the towers you connect to and then remit to your carrier. Not all carriers provide the charges in the same cycle you might be billed for them by your carrier, there might be delays. The only way to know is to check with your carrier for when the charges actually occurred or to request a refund if the charges are disputed.

Hope that helps.

That shouldn't have gone as an answer to you, ThornOfCamor. I apologize.