Level 1

17 points

Data roaming charges incurred even when turned off??

I am wondering if anyone has had a similar problem lately and what, if anything, apple is prepared to do? I scanned the boards here a bit and the first instance of this that I saw was in 2010 so surely in the last 4 years someone has looked into it?

We went to the US from Canada for 10 days. Ensured that Data Roaming was off on phones. Now as an apple user, I am accustomed to the user friendly setup. Generally if the button says 'I Do this please tap here' I expect that when I tap it that it will actually do that.

I have just found out our data roaming bill from our trip is up an extra $400 from data roaming charges. If I turned data Roaming off, why is my phone allowing data usage when roaming in another network?? For example, when the local hotel wifi cut out the new iphone 5's we just got a month ago assuming everything works fine on them, decided to continue whatever we were doing but over the data network. Why is it defaulting to data when roaming is turned off? Also eh is the phone allowing things like location services to use data while roaming, when again roamjng is off?

I don't get it. If turning off data roaming doesn't actually turn OFF data roaming why is there a data roaming setting implying that it will do so? Why not just say to turn off all cellular data? OH WAIT! That doesn't work EITHER! Apparently even with both cellular data and data roaming turned off, location services and other apps can STILL access data. Even Airplane mode doesn't technically turn off all data use.

What's the freaking point of having settings that 'turn off' features if they don't actually turn them off completely? Apparently with all data off we are still supposed to be able to send and receive texts. I have not found that to work at all either.

Just wondering is there any point to even having an iphone on at all while traveling internationally? I mean I assumed turning on airplane mode essentially your phone becomes a glorified iPod.

Anyone??

iPhone 4, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Mar 4, 2014 7:54 AM

Top-ranking reply

Tim Farnan

Level 1

32 points

Posted on Aug 29, 2014 6:44 PM

Use Airplane mode, and turn WiFi on. Your only network connection will be via WiFi. If you are international, and want to avoid any cell use, you must be in Airplane Mode, which turns off the cell voice/data. It's easy to test, because you will get nothing except a dialog telling you to turn off Airplane mode or turn on WiFi. It's also not in the carrier's interest to tell their customer that "operator error" was at fault. That is why they told you "iPhone has a problem", which is the easiest way for the carrier rep to push the blame to someone else. In the end, you still need to pay, and they have you believing that the phone (not you) was the problem.

View in context

23 replies

Feb 17, 2017 5:25 AM in response to vippiv

Unfortunately still today there is no answers neither support from Apple for this HUGE BUG!

I'm using an iPhone 6s iOS 10.2.1 and still exists such data roaming usage. Really don't know what to do anymore.

It is tough having to have these issues till today.

May 31, 2017 8:37 AM in response to fhebig

The answer:

Iphones have several extra features that can mess-up your data usage, if you are not aware of them.

Airplane mode does block you from receiving any signals and sending any signals, which would make additional data usage on airplane mode impossible if IPhone had not also decided to add wifi-data assist which over-rides airplane mode and your phone will start using data, to speed up wifi.

Ontop of that iPhones also do daily backups just after midnight, backing up all of your messages, and mms messages, and unfortunately iPhones refuse to use wifi for this, they will ONLY do this on mobile data.

nalepa

Level 1

4 points

Nov 6, 2017 2:56 AM in response to chaner2015

just returned again from overseas again with new iphone 7 plus and this time switched off data roaming. but telstra now have this $10 international plan if switched on and they charge if i make just one call or do data. so there are days i do not used the phone but this one hour data charge triggers this pack on. Now instead of cents per day I pay $10 which means I have to switch this feature off.

why do i get data being charge per hour when when mobile data is switched off.

The Telstra shop boys could see this on my bill but had no explanation.

bustri

Level 1

4 points

Dec 1, 2017 8:24 AM in response to fhebig

I've had the same problem! I buy minutes for my iPhone 5 as needed. Minutes are "stolen" from my iPhone even when I have not used it all! The carrier, T-Mobile, sez these are "roaming charges" even tho roaming is OFF!

Terry Trowbridge 12/2017

AmishCake

Level 6

9,648 points

Mar 4, 2014 12:19 PM in response to fhebig

Have you asked your carrier why this happened?

verison

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2016 4:24 AM in response to fhebig

This happened to me also since I updated my iPhone 6 to latest IOS 9.2.

Everything was working properly before that on all my iphones.

vippiv

Level 1

10 points

Dec 12, 2016 6:13 AM in response to fhebig

Fighting this with T-Mobile now. Had data roaming switched to off, iPhone 6 on iOS 10 still connected and was billed $100 for 2 minutes or so.

T-mo blaming Apple, Apple blaming T-mo.

Aug 13, 2017 5:59 AM in response to fhebig

I too had a similar issue recently. Does Apple provide some solution for this?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Data roaming charges incurred even when turned off??