Is there a way TURN OFF data service while roaming?

[HowardL]

Hi there,

Just wanted to know if there is a way to temporarily turn off (suspend) data service from my account or ISP (e.g. Rogers) side? (not in iPhone turn cellular / roaming off).

I see there is different opinions about why there is still data charge though "Cellular" has been turned off, so now I just wanted to know whether there is a way really disconnect from data while keeping message.

I will stay out of Canada for months, as a result, turn off data but keep receiving message function is important.

Please advise.

Thanks.

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[LordDrakkon]

iMessage requires data or WiFi to function outside of SMS. MMS use data as well. Even if Rogers suspended your data on their end. Once your device connects to a tower to main that connection for your phone and SMS. You are going to be charged for Roam Like Home unless you don't have Roam Like Home on your line.

Your best option is to put your device in Airplane Mode and only connect to WiFi while abroad. Not being in Airplane Mode allows apps that have hidden permissions to override the devixes state and enable data are always going to function regardless. This is the nature of how devices work in today's world. Some apps can even override the devuces state in Airplane Mode and use data without any sort of notification to the user.

[HowardL]

As mentioned, just wanted to know if there is a way to do so: suspend cellular data from ISP or myAccount.

About whether it's possible (technically) data happens under "Cellular Off", I've seen many discussions.

I have no 3rd party APPs installed in my iPhone, I don't use iMessage - data function (in "Cellular OFF", iMessage only send/receive by SMS), while keeping "cellular data" off MMS won't be successfully sent/received.

The only purpose is to receive text message (verification code) while I am out of Canada, and it's not possible to put my iPhone Airplane mode since I need to receive text message.

So, again, I just wanted to know if there is a way to do so.

[HowardL · Accepted solution]

I just find a workaround: I put my only SIM card in a very out-dated mobile phone now (move the SIM from iPhone to the out-dated mobile phone). The out-dated mobile phone functionally completely does not support data. But it can receive message.

I think is completely not possible to have "data" in bill under this situation.😅

In case there is still "data" in bill.......

[LordDrakkon]

If your alternative is a device that old. Will it even work on an international network? No 3G in the US and 2G is reserved for FirstNet. Australia has also shutdown their 2G and 3G networks and blocked access to their network for all devices that do not support the band required, band 28, to access 000.

[HowardL]

Good point and thanks for reminding. the old mobile phone can access my current local network, will see if it can receive message later.

[57]

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@HowardL wrote:

Good point and thanks for reminding. the old mobile phone can access my current local network, will see if it can receive message later.

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Rogers still has 3G active in Canada until summer 2025. After that 3G will no longer be available here and in many other countries already.

As we have discussed in many threads on this forum, the only sure fire way to avoid roaming is:

- Remove the Rogers SIM before leaving on your trip.

- Keep the phone in airplane mode and use WiFi.

https://communityforums.rogers.com/t5/Account-Support/Roaming-like-home/m-p/518044/highlight/true#M3...

https://communityforums.rogers.com/t5/Network-Coverage/Understanding-How-Roaming-Works/m-p/531963

If you're going to be away for months, you should consider a SIM for that/those location(s) and advise those who need to know of that phone number.

Don't forget, as I mentioned in one of your other threads, some companies and institutions will not send MFA to certain countries due to scammers, so you may not be able to rely on your phone for that functionality, regardless of SIMs, costs, etc.  

[HowardL]

If there is a way to turn off data while roaming, please advise.

As OP said, I understand and have seen many discussions as well, I also had read your points to remove SIM or turn on airplane mode, I also have a local SIM.

But, the main topic of this post is to ask a way to keep Rogers SIM receiving message while turn off / not have any data to avoid the wrong billing, it had happened several times to me.

Why I need to ask this? it's because I need to receive verification code via text from somewhere like CRA, Bank, Stock Companies, they DON'T support non-Canadian (or US, non +1 code) phone number to input or choose country code for user's primary phone number.

At the time I was prepaid user, I can successfully receive them in the past years every time when I traveled out of Canada for short or long time, in case there is wrong charges for data / call / message, they were small amount and because of "prepaid" I could check balance to know if there is anything charged AND there is balance limit in my account.

But now, I was pushed to be a postpaid user, AND at the first day of being a postpaid user, I got wrongly charged Roam Like Home for $15, after immediate research, I see posts here about similar cases or wrong charges at bigger amount.

For text / call, the phone keeps record, so I can have proof when share concerns to Rogers or CCTS when there is wrong charge, but for data usage, in the phone, there is not a way (unless install 3rd party APP) to proof the usage.

As a result, I need to find a way to keep receiving message AND turn off the data.

I hope above explains the reason about this post and what have been read / understand.

If there is a way, please advise.

[57]

1. Phones have a setting to turn off cellular data and to turn off data roaming.  Unfortunately as discussed in the Cellular Data thread, there may still be small amounts of data despite this setting, depending on apps on your phone, etc.  Rogers will not turn this data off if you have data as part of your plan, you can only do this via your phone's settings.  Although you should not be charged, sometimes the billing system may charge you anyway and you'll have to fight the charges.  Obviously turning off Roam Like Home is a good idea unless you intend to use your phone like home and are willing to pay those charges.

2. You were not forced to go to Rogers postpaid. You could have gone to Chatr prepaid, or another provider.  Chatr prepaid has the "real time" transaction history available as we saw in the Cellular Data thread.  You were not "wrongly charged".  You just were not aware of these charges as any international traveller should be.  You can still switch to prepaid service if that's what you want.  Prepaid also has the advantage that you cannot be charged more than your balance, so I only keep a small balance there for emergency use.

3. As mentioned, you may need to find another way to obtain verification codes when travelling.  For example, an app that can receive texts via WiFi with airplane mode enabled, but again, in a foreign country, this may not work properly...

Edit, just as an FYI, although I have seen some smaller data use as discussed in the Cellular data thread despite having cellular data turned off, I have not seen any charges. Also, I have data roaming turned off always, and so far that shows as zero usage, despite a few days spent in the US...

[HowardL]

1. Turn off Roam Like Home does not mean of avoiding wrong charge nor mean has no charge of data while roaming: $12/50MB, in another word, if Rogers's system records data usage from my phone, I will be charged (regardless if I used it or not). As you said, if this happened again, I need to share concern again in such kind of situation. So, let's back to the topic but not off, as you answered, there is no way to suspend it from myAccount or ISP (Rogers) side. (Thanks).

2. I was forced (most likely, so I used "pushed"), I've seen some cases Chatr prepaid user cannot have international services (cellular / message) or has poor connectivity. As a user currently stay out of Canada until next February or March, we are also not possible to keep the number move to another ISP like Bell since it requires physical visit the Bell's or Rogers store. 

2.1 Regardless Roam Like Home or not, roaming usage gets charged, I know this. Unenroll Roam like Home just makes the charge smaller amount, but charge is still there. $0.75/text send, $1.45(or such)/min call, $12/50MB data.

2.2 I am wrongly charged, Rogers has checked, confirmed and credited the wrong charge back (this time it's not because of data, but wrongly charged my call, but it was the 1st day I become to postpaid user, how can I trust the billing / recording system?).

AND let's don't make off topic post, as mentioned times, I know there are discussions about how data can happen while in "data off", I don't wanted to discuss about this technically in this post that's why I said times, I only wanted to know if there is a way to do what OP asks.

about your Edit: I saw similar situation happens when I was a prepaid user, certain amount (small) data in transaction/usage history, in most of time I were not charged, but in those cases, they were because the total data usage amount were still in the package, after exceeding, I got charged 1 time and (if I remember) I claimed it back.

Anyway, now I know there is no way to turn data off from ISP (Rogers) side nor from myAccount suspend data.

Thanks for your replies.

[HowardL]

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@57 wrote:

Rogers will not turn this data off if you have data as part of your plan, you can only do this via your phone's settings. 

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Let's make this as answer.