International CDMA Roaming
General Information
Can I use my Verizon Wireless phone to make and receive calls when
traveling internationally?
You can use your current Verizon Wireless phone, or a Global Phone in
CDMA Mode, to make and receive calls in over 40 international
countries and U.S. territories. For service availability and rate
information, visit International Roaming Rates and Coverage.
Back to top
Can I use my Verizon Wireless phone to make and receive calls while
on-board cruise ships?
You can use your Verizon Wireless CDMA phone to make and receive calls
while traveling on select cruise lines. For service availability and
rate information, visit International Roaming Rates and Coverage and
scroll down to Cruise Ship Coverage.
Back to top
Are there any equipment or service requirements to roam internationally?
If you are going to travel abroad to any CDMA Country follow these steps:
Verify you have International Dialing capability on your phone by
dialing 611 to reach a Customer Service Representative before leaving
the United States.
Dial *228 to update
your roaming capabilities.
You may need International Eligibility to roam in many countries.
representative for details.
Back to top
How do I access Voice Mail while traveling internationally?
If you are roaming with your Verizon Wireless phone, or Global Phone
in CDMA Mode, you can check your voice mail by dialing your Verizon
Wireless phone number, then enter the # key and follow the
instructions. You will need to use the International Dialing
Instructions format for dialing back to the U.S. from your current
location.
Back to top
Will my voice features be available while traveling internationally?
Certain features are subject to local capabilities and may not be
available while roaming internationally.
Back to top
What is the dialing pattern while traveling internationally?
Please review the International Dialing Instructions for making calls
with your current Verizon Wireless phone while traveling
internationally in CDMA Countries or with your Global Phone in CDMA
Mode.
Below are general instructions. However we suggest you visit the
International Roaming Rates and Coverage page of our website. Once
there, select your destination or country from Voice Rates/Coverage
Table. After you select your destination and you're directed to the
corresponding web page, you will need to scroll down to the Dialing
Instructions section for your destination.
Calling when traveling outside of the U.S. while in CDMA mode:
Enter the exit code for the country from which you are calling.
Enter the country code of the person you are calling ("1" for the U.S.).
Enter the area code/city code, followed by the number of the person
you are calling.
Note: Countries such as Bermuda, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican
Republic are on the North America dialing plan and no exit code is
required to call back to the United States. Please refer to the
specific destination or country you will be traveling to for detailed
dialing instructions by visiting the International Roaming Rates and
Coverage page of our website.
Back to top
What are the rates for calls made and received while traveling
internationally?
Rates for International Roaming in CDMA countries vary. Please consult
the International Roaming Rates and Coverage section of our website.
After accessing the International Roaming Rates and Coverage section,
select the destination you will be traveling to. Detailed information
appears on the destination’s page of our website.
Back to top
Re: International Traveling - Canada
Options
04-03-2010 02:23 AM
Don't move to the Nationwide+Canada plan, it doesn't make sense for
your small trip. Your best bet is leaving the roaming rate the same,
limit your calls, and for those 3-4 days change to global data plan.
They won't charge for the full month, just the days that you have the
data package on there. Since both are unlimited you won't have to
worry about overages due to prorates.
If you really want to they will prorate you for that Nationwide +
Canada plan for the length of time you will be gone but it would make
a mess of your bill, you'd be prorated for your normal plan until your
trip, have the prorated Canada plan, and then prorated for you
remaining days on your normal pla
==========================
FILED UNDER: WIRELESS
5 0 Share
Update 11:47 a.m. PDT: This story has been updated with additional
information about Verizon Wireless' international roaming
voice and data plans. Information about roaming in Japan and South
Korea has also been updated.
It's summer time. And you know what that means: Harrowing
international travel with your cell phone.
While the sour economy may be keeping some travelers closer to home
this summer, good deals on flights and hotels, and the growing
strength of the U.S. dollar are enticing some travelers to grab their
passports and book a flight to Europe and other parts of the world. (I
happen to be one of them. I just bought a plane ticket to go to France
in August.)
And since cell phones are now so much a part of our everyday lives,
it's hard to part with them when we hop on a plane to another
country. But stories of $3,000 iPhone bills when we return, have
scared many consumers into turning off their phones or leaving them
Going abroad? Don't be afraid to pack the cell phone
But what if you'd like to check in on the kids back home during your
trip, or you need to find your travel
companions while wandering around the Gothic quarter in Barcelona? Or
maybe you've met some nice
locals who want to catch up with you later, but they need your number
to text you? Well, I'm here to tell
you that firing up the cell phone in another country need not be as
scary or expensive as you think.
But first you need the facts. To help you get started, I've put
together this FAQ that can answer some basic questions about which
phones
and carriers offer service abroad and how much you can expect to pay.
For more information, check out your carrier's Web site. Also
check out a couple of stories written by my CNET Reviews colleague
Kent German, who has written a very informative Quick Guide to
international phone usage as well as a comparison of some of the
hottest world phones on the market.
Does it matter which wireless operator I have if I want to use my phone
abroad?
Yes it does. While all of the four major wireless operators in the
U.S. can provide international roaming in some parts of the world,
some carriers are more limited in where they can offer service based
upon the technology they use.
In the U.S. wireless operators use two main cellular technologies: GSM
and CDMA .
GSM, or global system for mobile communications, is used throughout
much of the world, including in Europe (where it's the standard),
Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Australia, and New
Zealand, as well as much of Asia and the Middle East. In the U.S.,
AT&T and T-Mobile USA operate GSM networks. As a result AT&T and
T-Mobile have the most extensive networks abroad.
AT&T has roaming agreements in more than 190 countries throughout the
world. Its triband and quadband phones will work in most parts
of the world, except in Japan and South Korea, where you'll need a
special phone that either supports CDMA or uses the 3G standard
UMTS in the 2100 MHz frequency band. Sony Ericsson, Nokia, and a few
other phone manufacturers now offer multi-band GSM phones
that also include support for UMTS 2100. Coverage also extends to some
cruise ships.
T-Mobile USA is owned by German telecom provider Deutsche Telekom,
which operates its T-Mobile wireless service in seven
countries in Europe, including Germany, the U.K., and the Netherlands.
T-Mobile has roaming agreements with over 190 countries and
also provides service throughout Central America, Australia, much of
South America, and some countries in Africa. It also offers
coverage on some cruise ships. Like AT&T, service in Japan and South
Korea requires a special phone.
CDMA, which stands for code division multiple access, has less
worldwide coverage than GSM. The U.S. is one of the biggest markets
for CDMA. This is the technology that is used by the largest operator
in the U.S.: Verizon Wireless. Sprint's PCS network also uses
CDMA. The old Nextel portion of Sprint's network uses a different
technology called iDEN, which is used in a limited number of places
outside the U.S.
Verizon Wireless, which is jointly owned by Verizon Communications and
the world's largest wireless operator Vodafone, has roaming
agreements with more than 40 countries for its CDMA service and more
than 220 countries that use GSM. Verizon subscribers can use
their CDMA handsets to roam in China and Taiwan, Guam, Guatemala,
Indonesia, Vietnam, Israel, India, New Zealand, Thailand, Mexico,
South Korea, much of South America, and a few Caribbean islands. A
software upgrade may be required for some countries. Coverage is
available on some cruise ships as well.
Sprint CDMA subscribers can roam in 26 countries and four U.S.
territories. And the company has agreements with carriers in more
than 100 countries to offer service for a CDMA/GSM phone. The iDEN
network only offers services in 11 countries and one U.S.
territory. A Sprint CDMA phone should work in most of Central and
South America and the Caribbean along with New Zealand,
Indonesia, China and Taiwan, South Korea, India, Israel, Thailand, and
a few U.S. territories.
As for Nextel users, iDEN roaming is limited to Canada, Chile, Mexico,
Argentina, Jordan, Peru, Brazil, the Philippines, Singapore,
South Korea, and Israel. Nextel also offers a dual mode iDEN/GSM phone
called the Motorola i930, which can be used for voice calling
in about 100 countries.
The bottom line is that the devices used on AT&T's and T-Mobile's
networks are more likely to work in more countries around the world
than devices used on Verizon Wireless or Sprint's networks.
Does this mean that any GSM phone from AT&T or T-Mobile will work in
Europe or a GSM network in Asia?
Not necessarily. GSM carriers may be the best choice for
globe-trotters, especially those traveling in Europe, but not every
GSM phone
works in every country. The reason is that different regions of the
world use different frequency bands to transmit GSM signals. In the
U.S., GSM operators only use the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands.
In Europe they use the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency
bands. Japan and South Korea use the 2100 MHz band. So to make sure
you're covered in most regions, you should either get a triband(GSM
900/1800/1900) or quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) phone. Travelers in
Japan and South Korea will likely need a new
phone, since wireless operators in Japan and South Korea do not use
GSM. That said, carriers in Japan and South Korea are using the
same 3G standard that GSM carriers are using, which means that phones
supporting a technology called UMTS or Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System using the 2100 MHz spectrum band will also
work in Japan and South Korea. If you don't have a phone that
supports this technology, you can rent one from your service provider
or buy a prepaid phone once you get there. In Japan, users are
required to register with the carrier to activate a prepaid phone.
Do Verizon Wireless and Sprint have any "world phones" that can be
used in countries where GSM is the predominant cell
phone technology used?
Yes they do. Verizon offers a few "world phones" that have both CDMA
and GSM radios built in. These include, the BlackBerry 8830
World Edition, BlackBerry Storm, and the Samsung Renown.
Verizon also offers a special program for travelers who don't have a
GSM/CDMA Verizon handset and who are traveling abroad to a
country that does not use CDMA. This program, called Global Travel
Program, is offered to current Verizon Wireless subscribers
without a daily rental fee or security deposit. The program is
designed for customers traveling on short trips that last less than 21
days.
Customers can call
800-711-8300 to
speak with a Global Services
Activation specialist to request a global phone. Subscribers will get
to use their existing phone number and voice mail. And contact lists
can be transferred to the global phone. A nominal shipping fee
applies. And customers must either sign up for special international
rate plans or pay regular international rates, depending on which
country they're visiting.
Sprint also has a few world phones, such as the BlackBerry 8830 World
Edition, the Samsung IP-830w, and the HTC Touch Diamond.
Do I need to call my carrier before I leave to activate international
calling?
Yes, you should call your wireless provider to make sure your phone is
ready to make and receive calls in a foreign country. You can
also check with your carrier for the exact rates in the countries
where you'll be traveling.
How much will it cost me to use my phone in another country?
This will depend on which carrier you have service with here in the
States. Calls will be charged on a per-minute basis. For subscribers
with U.S. cell phone service, domestic voice, text message or data
plans do not apply when traveling in another country. SMS text
messaging is typically the cheapest way to communicate with people in
the country where you're traveling and also with your family and
friends back home in the U.S.
Here's a summary of what you can expect from the four major nationwide
carriers in the U.S.
AT&T offers customers a World Traveler plan, which offers discounts on
most roaming rates in more than 195 countries. The cost is
$5.99 a month. And users can sign up for the service for just one
month if they are going on a vacation, and they can cancel the service
when they return home. But AT&T officials suggest that subscribers pay
special attention to their billing cycle to make sure the plan is
activated the entire time they are away. Some readers have also
suggested keeping the plan active an extra month after you return home
to make sure there has been plenty of time for the foreign carrier you
were using to send the appropriate billing information to your
home carrier.
Without a service plan, AT&T charges per-minute roaming rates that
vary between 59 cents per minute and $3.99 per minute, depending
on the country and roaming carrier used. It costs 50 cents to send a
text message and receive text messages in a foreign country, but
receiving text messages from someone in the U.S. is free. Sending
multimedia messages is $1.30 per message, and receiving MMS
messages from the U.S. is free. For more information check out AT&T's
international roaming web page.
T-Mobile USA doesn't offer a special traveler plan. So the company
charges per-minute roaming rates. These charges range from 49
cents to $3.99 per minute, based on where you're traveling. Text
messages cost 35 cents per message to send. Incoming messages pull
from your feature bucket or are billed at 15 cents each. For more
information check out T-Mobile's international roaming
information page on its Web site.
Verizon Wireless offers a global travelers plan that offers discounted
rates on voice calls in over 150 countries for $4.99 per month.
Regular voice charges range from 69 cents to $2.99 per minute for
roaming calls. And it costs 50 cents to send a text message and 5
cents to receive a message. For more information about Verizon
Wireless's international roaming fees and services go to this website.
Sprint Nextel offers a $2.99 a month plan to let people traveling to
Canada pay only 20 cents per minute for calls. Roaming charges
vary between 59 cents to $4.99 per minute for Sprint phones. Text
messaging and multimedia messaging are billed as data services.
Nextel customers can sign up for a Direct Connect plan that allows
them to talk to other Nextel Direct Connect customers in Canada,
Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. For more information on
Sprint Nextel's international roaming check out this Web page.What
about data charges?
Travelers need to be especially careful of data charges. The rates for
data are far more expensive than for roaming voice calls and text
messages.
AT&T offers its smartphone customers that have an iPhone, BlackBerry
or Windows Mobile device a special data plan to help keep
costs down. The cheapest plan offers 20MB of data in 65 countries for
$24.99 per month. The 50MB package is $59.99 per month,
100MB package is $119.99 per month, and the 200MB package is $199.99 per
month.
Without a plan, users are charged 2 cents per kilobyte. If you're
traveling in a country that is not one of the 65 supported in the
international data plan, then standard data roaming rates apply.
AT&T officials say that subscribers need to pay special attention to
their billing cycle when signing up for an international data plan. If
a
customer signs up a couple of weeks into the billing cycle right
before a trip, the cost of the service will be prorated and so will
the total
amount of megabytes available. Customers should ask the customer
service agent who is signing them up for the plan to back-date their
plan to make sure they are getting the full bucket of data while they
are traveling on their trip. The monthly plan can be canceled without
a hassle the following month.
T-Mobile USA charges $10 per megabyte in Canada and $15.36 per
megabyte everywhere else in the world.
Verizon Wireless offers a few options for getting e-mail and surfing
the Web while on a international trip. Verizon Wireless
subscribers using either the Samsung Sagas, BlackBerry Storm, or
BlackBerry 8830 World Edition phones can get corporate and
personal e-mail while traveling abroad with a service called
GlobalEmail. The service, which provides voice service in more than
215
countries and data coverage in more than 175 destinations, costs
$64.99 a month for e-mail access coupled with a voice plan. And the
service costs $69.99 a month for access to data only.
Verizon Wireless also offers the XU870 Global ExpressCard,which fits
into laptops to provide wireless data service in more than 175
destinations. And it can provide 3G coverage in over 40 countries.
Customers can choose from monthly or pay per use plans. The
GlobalAccess Monthly plan starts at $129.99 per month for 200
megabytes of data in over 30 countries. After that limit, users are
charged $0.005 per kilobyte. The plan also allows for 5 gigabytes of
data use in the U.S. and Canada with overages charged at $0.05 per
MB. For $219.99 a month, subscribers can get up to 200 MB worth of
data with the same rates for overage as the $129.99 plan.
For subscribers who don't need a monthly plan, Verizon also offers a
GlobalAccess Pay Per Use plan. The service, which must be
purchased with a $59.99 mobile broadband service plan in the U.S.,
offers discounted rates of $0.002 per KB in Canada, $0.005 per KB
in Mexico, and $0.02 per KB in more than 175 other destinations.
Sprint Nextel's rates for data vary depending on the country you're
traveling in.
I've heard horror stories about iPhone users who have had outrageously
high phone bills after their trips abroad. Why does
this happen?
The iPhone was made for data, and as a result it can cause some
problems for international travelers, because data rates are typically
much higher than voice rates. For example, the iPhone's visual voice
mail works over the data network. So when iPhone subscribers
receive a voice mail while traveling and their phone is on, that voice
mail message will be charged a data rate, regardless of whether that
iPhone subscriber checked his voice mail. If iPhone users are having
their e-mail pushed to them all the time, this can also jack up the
price of their service. And streaming video of any kind over the
cellular network will rack up data charges very quickly regardless of
whether you're on a smartphone or using a 3G data card.
What can I do to make sure this isn't a problem for me?
Here are some suggestions from AT&T sprinkled with a couple of
suggestions of my own.
• Turn data roaming "OFF": Be sure to download and install the latest
version of iPhone software from iTunes. By default, this setting
for international data roaming will be in the "OFF" position. To turn
data roaming "ON/OFF" tap on Settings>General>Network>Data
Roaming
• Utilize Wi-Fi instead of 3G/GPRS/EDGE: Wi-Fi is available in many
international airports, hotels, and restaurants to browse the Web
or check e-mail. You can even use voice over IP services, such as
Skype to make phone calls.
• Turn fetch new data "OFF": Check e-mail and sync contacts and
calendars manually instead of having the data pushed to your iPhone
automatically. This way you can control the flow of data coming to
your iPhone. To turn off the Auto-Check functionality tap on
Settings>Fetch New Data, change Push to "OFF" and Select to Fetch
Manually• Consider purchasing an international data package:
Purchasing an international data package can significantly reduce the
cost of using
data abroad. AT&T now offers four discount international data packages.
• Reset the usage tracker to zero: When you arrive overseas access the
usage tracker in the general settings menu and select reset
statistics. This will enable you to track your estimated data usage.
To reset Usage Tracker to Zero tap on
Settings>General>Usage>Reset
• Do not download video on your iPhone or laptop while traveling. This
will help you avoid some of the most expensive data charges. If
you want to stream a movie, music video, or TV show on your phone, go
to a Wi-Fi hot spot and download movies over that network.
Are these huge data charges a problem for other smartphone users like
BlackBerry users or phones running Windows
Mobile?
Neither the BlackBerry nor Windows Mobile phones use visual voice
mail, so that is not a concern on these devices. But streaming
video on these devices could also rack up some hefty data charges as
well. So be careful.
As for downloading e-mail or receiving pushed e-mail, Windows Mobile
users should also be careful. These phones also allow users to
turn off the push e-mail function. But BlackBerry users don't have to
worry as much, because Research In Motion, the maker of the
BlackBerry, has developed a very efficient way of delivering e-mail to
end users that doesn't eat up a lot of bandwidth.
Are there any other options that may be cheaper than using my U.S.
carrier's service?
Yes, you can use an unlocked GSM handset when you're traveling abroad.
Simply put in a SIM card from a local carrier to make
inexpensive local phone calls while you're in-country as well as cheap
texting to other cell phones also in the same country in which
you're traveling.
How do I get an unlocked phone?
You can buy unlocked phones from some retailers and on various Web
sites, such as Amazon or eBay. But if you are an AT&T or TMobile USA
customer, you can also unlock the phone you have. Simply call your
provider's customer support number. (This applies to
most GSM phones except the iPhone, which AT&T will not provide an
unlock code for.)
Give them the model number of your phone, and they will send you a
special code that you will use to unlock your phone when you put in
the new SIM card. Once your phone is unlocked, it's unlocked for good
and can be used on future trips. Make sure to call your wireless
operator well in advance.
Sometimes it can take as long as a week for customer support to send
an unlock code. Again, make sure that your phone is a tri-band or
quad-band phone that will operate in the frequencies used in the
country you're visiting. Japan and South Korea will require special
handsets.
What if I am a Verizon Wireless or Sprint Nextel customer? Can I
unlock these phones and use a local SIM card?
If you have a CDMA-only or iDEN phone, the answer is no. These devices
don't use SIM cards, and they do not operate on a GSM
network. But if you have a world phone from Verizon or Sprint that
also has a GSM radio, these can also be unlocked. Call your carrier
and tell them you need the unlock code and they should send it to you.
What are the drawbacks to using a local SIM card?
Well, the most obvious drawback is that you have to find a store that
sells local SIM cards once you get to your destination. Local
mobile carrier retail locations will sell SIM cards. But some local
grocery stores or convenience stores may only sell cards to "top up"
the minutes on your phone. The second drawback is that you will be
assigned a new local phone number. So this means that friends and
family calling you from the U.S. will have to make an international
call to reach you. This also means that international calling rates
apply to you as well if you call from the country where you're
traveling to the U.S.
Also some features may not be available on your phone, such as voice
mail, call-waiting, e-mail and Web surfing. And you will not be
able to receive calls, voice mails, text messages, or e-mails sent to
your U.S. phone number while using another carrier's SIM card.
That said, using a local SIM can save you money, especially if you are
using it to make local calls. Texting is usually the cheapest method
of communication. And SIM cards can be saved and used again if you
travel to the same country again.
Are there any other useful tips I should know?
Here are some helpful tips that my colleague Kent German cited in his
Quick Guide to using your phone on international trips:
• Calls to voice mail and the operator will incur all applicable fees,
but calls to your carrier's customer service are typically free.
• The method for making local calls in each country will vary, so make
sure you know how to do so. Also, remember that emergency-E-mail
Marguerite Reardon
Marguerite Reardon
5 Share Print E-mail
dial numbers will be different from 911.
• When in a foreign country, you will have to use the appropriate
country and area codes for calls back to the States or a third
country.
To call the U.S. dial 001.
• Your phone should automatically search for and select a network in
each country, but you may have to do this yourself through your
phone's menus. You also can try turning your phone off and on again.
• Free mobile-to-mobile minutes on the same carrier usually are not
offered outside the United States.
• When roaming, the name of the local carrier will appear on your
phone's display.
• Roaming charges will show up on your normal wireless bill, though
they may take several weeks to do so.
• Not all data features will work the same way when you're abroad.
• Don't forget an electrical-plug adapter for your charger.
Kent German, a CNET Reviews senior editor, contributed to this report.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering
cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net
neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone
companies.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
I love my iPhone, Apple. I'd just like to be able to use it
internationally. On the plans you currently offer through AT&T, I
can't.
==
Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
Mark as NewBookmarkSubscribeSubscribeHighlightPrintEmail to a
FriendReport inappropriate content....07-15-2011 10:45 PM
I was up north at our cabin (in upper Michigan) and was charged $330 for
about 450 minutes for roaming, since the signal was
bouncing off Cananda for some reason. We have used our Verizon phones up
there before with no issues. The Verizon map shows
that we are in the red area, however I guess we must have stepped a foot
out of the red and all the way to Canada acrross Lake
Superior.
Question 1
So how come I can purchase a Canada plan for $70 or so bucks for a plan
over 500 minutes, but Verizon can charge me for $330
for not having the plan?
Question 2
Why doens't Verizon offer a way on their My Verizon site for us parents to
be able to turn off roaming on phones, so things
like this can't happen? My answer would be so they can make more money.
Question 3
How can you call a plan a National Plan when truly it is not? Maybe the
in-laws cabin floated accross the lake and I didn't
realize it.
Question 4
Why doesn't Verizon make it hard for you to make or accept a call when
roaming. Is it too hard to have to push a couple of
buttons on the phone telling the user to accept the $$$$$ roaming charges
per minute used? Or text the main number telling the
account owner of the charges that are occuring on his bill!
I have called Verizon customer service and asked for the charges to be
removed, however the best they would do is knock off
like 75% of the bill. However the bill is still a additional $120 bucks
with the additional taxes!
..
==
snapshot of the page as it appeared on Aug 17, 2011 05:36:59 GMT. The
current page could have changed in the meantime. Learn
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Text-only versionThese search terms are highlighted: canada usa fringe
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Billing and Usage : Roaming charges when near Canada
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Next » .Steveg52
Contributor
Posts: 5
Registered: 07-15-2011
Device: Droid 2
Plan: National Family Plan
Location: Michigan
0 ..Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-15-2011 10:45 PM
I was up north at our cabin (in upper Michigan) and was charged $330 for
about 450 minutes for roaming, since the signal was
bouncing off Cananda for some reason. We have used our Verizon phones up
there before with no issues. The Verizon map shows
that we are in the red area, however I guess we must have stepped a foot
out of the red and all the way to Canada acrross Lake
Superior.
Question 1
So how come I can purchase a Canada plan for $70 or so bucks for a plan
over 500 minutes, but Verizon can charge me for $330
for not having the plan?
Question 2
Why doens't Verizon offer a way on their My Verizon site for us parents to
be able to turn off roaming on phones, so things
like this can't happen? My answer would be so they can make more money.
Question 3
How can you call a plan a National Plan when truly it is not? Maybe the
in-laws cabin floated accross the lake and I didn't
realize it.
Question 4
Why doesn't Verizon make it hard for you to make or accept a call when
roaming. Is it too hard to have to push a couple of
buttons on the phone telling the user to accept the $$$$$ roaming charges
per minute used? Or text the main number telling the
account owner of the charges that are occuring on his bill!
I have called Verizon customer service and asked for the charges to be
removed, however the best they would do is knock off
like 75% of the bill. However the bill is still a additional $120 bucks
with the additional taxes!
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Message 1 of 24 (468 Views)
....Reply ..............Squallfyr
Bronze Contributor II
Posts: 374
Registered: 02-19-2011
Device: Lg Ally DOB:7/2010
Plan: 1400 Talk&Txt
Location: Tumwater, WA
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-15-2011 11:49 PM
Question 1 So how come I can purchase a Canada plan for $70 or so bucks
for a plan over 500 minutes, but Verizon can charge me
for $330 for not having the plan?---That plan is for people who are
traveling abroad to Canada, so instead of being charged
.69/min (Which is what you incurred I believe), the minutes are just
deducted normally. Question 2 Why doens't Verizon offer a
way on their My Verizon site for us parents to be able to turn off roaming
on phones, so things like this can't happen? My
answer would be so they can make more money.---Becuase its not a network
setting, its a physical phone setting to turn off the
"data roaming" for smartphones, or turn the basic feature phone to "home
Only". Question 3 How can you call a plan a National
Plan when truly it is not? Maybe the in-laws cabin floated accross the
lake and I didn't realize it.---Or maybe the Towers are
that powerful that it overlaps the USA?Research the board, there's other
posts like yours im sure. Question 4 Why doesn't
Verizon make it hard for you to make or accept a call when roaming. Is it
too hard to have to push a couple of buttons on the
phone telling the user to accept the $$$$$ roaming charges per minute
used? Or text the main number telling the account owner
of the charges that are occuring on his bill!---The phone would have a
indicator adviseing ROAMING......I dont know how else
you want it? ....Report inappropriate content
Message 2 of 24 (464 Views)
....Reply ..............Steveg52
Contributor
Posts: 5
Registered: 07-15-2011
Device: Droid 2
Plan: National Family Plan
Location: Michigan
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 05:26 AM
Ah yes I found that out about the home feature on a older phone that you
can turn that feature to home. I then ask you this if
the feature is there it should be turned off when you get a phone and if
you want it you can turn it on. Again Verizon wants
people to screw up so we can make more money from us. Also I was my
advised by a verizon on-line rep that there is no such
feature on my Droid Incredible. So the only real warning I got is a
welcome to Canda data warning.
Again it is far easier for ME to control what my kids phones do and don't
do by the web.
Oh sure there is a small symbol for roaming. Again it can't be too hard
for Verizon to give more warnings.
You must work for Verizon or something, because Verizon's attitude is
always we are not at fault the customer is. Sure I'm
willing to take some of the blame for giving my kid a phone, but Verizon
is mainly at fault here for not provide better ways to
block this issue.
If I had ATT in this same area, which my uncle has and has never been
charge roaming for using his phone in the same spot I
wouldn't have had this issue.
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Message 3 of 24 (456 Views)
....Reply ..............budone
Gold Contributor VII
Posts: 6,495
Registered: 10-18-2009
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 09:50 AM
Where exatly were you?? Does your invoice show you roamed off of Canada? I
guess it is possible if the VZW tower is down and
conditions were perfect, but ANY, even a useless VZW signal would keep you
from roaming.
I have never hit a Canadian tower while on the Lk Superior shoreline. Now
if on Isle Royale, it can occur.
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Message 4 of 24 (448 Views)
....Reply ..............Steveg52
Contributor
Posts: 5
Registered: 07-15-2011
Device: Droid 2
Plan: National Family Plan
Location: Michigan
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 12:15 PM
I was in Brimley, MI ....Report inappropriate content
Message 5 of 24 (442 Views)
....Reply ..............budone
Gold Contributor VII
Posts: 6,495
Registered: 10-18-2009
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada[ Edited ] .Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 12:42 PM - last
edited on 07-16-2011 12:43 PM
Brimley???? Heck from your post I thought you were hundreds of miles from
Cnaada. From Brimley on the shoreline, you are less
than 7 miles (more likely less than 5) from Canada. Not a problem to hit a
tower over there, eh.
And along the shore, there is not any VZW service. I would personally
accept the credit and pay off the rest. Then next time,
use the tools and notifications that the phones provide to determine if
the device can be used.
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Message 6 of 24 (434 Views)
....Reply ..............BigPete
Copper Contributor
Posts: 13
Registered: 06-29-2011
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 02:17 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
budone wrote:
Brimley???? Heck from your post I thought you were hundreds of miles from
Cnaada. From Brimley on the shoreline, you are less
than 7 miles (more likely less than 5) from Canada. Not a problem to hit a
tower over there, eh.
And along the shore, there is not any VZW service. I would personally
accept the credit and pay off the rest. Then next time,
use the tools and notifications that the phones provide to determine if
the device can be used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So pay the guys bill if you are so OK with it. It's such a joke the crap
these companies put us through and we are just
supposed to take it and be happy about it at the same time? Customers
should have to explicity agree to accept roaming
charges, especially if they are international.
I don't think it's reasonable for anyone to expect international roaming
charges while they are within our domestic borders.
Being close enough to the border shouldn't cause you to roam. Either way,
this is not the customers fault unless they
explicitly agreed to accept these international roaming charges.
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Message 7 of 24 (427 Views)
....Reply ..............budone
Gold Contributor VII
Posts: 6,495
Registered: 10-18-2009
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada[ Edited ] .Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 02:33 PM - last
edited on 07-16-2011 02:35 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BigPete wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
budone wrote:
Brimley???? Heck from your post I thought you were hundreds of miles from
Cnaada. From Brimley on the shoreline, you are less
than 7 miles (more likely less than 5) from Canada. Not a problem to hit a
tower over there, eh.
And along the shore, there is not any VZW service. I would personally
accept the credit and pay off the rest. Then next time,
use the tools and notifications that the phones provide to determine if
the device can be used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So pay the guys bill if you are so OK with it. It's such a joke the crap
these companies put us through and we are just
supposed to take it and be happy about it at the same time? Customers
should have to explicity agree to accept roaming
charges, especially if they are international.
I don't think it's reasonable for anyone to expect international roaming
charges while they are within our domestic borders.
Being close enough to the border shouldn't cause you to roam. Either way,
this is not the customers fault unless they
explicitly agreed to accept these international roaming charges. They were
notified they would be charged, just did not see it
or understood what the symbol meant. They did agree to pay for any fees
incurred by them or those they gave phones to. In this
case the costs did happen and luckily they are offered 75% of the charges
to be removed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The phone CLEARLY lets you know when you are roaming. There are also
things as a sub you can do to keep the phone from using a
tower you will be charged for.
I feel a 75% credit is MORE than enough of a credit. It is not the calls
could not be made. They were and costs to VZW were
incurred.
I dont think it is reasonable so many feel they need others to protect
themselves from themselves.
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Message 8 of 24 (423 Views)
....Reply ..............willzzz99
Bronze Contributor II
Posts: 199
Registered: 11-06-2010
Device: Moto Droid
Plan: 700Min/Data
Location: SE MI
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-16-2011 05:27 PM
Also you may have an OLDER PRL where the phone is dumb that it can't sense
a VZW weak signal.
To update your roaming PRL including Domestic US (everything on the phone
actually) do this:
Dial *228.
A voice will prompt you for blah blah blah. Press "2".
Let the network/phone update your phone to the latest so it stays on VZW
even on the weakest signal.
It will auto kill the call and your phone will quit and/or auto reboot. If
it auto reboots good your phone can be used more
reliably now.
If it doesn't manually reboot your phone.
Look the technology is that your phone looks for the HIGHEST SIGNAL TOWER
unless the VZW PRL/Roaming list has a setting that it
will lock onto a domestic signal no matter how weak.
I was driving through Toronto to Montreal (actually IN CANADA) near July
4th and on the Canadian freeway/roadway portions of
that roadway is EXACTLY opposite the New York border over the river.
Guess what happened? The exact opposite happened and my phone locked onto
the very weak 1 bar 1X (signal not good enough for
3G) signal across the border even though I was on the highway in Canada
crusing along (someone else was driving).
I caught some quick emails/calls even though it was very slow (data)
across the border so I didn't eat up my Canada data
roaming package.
My guess is you have a VERY OLD PRL/Roaming list on your phone from when
you activated the phone.
Update it as above.
BTW when crossing the Ambassador bridge/tunnel the VZW SID21 signal can
reach all the way deeper into Windsor, it was like
3-5km or 2-3 miles before the signal was weak enough to switch to the
Bell/Telus roaming signal SID.
It happens deal with it.
CSR (Customer Service Departments) have a procedure called 'fringe
roaming' and that is what is called in the industry.
If you can prove you were PHYSICALLY in your home country the mobile phone
carrier will reimburse you.
They do this because the business practice is 2-way if it happens to a
Bell/Telus CDMA user and it pings off VZW towers they
will be reimbursed, like-wise for VZW/Sprint users.
You don't even want to hear the horror stories of the Southern border of
the USA which borders a country which isn't a Western/
Culturally American/Canadian/European 1st world country.
Apparently THERE in El Paso AT&T phones were roaming across the border
because there were rumors of the Mexican tower operators
Alestra turning up the power (way more than allowed in 1st world countries
in reliability & spacing of the towers) in order to
DECREASE the amount of towers the operator puts in.
America like Canada has FCC/Industry Canada rules that prevent this
likewise in Europe.
So AT&T is forced to deal with this by turning off roaming on those
accounts.
Look the roaming is active by default for Canada & Mexico for customer
convience and especially BUSINESS
travelers/holidaymakers/vacationers.
To go outside of North America you would have to call to get VZW to active
your global phone's SIM card if in a GSM country
(there are countries in Asia with CDMA and some in Latin America aside
from Mexico).
Business conveience trumps everything because the roaming makes VZW money
$$$ and so does for the Canadian operators as an
alliance. (They HAVE to answer to their shareholders on the New York & TSX
(Toronto Stock Exchange).
Simple as that.
Also did you EVER read the customer manual/phone-book how to use phone
manual type thing? It says it VERY CLEARLY the roaming
signal bar/code on top and if you see that on your phone your phone is
roaming therefore your paying the VZW alliance with
other telecom operator roaming rate.
End of story.
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Message 9 of 24 (406 Views)
....Reply ..............Squallfyr
Bronze Contributor II
Posts: 374
Registered: 02-19-2011
Device: Lg Ally DOB:7/2010
Plan: 1400 Talk&Txt
Location: Tumwater, WA
0 ..Re: Roaming charges when near Canada.Options
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FriendReport inappropriate content....07-17-2011 12:08 AM
Ah yes I found that out about the home feature on a older phone that you
can turn that feature to home. I then ask you this if
the feature is there it should be turned off when you get a phone and if
you want it you can turn it on. Again Verizon wants
people to screw up so we can make more money from us.-----Im pretty sure
Verizon doesnt pay the Manufacture's to keep that
setting on.--- Also I was my advised by a verizon on-line rep that there
is no such feature on my Droid Incredible. So the only
real warning I got is a welcome to Canda data warning.-----Settings >
Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > System Select >
Home Only (apparently that rep doesnt own an Incredible? Sorry for the
misinformation but I just found it on my girlfriend's
phone) Again it is far easier for ME to control what my kids phones do and
don't do by the web. Oh sure there is a small symbol
for roaming. Again it can't be too hard for Verizon to give more
warnings.----So you want a warning when 1. A feature changes
on your account. 2. Your Bill is due 3. Your bill is late 4. Your going
over on mins, txt, or data or something rather. Now you
want a alert that your phone has access to a Canadian tower and you could
be billed accordingly due to the fact you didnt read
your owner's manual on how to stop Canadian services? Sounds great! You
must work for Verizon or something, because Verizon's
attitude is always we are not at fault the customer is. Sure I'm willing
to take some of the blame for giving my kid a phone,
but Verizon is mainly at fault here for not provide better ways to block
this issue. If I had ATT in this same area, which my
uncle has and has never been charge roaming for using his phone in the
same spot I wouldn't have had this issue. ....Report
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