Unexpected $7/day roaming charge with data turned off

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Unexpected $7/day roaming charge with data turned off

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#2916881 21-May-2022 17:14

This is the message 2degrees sends:
We wish you safe travels! New Zealand rates do not apply when roaming. For more info on roaming, see roam.2dm.co.nz for free.

Compare with Spark:
FROM SPARK: Welcome to Australia. NZ rates & plans do not apply here so we recommend buying a Roaming Pack. For $23 incl GST you'll get 1GB, 200 mins incoming & 200 mins outgoing calls & 200 texts valid for 7 days. Text BUY ROAM to 258.
Data only pack also available $17.25 incl GST for 1GB for 7 days. Text BUY DATAROAM to 258.
Purchase your Pack from the Spark App or MySpark spark.co.nz/ms (free).
For more info, terms and rates see spark.co.nz/rm (free) or call us free on +6433710866.

For NZ Govt Travel advisories incl COVID-19 info https://safetravel.govt.nz (data charges apply)

kiwibum

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#2916891 21-May-2022 18:10

@Linux No apparently not, she said she didn't get anything, however I'm assuming there must have been some message but it didn't state she would be charged $7/day per use because she would have taken notice of that!

Linux:

@kiwibum Did your Wife not get a SMS about $7 daily roaming when she turned on the handset in the roaming country?

phrozenpenguin

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#2916968 21-May-2022 21:26

Just to add my experience. We did NOT get any SMS from 2Degrees in 4 of the 5 countries we were roaming in recently. This is the same for two 2Degrees phones that were with us.

quickymart

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#2916979 21-May-2022 22:26

At the other end of the scale, when I went to Asia in January 2020, I got a really detailed message from Vodafone when I stepped off the plane, which detailed pricing etc - almost along the lines of the Spark one mentioned above. Very informative and I knew that I could use my NZ data etc and pay the daily rate for it. Granted, I was only there a week but that message was a big help, so I was happy to use my data etc as per normal and not worry about it.

For a casual user though, I can see how that would be a problem.

richms

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#2916988 21-May-2022 23:02

Is there any way with a dual sim phone to use the data from the local sim to be the source for wifi calling on the NZ sim card so that roaming is a non issue?

Richard rich.ms

MaxineN

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#2916998 22-May-2022 06:25

richms:
Is there any way with a dual sim phone to use the data from the local sim to be the source for wifi calling on the NZ sim card so that roaming is a non issue?

No you need a second handset to achieve exactly what you want to do

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

KiwiSurfer

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#2917001 22-May-2022 08:03

My S21 has a feature where it can use the data from one SIM to provide VoWiFi for another SIM if calling is not available on the other SIM.

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MaxineN

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#2917003 22-May-2022 08:22

KiwiSurfer:

My S21 has a feature where it can use the data from one SIM to provide VoWiFi for another SIM if calling is not available on the other SIM.

👀

Must be a Samsung thing because I certainly haven't seen that on stock Android 11 or 12 builds and I haven't seen that on any other phone vendor. It's not even an Apple thing.

That's neat.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

quickymart

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#2917005 22-May-2022 08:37

I stand corrected, I didn't get a message when I travelled to Asia in 2020 (just rechecked my phone) - but I did get one when travelling to the US in 2013 which was quite detailed. Not sure if Vodafone still do this though.

MaxineN

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#2917014 22-May-2022 09:08

quickymart:

I stand corrected, I didn't get a message when I travelled to Asia in 2020 (just rechecked my phone) - but I did get one when travelling to the US in 2013 which was quite detailed. Not sure if Vodafone still do this though.

Hmmm you should have and Vodafone does still send them out.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

phrozenpenguin

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#2917409 22-May-2022 21:18

richms:

Is there any way with a dual sim phone to use the data from the local sim to be the source for wifi calling on the NZ sim card so that roaming is a non issue?

No but you can forward your 2Degrees number to the number on the local SIM, and if the local SIM is covered by a calling pack then it doesn't cost the earth! Although in my experience this has to be setup before leaving NZ, as trying to setup a redirection from overseas failed me.

SaltyNZ

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#2917459 23-May-2022 08:02

kiwibum:

We looked it up and found this "new" user friendly implementation of roaming of $7/day, she didn't get any txt messages explaining this when she landed and assumed it was the old system where you paid per call, MB data or for txts. Sounds like a great system for a business user or those made of $, not that great for the poor common traveler visiting family.

She should have got a notification about this on landing. There have been some problems with subscribers attached only to LTE, but as we do not have LTE roaming the fact she was making calls implies she must have been attached to 3G as well. If you are 100% certain no notifications were received you should log a ticket.

I know this probably isn't the place to ask but is it possible to choose between the $7/day system and the old pay per use, doesn't look like it on the website?

No, it is not (possible, that is).

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

kiwibum

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#2917795 24-May-2022 08:43

SaltyNZ:

She should have got a notification about this on landing. There have been some problems with subscribers attached only to LTE, but as we do not have LTE roaming the fact she was making calls implies she must have been attached to 3G as well. If you are 100% certain no notifications were received you should log a ticket.

She has an Iphone 5S I think. Didn't make any calls, she only used facebook messenger assuming she was paying for data and avoiding expensive call costs.

Are you sure about not being charged if only connecting to a tower? On the help information on 2Degrees website under "How to avoid roaming charges" it states keep phone in airplane mode or turned off! With the following FAQ:

"What happens if I accidently turn on my device? Unfortunately, if you switch your phone on at any time - connecting it to a local network - you’ll be charged."

There is nothing about using WiFi calling to prevent roaming charges.

It is a shame we can't select the option of pay per use or $7/per day. The new plan sounds great and I can see how that will save people from hundreds of dollars worth of unexpected roaming charges if making lots of calls or using data. If you only want the phone for emergency access and arranging meet ups then it gets expensive.

kiwibum

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#2917802 24-May-2022 09:12

SaltyNZ

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#2917859 24-May-2022 11:29

kiwibum:

Are you sure about not being charged if only connecting to a tower?

On prepay, if you are only 'connecting' then you will be charged but refunded if you do not make any usage*. However, I challenge you to turn data on on an iPhone (or an Android phone for that matter) and have it not use a single byte of background data... Anyway: Messenger definitely counts, so that's your daily charge.

*Postpay will be credited back on the next bill (I'm pretty sure they've now fixed the earlier problem where they were not picking up the credits).

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

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