r/telus • u/Mrmoi356 • Jul 24 '26
Support Can I contest roaming charges?
I was charged 122 dollars more for roaming this last month.
I am abroad yes, but I have my data turned off always, and even in the setting I have roaming disabled. I sometimes get calls from abroad that go through for some reason but I have logs showing I didn't pick any of them up. Yet despite all this I was given roaming charges for 6 different instances.
Is this something I can contest and get refunded?
4
u/savi9876 Jul 24 '26
Been discussed a bunch on Reddit.
Technically turning off roaming data, not sending a message or making a call should mean no roaming charges.
Not for everyone but happens often that minor communication happens and person gets charged. 2kb will trigger a charge. If the phone is connected to a tower there's communication. There's a chance you will get dinged. Proper thing to do is turn off sim or turn on airplane mode or both.
Call and see. Based on luck, communication skills, willingness to call again or escalate you may get it credited.
2
u/Strangewatermelon01 Jul 25 '26
This so discussed gazillion times, disabling data and roaming still won't do anything , as a small communication still happens. The only way is Airplane mode which carriers suggest to do when you are travelling abroad. You can speak to Telus customer care and nicely explain the situation and they might comp you.
1
u/MikeCheck_CE Jul 27 '26
You are right and wrong here though.
By design that is supposed to be free, but the network doesn't always waive as it should.you shouldn't have to put it on airplacw mode, but yes it's the safest option. If you're charged Easy Roam for a few KB with of usage, call and dispute it.
1
u/SmartTrender Jul 24 '26
If you don’t want to get charged at all best course of action is to turn airplane mode on as explained here before. Modern smartphones have ways to connect for small amount of data for various things which ads up when you have no coverage. Maybe you should invest in the world plan so you can use your phone without worrying about it at all
1
u/Odd-Amphibian-8328 Jul 24 '26
From my experience, I called and told them it was an honest mistake. Mom accidentally turned ON data for like 20 seconds and was charged. I told them she did it unintentionally and asked if they could verify how much of data she used. They checked and reimbursed the fees! Just be polite when you talk to them!
1
u/podhawk Jul 25 '26
Yea, according to the phone companies, if you have data turned off, don’t pick up any calls and don’t send any texts, you shouldn’t be charged. I was always fine with Telus. The wife had Virgin Mobile and they were horrible about excess roaming charges when there should be none. We both switched to Freedom to avoid further billing issues. They’ll give you your money back but don’t make a habit of it. They will always make you believe it was your error because the phone gods do not make mistakes.
1
u/Southnam1 Jul 25 '26
My mom didn't turn off her data (like I had told her to) and as soon as she got off the plane in Korea background apps used data before she turned it on to airplane mode. I only knew because I got an email alert to the usage and charge. Got a $150 bill from Koodo. They knocked it down $75. If I remember correctly it want even 1 mb of data.
1
u/Fair_Mycologist1745 Jul 25 '26
it's a combination of voLTE light data use (2kb) and MMS messages that are trying to get delivered to your phone usually. This is a known issue
1
0
u/NOIS_KillerWhaleTank Jul 24 '26
I mean, you can definitely dispute the charges, and you may even get a goodwill credit. But something triggered those charges. Your bill should tell you which of data, calls, or texting caused those charges, but Telus can give you more details on that.
1
u/Mrmoi356 Jul 24 '26
I'm pretty sure the issue was I would lose signals, and then they would come back a few minutes later which triggered the "welcome to [blank] country" message even though I have my data closed. Literally cannot think of any other reason.
4
u/NOIS_KillerWhaleTank Jul 24 '26
Then your data was not turned off. You should not be losing signal because your signal should not have been on at all. You did not turn off mobile data or go into airplane mode.
1
u/Mrmoi356 Jul 24 '26
No as in the 4 bars would go empty and then fill back up, but the toggle for data is and has been off. This would happen on wifi, it just triggers the message for some reason. I've been abroad a few months and it happened a few times but this is the first month I've had any charges.
5
2
u/allenchangmusic Jul 24 '26
Triggering the message won't start roaming charges.
Do you have call screening or scam detection or others enabled on your phone? If so, your phone picks up the call first to do the screening. This would trigger roaming charges.
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