Roaming on even when mobile data turned off

[Sgainford]

I'm currently abroad and I made sure I turned off my mobile data and went into my android settings and turned off roaming but I still see R with some bars in my top right of my screen, which indicates I'm in roaming. Is this EE being corrupt and trying to charge us even when we turn off these settings or am I missing turning something else off also?

[XRaySpeX]

Turning off roaming data doesn't prevent you making & receiving calls & texts while abroad. That's still roaming!

Did you receive a msg upon arrival telling you about the charges for roaming on PAYG?

[Sgainford]

I did get a text message but I thought as long as I don't have mobile data on and have turned off Roaming on Android, I wouldn't be charged anything for roaming! I've now gone into my sim and also had to disable it, completely, which finally got rid of the R showing for roaming. Seems to be a ridiculous way to do it and people are getting charged unfairly. 

[XRaySpeX]

Are they? You're only charged if you you use your phone abroad. Don't use it and you won't be charged!

Data is only 1 of 3 possible roaming uses. On Android you may turn off Data Roaming but not the other 2. 

[Northerner]

Hi @Sgainford 

Some apps will still connect the same as the device OS even when wifi is turned off. You are never disconnected from the internet on either Android or IOS.

Thanks 

[XRaySpeX]

Eh, @Northerner? If Data Roaming is OFF no apps or the OS will connect to the Net over mobile network. 

[Sgainford]

Seems confusing and up until this point, I've always just made sure I've turned off mobile data when travelling and I never had any issues with seeing an R with bars pop up like I'm being charged for roaming. But from now on I'll just always disable the SIM completely in settings and I'm still able to get what's App messages etc. 

Would be nicer if EE just didn't charge so much for roaming. I'm currently in Japan and because of how expensive EE has become for roaming, I've rented for two weeks a Ninja Wifi pocket router. Small device that you carry in your pocket and up to five people can log on. Cheap and works great. 

[bristolian]

Can you be specific about what Android menu option you're choosing, that you think is disabling roaming itself?

It won't be, but I suspect you're getting confused with another option. Data roaming is the most common - there is no equivalent menu option for "voice call roaming" or "text message roaming". Roaming itself is an account/SIM-level function.

The "R" symbol means you are connected to a foreign network, and thus you are roaming. If you don't use mobile roaming, you will be reliant on WiFi hotspots to use internet-based functions.

[Sgainford]

Go into settings/mobile network/SIM/disable. That stops roaming completely. Just turning off mobile data and roaming, strangely, did not seem to stop the roaming. You have to disable your SIM.

Yes, I don't want EEs roaming at expensive base rate or it's expensive roaming add ons so, as mentioned, I rented a pocket WiFi router and I now have unlimited WiFi wherever I go in Japan for a fraction of the cost. 

[bristolian]

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@Sgainford wrote:

Just turning off mobile data and roaming, strangely, did not seem to stop the roaming. You have to disable your SIM.

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Indeed so. "Roaming" simply means using your phone on a network other than your own. It sounds like you've switched "mobile data" & "data roaming" off - as mentioned, this does not prevent roaming itself.

Roaming also allows making or receiving calls, sending & receiving texts - while connected to foreign networks.