Roaming for dummies

[Buckland12]

Hi,

Apologies if this is answered elsewhere - guessing it is but I can't find it!

I'm going to the EU and can roam for £2.50 per day. Could someone tell me when that daily charge will be applied? 

My intention is to keep mobile data off, unless I really need to contact the UK, or I particularly need to pick up a message.

If I keep data off, don't call or text and just use WiFi to pick up/send WhatsApps, will I be charged a daily rate if I receive SMS? If I divert all calls to voicemail, will incoming calls incur the charge?

Suffice to say, in bit much if a traveller!

Thanks

[Michael_D · Accepted solution]

Thanks @Buckland12.

It is a bit of a tricky one, but if you have the calls diverted to your voicemail, it would still be classed as an incoming call and trigger the £2.47 daily charge, as @bristolian mentioned. 

Do you need to have calls going to voicemail while you are away? If you don't, one option would be to switch off the voicemail, which would stop messages being left. You'd still be able to answer calls if you needed to, but if they aren't answered or the phone is off/on airplane mode, then it wouldn't charge.

Michael

[Buckland12]

Thanks @Michael_D . No reason to keep voicemail on - I just had it in my head that the voicemail would pick the call up 'from the UK' so would t be classed as o overseas.

I'll switch voicemail off and decide whether any calls need answering!

Thanks for clearing this up

[Michael_D]

My pleasure @Buckland12. You can switch it off by texting VM OFF to 150, and then if you need it back on when you get home, just text VM ON to 150.

I hope you have a fantastic time away.

Michael

[bristolian]

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@Michael_D wrote:

if you have the calls diverted to your voicemail, it would still be classed as an incoming call and trigger the £2.47 daily charge, as @bristolian mentioned. 

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This would not apply to an unconditional "divert all calls" to VM, where the divert is handled in the UK and the call is thus never sent abroad in the first place.

There's a grey area with conditional "divert on not reachable"