Using phone in EU with Roaming OFF and Mobile Data OFF and Spend Cap at zero

[Lupin1]

Hello.

I'll be in the EU soon for 6 days.  I have a monthly plan with Roaming excluded.  My Spend Cap is set at zero.  My questions are these:

If I switch off Roaming and switch off Mobile Data, would I be charged for receiving an unexpected phone call or text message from the UK or from within the EU?

Would I have to switch off Voicemail as well to avoid all possible charges?

I have read a very helpful exchange in this forum from last August on issues around EU Roaming without paying for a pass or daily charges, but it doesn't quite answer my questions above.

If anyone can help me with these, I'd be very grateful.

Kind regards.

[XRaySpeX · Accepted solution]

Your phone won't have a setting for Roaming OFF generally but just for Data Roaming OFF. That &/or Mobile Data OFF will stop you from using data while roaming but you could still make calls & send texts, However by keeping your Spend Cap at £0 you cannot be made to pay the £2.59 / day for using your allowances in EU & so you wouldn't be able to make or receive any calls or send any texts.

[bristolian]

First off, be clear on what you mean by switching roaming off. What it doesn't mean is the menu option in your phone for "data roaming" which merely enables the use of mobile data whilst roaming... this is often confused.

If you explicitly request EE to disable roaming on your SIM, then it will not be able to connect to foreign networks. Calls, texts & mobile data all need a mobile network connection to work, so without that connection, you will not be able to make or receive calls, send or receive texts, or use mobile data,

If you leave roaming enabled on your SIM but use flight mode to explicitly stop your phone from connecting to any foreign network, then the result will be the same. I would personally question the hassle value versus the cost as part of your overall trip, but that's an individual choice.

The £2.59/day charge is triggered anytime you use any of your UK allowances on an EU-network. This means making or receiving any calls, sending any text messages or using mobile data. You could theoretically avoid this by.... setting an unconditional "divert all calls" to voicemail, not making any outgoing calls (including to retrieve any voicemails), not sending any texts, and having mobile data disabled.

£15/week would cover you for normal use of your phone for calls, texts & mobile data, which should be weighed up against the overall cost of your trip. Otherwise, the above advice should cover it.

[Lupin1]

That's great - really helpful (as always!), XRaySpeX. 😀

Just one follow-up, with Data Roaming OFF and Mobile Data OFF, would people also be unable to leave me a voicemail?  I'm just wondering if I also need to switch off Voicemail - to cover all the bases!

I assume that logging on to the hotel's wifi will also not incur any charges?

[bristolian]

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@Lupin1 wrote:

with Data Roaming OFF and Mobile Data OFF, would people also be unable to leave me a voicemail?  I'm just wondering if I also need to switch off Voicemail - to cover all the bases!

I assume that logging on to the hotel's wifi will also not incur any charges?

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This would amount to the same thing - an inability to use mobile data only.

Voice calls don't use data and would still work in this scenario. Setting an unconditional "divert all calls" would prevent anyone from calling you.

WiFi is jusst a connection between a mobile device and broadband router - no mobile network is involved.

[Lupin1]

Thanks very much @bristolian .  I had not appreciated the distinction you make in your first para.

Asking EE to disable Roaming on my SIM sounds too drastic but using flight mode to explicitly stop my phone from connecting to any foreign network sounds like a good idea, BUT would this prevent me from connecting to the hotel's wifi?

Wouldn't my zero Spend Cap in itself prevent me from making/receiving calls and sending/receiving text messages or using data on my trip?

[bristolian]

WiFi is one type of connection, your phone has a WiFi-toggle button separately & independently from flight mode which manages connections to mobile networks.

In theory, a zero-spend cap should prevent anything chargeable from happening, yes.

[XRaySpeX]

Calls & VM don't use data. So having Mobile Data & /or Roaming Data OFF can't stop them. 

You'd best keep your Spend Cap at £0 & have VM Divert all Calls.

Using Hotel's WiFi won't concern EE but some Hotels charge for it.

[Lupin1]

Is setting an unconditional "divert all calls" the same as just switching Voicemail off, i.e. texting VM OFF to 150 before I travel?

Or does unconditional "divert all calls" mean you can pick up any voicemails when you're back in the UK?

[XRaySpeX]

Exactly!  Unconditional "divert all calls" mean you can pick up any voicemails when you're back in the UK while VM OFF means peeps can't even leave VMs anywhere.