Elderly parents data roaming charges - please help

[BBCWatcher]

Indeed accidentally leaving on data roaming is easy to do. Like if you go into a place with mobile reception but no wifi (maybe because you don't know the password for the wifi), you turn your mobile data on.

I'm not sure you understand, so I'll repeat: there are two switches in iOS and Android devices: mobile data, and mobile data roaming. You can leave mobile data turned on all the time if you wish, and it still wouldn't incur roaming charges unless you also have the mobile data roaming switch turned on (the second switch). Leave that second switch turned off, and there are no mobile data roaming charges. Don't turn that second switch on, ever.

Switch to prepaid mobile service, and there's no bill after you drain your balance. You're not borrowing mobile service using your personal credit. The vast majority of the world's cellular mobile service users have prepaid arrangements, not postpaid.

Rely on your mobile phone for navigation assistance and maps? No problem. Use offline maps. Google Maps and HERE WeGo both offer offline mapping functions. You can download whatever map(s) you need while on Wi-Fi -- before your trip, at the airport, at the hotel, etc. -- set your waypoints (including your "home base" so you can get back), then you're all set for your walking, hiking, or whatever other daily adventure you have exploring the foreign land.

Many postpaid carriers allow subscribers to disable data roaming via their online accounts, a phone call to customer service, and/or USSD codes -- those special codes such as #123* you dial to control various service functions. USSD codes can be added to phone contacts lists/address books for fast dialing.

Dual SIM phones are available, including now for iOS (with caveats). Such phones allow you to have a low cost "global roaming" prepaid SIM (for example) and keep the "home" SIM's roaming data switch shut off permanently, preferably at the carrier end.

Android phones let you completely shut off an application's use of data while it's in the background, and that's helpful in most cases. iOS has even better controls to limit application data use.

There are very reasonable solutions here, at least for the subsequent times this problem could occur.

My dad just decided to pay it and not try to reduce it.

OK. And if he doesn't mind more such bills (or bigger) in the future, he's free to ignore all of the above advice.

 

[yoyokid]

Unethical, telco still selling scam plans without data

Ethics fly out the window where money is concerned...
.

 

[henrylbh]

Mobile data was always on, on their phones. They came to SG and did not turn it off, and neither did I think to turn theirs off. Frankly I am from abroad and if I did not turn my phone to airplane mode as the airline asks when my plane is taking off/landing, maybe I would have forgotten to turn off mobile data too (but probably until I log-in to wifi next and not after a few GB!).

Mobile data always on is OK if local charges for excess usage is not a killer. But data roaming should always be off (actually by default unless you enable it). Enable only when want to use overseas.

Even with mobile data always on, you should go to a function to enable warning at xx mb/gb and off at xx mb/gb. This would prevent usage over the limit.

 

[shadowrains]

Unethical, telco still selling scam plans without data

Ethics fly out the window where money is concerned...
.

Perfectly alright to sell plans without data. Just that these plans, by default, should be disabled on data on the telco side.

 

[CrashWire]

My dad just decided to pay it and not try to reduce it. As we get older the amount of time we have left on Earth is less, and to them time and peace is more precious I guess.

If you feel strongly enough about it, you can (and should) call in on his behalf. It'll only take you a few minutes.

Telcos are very likely to compromise because they incur very little cost from roaming, and as a gesture of goodwill.

 

[yoyokid]

Perfectly alright to sell plans without data. Just that these plans, by default, should be disabled on data on the telco side.

Should, but somehow sneakily not... that is the important thing!...

 

[qhong61]

Thanks everyone. My dad just received his monthly bill online and it was a four figure sum for both my mum and dad. Including the most recent data usage, next month's bill will also probably be a four figure sum. Both painful and 100% unnecessary (via prepaid tourist SIM or just using the free wifi of the hotel)

I thought the bill would be even worse, something like $0.1/kb working out to six figures.



Thanks. My dad and me know how to do this, and the difference between mobile data and wifi, but not my mum.



Indeed accidentally leaving on data roaming is easy to do. Like if you go into a place with mobile reception but no wifi (maybe because you don't know the password for the wifi), you turn your mobile data on. Then when you leave you forget to turn it off.

About replacing their mobiles....my parents are still more or less independent (thankfully) and I won't want to restrict them in any way. I appreciate your intention to help but I would not feel like I am respecting them in any way as the child telling the parent they can not use something.



My dad just decided to pay it and not try to reduce it. As we get older the amount of time we have left on Earth is less, and to them time and peace is more precious I guess.

Thanks everyone for your sympathy and advice.

Correct. Peace is more impt to them.

 

[henrylbh]

My dad and me know how to do this, and the difference between mobile data and wifi, but not my mum.

Not only your dad need to know, but you may also need to know.

Most telco would automatically allow roaming. That mean the phone would be able to receive voice, sms and data and all will be charged according to the destination where they are used.

For mobile data, there are 3 things to note.

One can control the use of mobile data by enabling the warning option and limit option for data usage.

Example if your mobile data quota is say 1gb, you could enable the warning function at say 30mb so that the quota of 1000mb will last for the given month.

Each time 30mb data is used, a warning will pop up while surfing. Then user decide whether to add another 30mb to carry on surfacing. If user do not add another 30mb, mobile data (and Internet) will be cut off, until user go to the function to enable mobile data again.

Besides the warning option, there is also a mobile data limit function. If this is enabled, the mobile data will also be cut off automatically, and like warning option, user need to enable mobile data again to continue using mobile data.

Usually, I set warning function to monitor my daily mobile data useage and the data limit function is set close to my monthly quota.

Besides mobile data, there is another function which is mobile data roaming. This should always be disabled. In other words, if data roaming is off, user will not get Internet connection even if mobile data is enabled when overseas. User will still get roaming for voice and sms unless roaming is disabled or network provided is manually selected.

You may also need to look for the function to automatically reset the above useage a day before your billing date.

Telco would also have an apps where user can view the daily useage of mobile data etc. and how much is left before the billing date.

If seldom overseas best to inform telco to disable roaming until needed or purchase a prepaid card.

 

[kyang69]

Dear all, my elderly parents were visiting Singapore from a neighbouring country. We are staying at a hotel with free wifi.

Are you a foreigner? Just curious.

 

[highsulphur]

This happened to my mum. I called in and the telco waived maybe 50%. In return they required we signed up some add on for more data for one year. Ended up saving so we took the offer