Hello Lutenihon,
Welcome to the community!
Firstly, you should note that simply receiving the Fido Roam Welcome text or that email notification does not necessarily mean you have already incurred Fido Roam charge. It only notifies that your device had connected to a foreign network (see here).
I understand you might have disabled your Fido SIM. However, do you know how your particular device behaves with regards to dual-SIM functionality? Unfortunately, there are no standards on how dual-SIM devices are supposed to function. If you received that roaming email notification, your Fido SIM card connected to a foreign network. Fido wouldn't even know you were outside of Canada unless the SIM connected to that network. If that is the case, perhaps those settings don't behave like you thought they did.
If your device is dual-active, there might be a separate Airplane or flight mode for each SIM. However, it is dual-standby or eSIM, Airplane or Flight mode would not be useful. As you note, the other option would be to remove your Fido SIM. I understand the whole point of dual-SIM devices is that swapping or removing SIM cards shouldn't be necessary. However, you would need to know how your device behaves with its particular multi-SIM settings.
If you would like to opt-out of Fido Roam, you would need to contact customer service. In addition, they can also be contacted via Live Chat, Facebook, or Twitter. Those methods can be accessed via the contact page posted above. You should note that once opted-out of Fido Roam, your device would roam on a pay-per-use basis. You can view the pay-per-use rates here.
You may also request to disable roaming on your account. However, doing so may also prevent your device from accessing extended coverage in Canada. You would need to verify with customer service whether that may be the case.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello AVarrier,
Welcome to the community!
@AVarrier wrote:
....I was told by one of the customer service at the store that I will be charged 15 CAD as soon as I connect to a remote tower at an international destination. Is this true ?
No, that is not true. The Fido Roam charge will only incur if your phone uses services -- make or receive a call, send a text message or use data abroad.
@AVarrier wrote:
...IF I receive "the Fido Roam Welcome text or that email notification" and I am only receving incoming text messages for 5-10 minutes (like OTP for banking transaction), then will I be charged for 15 CAD in my billing cycle ?...
You should note that merely receiving the Welcome Abroad message does not necessarily mean you have incurred roaming charges. I was able to confirm that to be true here. However, it would be important to qualify text messages. While receiving SMS would not incur the roaming charge, it's worth mentioning that the data contained within MMS (incoming or outgoing) would be considered roaming data and charged accordingly. You should note that MMS are not solely restricted to pictures or video messages. Messages with subject headers or group messages etc are also considered MMS. Disabling MMS should prevent that data transfer. Though, it should further be noted that iMessages and RCS messages are sent (and received) as data and not as text messages (SMS).
In general, most one-time verification text messages should be SMS so they, by themselves, should not incur roaming charges.
In order to prevent unintended roaming charges, it is generally recommended to disable data and roaming data. However, you should note that disabling those settings does not prevent roaming for voice and messaging. In addition, some manufacturers might allow some data usage to occur despite those settings (see here). That's why it is also generally recommended to enable Airplane and/or Flight modes in order to prevent unintended roaming usage. You could then manually enable Wifi when required. In doing so, however, it may not be possible to receive text messages.
The mobile providers only know usage. If your device uses data unintentionally (ie data and roaming data are disabled), it's possible data might also transmit when connected to the foreign towers. That data usage would incur roaming charges. If you wish to use your device to obtain verification text messages, there is unfortunately no 100% guarantee your device won't use other services and trigger roaming charges.
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that while using Wifi for regular internet access will not incur Fido Roam charges, there seems to be some misunderstanding regarding Wifi-calling. I'm not sure how people have gotten the impression that Wifi-calling does not use the networks. However, that is not true. While the calls and messages do not transmit via cellular towers, they still use the networks via the internet gateway (see image here). The cellular towers and Wifi are merely alternate means of accessing the networks. Calls and messages would not be able to complete or get sent/received without the networks. As such, using Wifi-calling is technically using Fido services. However, they have allowed certain usage to be free from additional charges. All the messages and calls you receive (from anywhere in the world) will be taken from your plan's voice minutes and messaging limits. As well, all Wifi-calling messages and calls you make to a Canadian phone number while abroad won't incur long-distance or roaming charges (see link above).
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello @sestafan , turning off roaming can be done in your settings. For an android, go to settings, mobile networks, data roaming, switch to off. When you receive the welcome to roaming message, you are only charged if you make a call, send a text or use your data using your fido Sim. I used to have a dual Sim phone and I always removed my home Sim when traveling. That would mean that you are definitely not roaming on your fido Sim. You may have an option to disable the Sim port in the settings, but I wouldn't chance it personally. I remove my Sim and store it in my phone case behind the phone. I would also tape it in place to ensure that it doesn't fall out. Call me crazy but you can't roam on a sim card if it's not in the phone.
Have a great trip abroad
