Hello Herrycommunity,
Unfortunately, I don't believe Android has any setting (other than Airplane or Flight mode) to disable roaming entirely anymore. If I remember correctly, the last time an Android device had that capability was circa KitKat -- it's been a while. I do not know why that functionality was removed from Android. As far as I am aware, I don't believe iOS ever had the ability to wholly disable roaming.
As you note, the disabling roaming data does not prevent roaming for calls and messages. In addition, it should noted that some phones might consider certain system data differently from user data and continue to allow the former usage despite data and roaming data settings disabled. For example, while disabling data and roaming data should prevent data usage on foreign networks, some mobile manufacturers (ie Apple) does seem to allow some data usage despite those settings disabled. And no, it doesn't seem to be a Fido issue. It happens with multiple providers as well (see here).
That's why in order to prevent roaming charges, it is usually recommended to keep Airplane or Flight modes enabled for the duration of trips. Customers could manually enable Wifi when required. I understand doing so would also prevent incoming SMS or emergency calls. I also understand it is not the same as disabling roaming as it would also prevent using a local SIM with dual-SIM devices.
@herrycommunity wrote:
... as soon as the phone connects to a network it charges the daily fee of $12 or $15.....
Receiving that Welcome Abroad message does not necessarily mean that your device had used services. I was able to confirm that merely receiving that message does not incur roaming fees (see here). However, if you did incur roaming charges, it's likely your device used other services when it connected to the foreign network.
The Fido Roam charges will only incur if your phone uses services -- make or receive a call, send a text message or use data abroad. 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. It should also be noted that RCS messages are sent (and received) as data and not as text messages (SMS). Even if a received text message is SMS, if your device is configured to provide Delivery and/or Read receipts, those would be sent as SMS or data and considered roaming usage.
Fido Roam is enabled by default on most current post-paid plans. If you did not wish to avail of the feature, you would have to opt-out of Fido Roam. In doing so, any usage would be on a pay-per-use basis. Those rates can be found here. Alternatively, if you did not wish to use any services, you would could request to have roaming blocked on your account. You would need to verify which option is applied to your account as some customers had assumed they requested a total roaming block only to find pay-per-use usage abroad (opt-out Fido Roam).
You should note the forums are community-driven and not intended as a venue for customer services. If you wished to discuss your matter and/or opt-out of Fido Roam (or apply roaming block), 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.
**edit** For completeness sake, 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 again,
Unfortunately, I do not know whether Wifi-calling is available abroad if roaming is disabled on your line. If it is, it could still be possible to incur roaming (and possibly long-distance) charges if calls or messages are sent to a non-Canadian phone number. It would depend on how Fido implements a roaming block on lines.
That said, assuming Wifi-calling is available when roaming is disabled on your line, I'm not sure checking for SMS using Wifi-calling would work the way you think. Generally, SMS are forwarded to your phone as soon as they are sent from the sender. In the event that a device is not available, messages may be held briefly on the short message service center (SMSC) for redelivery attempt. However, undelivered messages are not held indefinitely. In addition, messages sent abroad may not get any redelivery attempt.
As mentioned in my linked post above, I usually keep my Airplane mode enabled for the duration of my time away (except for intentionally disabling to connect to the local networks). Manually enabling Wifi has allowed me to avail of Wifi-calling abroad. Unless you require the use of a secondary SIM, that method might also work for you. Yes, it also suffers from the same issue of possibly not receiving all SMS when connecting to Wifi-calling.
You can certainly choose to opt-out of Fido Roam and use services on a pay-per-use basis. However, depending on what services your device might unwittingly be using, it could end up being more costly than Fido Roam.
You would need to contact customer service to ask whether Wifi-calling usage abroad is available with a roaming block on your line.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
I tested this a while back I had roaming block on one of my lines, and when connected to WiFi in another country it did not work. However, while connected to WiFi abroad and running a VPN to put me back in Canada it worked.
Hello @herrycommunity,
The solution would be to either go into airplane mode or pull the SIM card.
You can contact Fido and opt-out of the Fido roam and you will be on pay-per-use, if you don't want to roam period you can ask them to put a roaming block on your line but your phone will not work period when you leave Canada.
Hi @herrycommunity , as @KAPABLE-K and @Cawtau have said the best is to remove the Sim OR if you have the ability under Sim card settings to disable the Sim card, that would be the equivalent. I have an esim and physical sim. When I travel, I disable the fido Sim and use my US Sim card and then enable fido and disable US when I come home. You may want to check if you have that setting.
