Do you get charged roaming if your data is off?

Do I get charged for roaming if I dont use data?

Ugh, this happened last summer in Portugal. July, I think. My phone bill was a nightmare. I’d turned off data roaming, swore I did, before leaving. I only used WhatsApp calls to my sister back home. Still got slammed with a huge roaming bill. Like, seriously huge.

It was infuriating. I checked my phone – yep, data roaming was OFF. I’d even double-checked before I left the airport. I swear I did. Spent an hour on hold with my provider, Vodafone. No luck, just robotic apologies. They said something about connecting to networks even without data. Total BS. It was a rip-off.

My holiday was ruined a bit because I kept panicking about the cost. Every text message felt like an added insult. What a waste of money. I should’ve used Wi-Fi more. I’m sticking to local SIM cards now. Lesson learned. Hard way, though.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:

• Data roaming charges aren’t always about data use. Even with data roaming off, your phone might connect to networks, causing charges. I’m furious about it.
• Check your phone settings carefully. Even if you think it’s off, triple check! I should have checked my bill more often too. My bad.
• Consider a local SIM card. Way cheaper than roaming. This is the only solution I trust now. Much better.
• Vodafone’s customer service is terrible. Avoid if possible. Seriously, avoid.

I still haven’t fully recovered financially from that trip. It was supposed to be relaxing. Instead, it was stressful and expensive.

Does roaming work if mobile data is off?

Yeah. Turning off mobile data, it kills data. Both local and…roaming. That’s for sure.

But calls still come through. I know. I remember that call from Mom when I was in Montreal. Ugh.

And if you’re roaming, and someone calls, it’s a roaming call. Even if your data is off. Makes sense, right? It’s still using the foreign network for the connection.

What I Did

• Turned off data roaming before crossing the border from Vermont.
• Got a call anyway. Because I forgot that calls are different.
• Big roaming charges. Doh.
• Learned my lesson. I think.
• Now, I put my phone on airplane mode to be safe. Always.

sighs

Can you still get texts with data off?

Turn off yer data? Well, no more fancy LTE bling on yer phone, that’s for sure!

• Bye-bye shiny icons up top. Think of it as going incognito, but for your phone’s internet connection.

MMS goes poof, like yer hopes of sending that meme to Grandma. You’re gonna miss those moving pictures, I tell ya.

• No pics, no fun. It’s like going back to the stone age of texting.
• Seriously, MMS is dunzo without data. Kaput. Finito.

But! SMS and iMessage still work, long as you’re leeching off Wi-Fi, of course. Think of it like this: you’re a digital vampire, but only thirsty for that sweet, sweet Wi-Fi blood.

• Wi-Fi saves the day! Phew, at least you can still text your mom back.
• SMS and iMessage ride the Wi-Fi wave. Surf’s up, dude!
• So, SMS lives as long as Wi-Fi exists. Good to know, right?

So basically, data off means yer phone’s on a diet. A serious, no-fun diet of text only. But hey, at least you’re saving battery.

Does my phone use data when Im not using it?

Yeah, it sucks. My phone, this stupid thing, it eats data even when I’m asleep. It’s always something, right? Always a sneaky drain on my already tiny data plan.

Background apps, that’s the culprit. They’re little data vampires. Instagram, mostly. Facebook, too. God, I hate social media. So much for a quiet night.

• Constant data usage: It’s a real problem. Bills are higher than ever.
• Apps updating themselves: Even when I’m not touching them. So annoying.
• Location services: Always on. I should turn that off, I know. I’ll do it tomorrow. Maybe.

This is costing me money, a lot of money. This 2024 data plan is outrageous. I really need to find a better one. I’m broke. Seriously. This is a disaster.

Should I turn my mobile data off when abroad?

Ugh, 2023, Italy. Florence, specifically. My phone blew up with charges. I was so annoyed. I’d forgotten to turn off data roaming, stupid me. My plan was terrible, like, ridiculously overpriced international rates. It was a nightmare. Hundreds of dollars gone in like, two days. Just from accidentally checking emails! I swear, the little notification icons, those sneaky things, were the thieves. I felt sick. Really sick. My stomach churned. All that pasta and gelato? Wasted. Ruined by that data bill. I learned my lesson the hard way, that’s for sure. Lesson learned the hard way.

Key takeaway: No international roaming plan? Turn. Off. Data. Roaming. Seriously.

• Problem: Forgot to turn off data roaming.
• Location: Florence, Italy, 2023.
• Result: Massive unexpected charges. Hundreds of dollars.
• Emotion: Anger, frustration, a deep sense of regret. Seriously gutted.
• Solution: Always, always, always turn off data roaming unless you have an appropriate plan. This is not a suggestion, it’s a commandment.

I even tried calling my provider. Complete waste of time, I sat on hold for ages, then got transferred around. Never even spoke to a human. The whole thing was a disaster. Total disaster. It was, seriously, a vacation ruiner. Florence is amazing but that bill almost overshadowed it all. Almost.