MSE news: Complaints over erroneous iPhone data roaming charges

Elphinwhite

Googling "slashdot sleeping iPhones send phantom data" will take you to the relevant explanation.

Over to O2, then!

DYKWIA

Just to report that this is still happening with iOS4.

I arrived at Dubai a couple of weeks ago and switched on my iPhone. I immediately received a MMS picture, followed by emails. On checking my bill, there was a charge for £19.

I suspect it's something to do with the MMS switching the roaming on temporarily - which then lets in all the other data that's being pushed to the phone.

I've contacted O2 and asked them to remove the charge - I await their response.

Cheers.

frozenblueberries

I am on benefits and cannot afford rip-off data charges in the UK let alone abroad and let's be clear, I believe (this means opinion, libel lawyer let your erection subside) this is a criminal conspiracy of price fixing and should be broken up by the government.

Anyhow, I have an easy fix. my phone has an ever so handy :laugh: button on the front of his cheap candy bar which launches the web browser if key lock isn't on in his pocket? An accident?

Well, I don't want internet on my phone until it's billed sensibly, so what I do is configure the access settings so they are all rubbish, I change all the AP and other settings to nonsense so the phone can't connect to the internet.

croyintl

I've suffered the exact same problem. I was on business in Itlay last month, with data roaming turned off. I purchased a local TIM sim to use in iPad for all my data needs. However, when I got my next iPhone bill from O2 it had £30 of roaming charges on it.

I called to complain, they performed a network investigation and got back to me the next week to say 'yeah, your phone did use data so the charges stand'. The customer service representative wasn't interested about the fact that I had the roaming switch off. In fact their attitude annoyed me so much that I asked for a PAC code for both of my business lines, but they informed me I'd need to buy out for > £300, so I'm stuck for now.

Anyway, if anyone can help me fight these charges which are a fault with a phone that O2 sold me I'd be most grateful! I know the charges aren't huge, but it's the principal that's really annoying me.

squarefrog

This data is most likely due to location services. When you have location services enabled, location data is sent from your phone to apple periodically (once per 24 hours). I am unable to post links, but there was a recent post about this on TUAW. Google "apple details location information sharing TUAW" to find the article.

This data comprises of gps location, mobile tower locations and the like.

Ensure you disable location services (Settings > General > Location Services) before going on holiday.

croyintl

Interesting theory, but the point is that when data roaming is turned off your phone should NEVER make a data connection over the cellular network, regardless of what data it needs to send.

I'm in Italy again right now, this time I've disabled Cellular Data AND Data Roaming, to see if that helps. I draw the line at hacking at my APN since, although I am happy to do that, I suspect the average consumer wouldn't want to - or perhaps even know how to.

The last time I was here I DID receive a picture message, so that appears to be consistent with earlier reports. Perhaps I should ask my wife to send me another message this time to see if it happens again...

elvis_girl

I thought this was something I had done as well!
Data roaming was definately turned off, didn't use wi fi & didn't receive any picture mesaages. Just rang o2 & was told switching the data roaming off from the handset isn't guaranteed!I wouldn't mind only I was on a cruise & couldn't even get a signal half the time

Gers

Happened to me too when travelling to Australia earlier this year and using wifi in places like Dubai, Singapore and Melbourne - a quick call to O2 sorted it out and I got a refund the following month, the bloke said there was a glitch in the system.

Not good that I got charged (under £10.00) but the response from O2 was very good.

davepos

No picture message received but on turning phone on it downloaded an email (in USA on AT&T) - all data roaming etc turned off. Had a long on line chat with O2 rep who refunded impending data roaming charge that had not even registered on my online account yet but I confirmed with her as I set usage meter to zero before leaving UK. I then questioned previous overseas trips and she credited two lots of 4-5 pound amounts from last two overseas visits. Only way it seems to avoid is not have phone switched on!!

timw2000

FYI, Visual Voicemail can be a real problem!

I always have data roaming off, but you must remember to turn your voice mail off too! if oyu don't and someone leaves you a message, the iPhone will pull the message into the handset (over the data network).

A recent trip to France where I was left a 45 second voicemail cost me over £9.00!!!

O2 really should warn more users of this...

Tim.