iPhone on Rogers Data Roaming Results in $6000 Phone Bill

By Gary Ng on February 26th, 2009 111

For those iPhone users on the Rogers/Fido network using data plans, let the following story be a quick reminder of what can go wrong! Whenever I’m traveling with my iPhone 3G out of the country, I always double check that my data roaming is turned off. How do you do this? It’s simple…

Settings–General–Network–make sure “Data Roaming” is OFF.

Now, I’m not sure what happened our fellow iPhone user Erik Lyneborg in Calgary, but he used data roaming in Mexico while on vacation for four hours. He was trying to maintain contact with clients while on holiday–a costly mistake. I can only imagine the shock and surprise when Erik received his bill from Rogers in the mail–$6000CDN for using his data plan!

rogers-iphone

We all know that data plans in Canada can be expensive. I can only imagine the rates on the data hungry iPhone 3G. So let this be a lesson for us all, if you’re going to use your iPhone’s data plan overseas via data roaming…make sure you have a deep enough wallet for it!

Here’s the CTV news article:

Erik Lyneborg is angry after receiving a phone bill for thousands of dollars. Lyneborg recently returned from a trip to Mexico. He used his Apple iPhone for about four hours during his vacation to keep in touch with clients back in Canada. When he received his bill, he was shocked to discover that he had been billed six thousand dollars for the service.

Rogers tells CTV that roaming rates are the same for all phones and iPhones have a setting to switch roaming on or off. But if the phone is switch to roam internationally, it may be accessing the network without its user’s knowledge. All the major cell phone carriers have different plans designed to limit charges for people using their phones overseas. Anyone thinking of using their phone on a trip should check with their provider before making a call.

So there you have it folks. I wonder how much data Erik used while on vacation. Anyone out there in Calgary know Erik? I’d love to hear more about his story!

[CTV]

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  • rawledandrade

    Just like to share this piece of information with all u wonderful people on this forum, I'm visiting the us for two days and wanted to use my iphone while there. i called rogers rep. and he told me if i pay $10.00 more on top of the $25.00 i already pay for my 500mb data there will be no additional charges providing i don't use more than my monthly 500mb bucket that i already have..for voice calls i will use icall app over 3g to make calls that way i'm only using data. I think this is a great way to save when roaming..Rogers is not bad as people think

  • rawledandrade

    Just like to share this piece of information with all u wonderful people on this forum, I'm visiting the us for two days and wanted to use my iphone while there. i called rogers rep. and he told me if i pay $10.00 more on top of the $25.00 i already pay for my 500mb data there will be no additional charges providing i don't use more than my monthly 500mb bucket that i already have..for voice calls i will use icall app over 3g to make calls that way i'm only using data. I think this is a great way to save when roaming..Rogers is not bad as people think

  • Elyneborg

    hey I am Erik. the data I used would have worked out to 13 or so cents worth on my plan up here. feel free to contact me!

  • Steve

    hey Erik, did you get the bill disputed? if so, how? I’m currently stuck in the same situation with a massive data roaming bill

  • Pingback: Canada Leads OECD Countries With Highest Data Roaming: $25 for 1MB | iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

  • Skyfire22

    I was told by Rogers that the iPhone 4 automatically turns off the data roaming when abroad and not to worry. This however was not the case and am stuck with a 500+ phone bill from my Eurotrip

  • Skyfire22

    I was told by Rogers that the iPhone 4 automatically turns off the data roaming when abroad and not to worry. This however was not the case and am stuck with a 500+ phone bill from my Eurotrip

  • Skyfire22

    The thing is, Rogers tells you data roaming automatically turns off on the iPhone when abroad. The website even says it in its info. This isn’t the case though.

  • Skyfire22

    The thing is, Rogers tells you data roaming automatically turns off on the iPhone when abroad. The website even says it in its info. This isn’t the case though.

  • Two1000

    Anita.  
    You have no clue.   Did you know your phone can be charged for data usage even while your phone is off?   Yeap you think you are being good not using the phone even take the battery out to make sure your phone is not roaming.   Well guess what – when you do use it by turning it on – the roaming towers will latch on to your phone and charge you for the days you had it off.  Too bad too sad – ROGERS is what you will get from your provider.   Infact you will get charged 3-4 times per day at some data fees of $15 per charge up to $30 day while your phone is offffffffff!!!!!!!!   So what do you think about that???? 

  • BEWARE

    BEWARE.  I had heard of the ridiculous charges for using i-phones in Europe and called up a Rogers Rep to get advice and buy a package for my trip to Italy as I had some accounts closing while away on my honeymoon. I felt confident that I was covered for making a few calls and checking my e-mail a couple of times.  Sadly..I was wrong.  I got stung with a bill of over $4,000 when I returned, which basically ruined my post honeymoon buzz.
    It’s ironic as my phone only worked 1/3 of the time and they kept advising me when I called to complain that I should keep searching for a network.  They never once mentioned turning off data roaming and even removed a block on the phone at one point which was supposed to prevent over usage. 
    SOON TO BE BELL CUSTOMER

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