Data roaming in Canada

I'm impressed you got a software update when not on VZW's network. Generally they are called OTA because you can't download them VIA wifi.

 

Yeah but I thought you had to be on VZW's network I didn't realize you could just be on any carrier's network. I agree I would hold out for 100%, you should also find out how much data they are charging you for and compare it to the size of the OTA, if there is a difference offer to pay the difference. If you really didn't have any data roaming and the only data use was the OTA then hold out.

 

...I would suggest finding out the size of the MR2 RUU but I don't think that would be the same as an OTA as it would wipe your data instead of preserving it, I will look around and see what I can find out.

 

A couple of issues for you. Found the update documents here http://support.vzw.com/pdf/system_update/thunderbolt_instructions.pdf


According to that PDF

Also

So you shouldn't have been able to data roam and get the update. And unless it tried to update and failed the redownloaded everything again half the data use was not from the update. If you had the phone syncing or anything like that then you would be using data. I can see why they only offered to cut it in half for you, but you may have an uphill battle trying to get much more off than than. I do wish you luck however.

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What parts of Canada were you in? My parents went to Calgary and based on the Verizon website, it states they're inside the coverage map for data, not for voice.

 

I have not seen any charges, but I was in Canada recently and had the "data roaming" unchecked on my TB. I kept the phone in airplane mode for most of the trip, but at one point I did enable data and thought "I'm ON because data roaming is disabled" well, it didn't sink in immediately but I looked at my home screen and told my wife what the weather was going to be where we were in Canada. She immediately realized that my TB had pulled data while roaming. From there on out, my phone was in airplane mode.

It is VERY disappointing that we can't trust the no roaming data setting on the phone. I would think that Verizon should be liable for every bit of data consumed in this manner, but it is nearly impossible to prove, so they can just sit back and collect $'s for something that costs them nearly nothing.

Yet another example of corporate "monopoly" America rinning wild! Nearly as bad as the "promotional" data plan where you can get 300MB for the low low rate of $20/mo!

 

Here's what I could find. I think I misspoke earlier, the page states that only text messages are covered under "domestic rates" but other data is actually charged at a different rate, so if you have your phone push your location's weather, or local points of interests via some app then you're screwed.

Calling From Canada

 

I visited Victoria for a couple days at the beginning of the month and likewise thought that having data roaming disabled would be sufficient to avoid roaming charges. However, shortly after arrival I received this text from Verizon:

Welcome to Canada! Roaming data may be billed up to $2.05/MB per your plan. Turn-off data or use WiFi to avoid charges. VZW Support 908-559-4899.

I immediately turned off mobile data entirely and used the wifi at the B&B we were staying at. When I checked my bill online when I got home it showed $0.001 in roaming data charges, so having data roaming disabled was definitely not sufficient for avoiding charges.

I noticed the map posted above is for a North American plan; I think I am on a US national plan, so it could be that it was allowing me to roam to a Verizon cell that was outside my free coverage area since it was part of Verizon's network. I don't think it should do that, roaming should be roaming, but I suspect that is what happened.

Good luck with your billing battle and let us know how out turns out.

 

That will ruin the SIM card and you will need to have VZW send you a new one once you want to return service to the bolt. Not sure why this is but from what I have seen if you deactivate the 4G sim it will not work anymore.

 

This is true. I tried swapping phones when my TB went dead until I could get a replacement, and I had to get a new 4G card. Which I also think is what happened with my contract. The idiot that moved my service probably didn't realize that I was going from a 4G data plan back to a 3G data plan and would be going back once my service was restored....

 

I don't know honestly. Seeing as it is a LTE sim card I would think you could but seeing as you can change service on LTE phones by simply putting the SIM in another phone I could also see how you wouldn't get any service until you got a working SIM.

 

Negative ghost rider. You can't make phone calls with a bad SIM card. I was actually told by a Verizon rep that I could always re-activate it after switching to another phone. I learned the hard way. What you'll have to do is go to a Verizon store and get a new SIM card. I must admit I was a little pissed considering I was hoping to re-activate my TB without making a trip to a Verizon store.

 

You could make them ship you one.

 

That's true, but I had my phone die on me on a Friday evening so they wouldn't begin the shipping process till Monday and I'd expect it on Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday. I went to the Verizon store on Saturday and picked up a SIM card there.

 

I had to deal with AT&T this week since one of our managers went to Canada and racked up about $400 worth of roaming charges because he didn't turn off his phone. AT&T said that the billing cycle was expired and they couldn't roll back that month to an international plan to offset the extra charges until the invoice was sent.

So today I called and spoke with a different rep and she said that the invoice had generated, she added international to his data/voice plan for last month, and then reverted his account back to what plan it was on. They wound up crediting us about $360 or so. I remember when Verizon used to go that extra mile for Customer Service and AT&T Customer Service was nonexistent.

 

If you are on unlimited data I think I would stay with VZW. If you jump ship I would tell you to look at sprint since they still have unlimited data