Charged by O2 for using the hotel's wireless network abroad

[Adam]

Ok so I called again armed with more information that I found via google. Seems this is a common issues and there are a number of cases where the iPhone will do this. The suggestion of using the airplane mode is sensible, thanks!

So they refunded the charged as a "bill shock" but couldn't explain to me how I could have been charged despite data roaming being off. This should, in theory, stop any data being downloaded while abroad. At one point the guy suggested (like the first) that WiFi data still goes via the mobile network while abroad. I asked what I should do next time and they said not to use Wireless Networks, brilliant!

Also, are you sure O2 are based in the UK? Both had very strong Indian accents and were supposedly called "Dave"?

 

[Berserker]

Are you sure it wasn't the same "Dave"?

O2 guy is talking rubbish. It's nothing to do with wi-fi. Something phoned home that you weren't aware of. You'll know next time.

PS - iOS4 now has a 'data off' toggle (i.e. all data). It'll be interesting to see if that's as (un)reliable as Roaming, or whether that one actually does as advertised.

 

[Wicksta]

Also, are you sure O2 are based in the UK? Both had very strong Indian accents and were supposedly called "Dave"?

Yes I'm very sure, the call centres are in Leeds and Preston Brook for phones and Glasgow for broadband. Calls are recorded and people won't be giving out false names. Are you sure you're not getting an Indian accent confused with a Leeds one?

 

[csmager]

I did a quick google, and it appears you've found similar. iPhone Data Roaming off doesn't actually seem to work that successfully. Plenty of threads on various sites complaining of the same thing happening to them!

Don't think it's ever happened to me, but I occasionally use Data Roaming abroad and don't ever bother reading my bill unless it's well over my expectations.

 

[andy85]

You would not get charged for using the hotel wifi - nothing goes near the O2 network.

The only explanation is that Data Roaming was on at some point. Either that or magic.

...or hax.

 

[SAM81]

O2 have zero way of knowing whether you used Hotel wifi or not. You have been charged because you used mobile data on a mobile network, whether you think you did or not.

Agree - at some point your phone connected to their roaming partner. There is no other way you could be charged.

 

[muon]

Is there no mobile data off button rather than just data roaming off?

 

[PlumpMonkey]

Is there no mobile data off button rather than just data roaming off?

Not until iPhone 4.

I found a few links on the O2 website with people talking about this. It seems there's a fault with the software where when a Wifi connection drops out it flicks back to the mobile network even if data roaming is off. Like this one;

http://forum.o2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=203881&sid=b30144f647b7b13cb0b92b8eb1ddc6bf

This would back up the issues the OP and I have both experienced.

 

[Morfik]

O2 have zero way of knowing whether you used Hotel wifi or not. You have been charged because you used mobile data on a mobile network, whether you think you did or not.

This is correct - as loads of people have already stated.

I was recently in the US and noted Visual Voicemail worked (for messages I got in the US) even with data turned off. I was concerned this might cost me money and could be a bug, but having checked my bill it hasn't done.

 

[Rich_L]

I'd keep an eye on your bill though, sometimes foreign data charges can take a while to filter through on to your bill.

 

[_Jimlad_]

you connect to the wifi, wifi drops and you check mail or 3g = charge. what's your point?

 

[Westyfield2]

you connect to the wifi, wifi drops and you check mail on 3g = charge. what's your point?

That he had turned the "Data Roaming" option on his phone off. Thus when his phone is not connected to O2-UK it should not use the cellular data network. Yet somehow it did. (Assuming O2 didn't just make the charge up).

His point was that the had proactively tried to stop his phone from using data whilst roaming, but it had done it anyway. However it's probably more of an error with the phone's OS than with his carrier.

 

[_Jimlad_]

i thought if roaming was off and you try and check your mails it will override?

 

[csmager]

i thought if roaming was off and you try and check your mails it will override?

It would be a fairly pointless feature if this was the case.

It isn't how it works - if I try to check mail with roaming off, then it will tell me it's off and do nothing (unless there's a Wi-Fi connection).

There does appear to be a bug, as mentioned in the thread, where it will connect to the mobile data network under some circumstances.

 

[Amp34]

I always delete some of the connection data (such as password etc) as well as turn roaming off (and data on my HD). Don't know if deleting the connection login details actually does anything but I haven't been charged yet.

 

[orderoftheflame]

I know with roaming off you shouldn't have a problem... But if you've no intention of using anything but WiFi while you're away wouldn't it just be safer to set cellular data to "Off" entirely?