Three roaming data

RobK

RobK

RobK

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13 Apr 2006
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574
I've recently switched to Three from Vodafone and was amazed to find while on holiday that there's no way you can check how much roaming data you have used. One of the kids got a text saying he had used 95% of his 12GB limit :rolleyes: so I went on live chat and asked how I could check how much the others were on. The answer was that the only thing they can do is put in a request with the billing team to get the information from the partner networks abroad and let you know in a few days' time.

When I got this report it said he has only used 6GB which naturally I queried again, and they said it can take up to 3 months to update the usage abroad! This is obviously completely useless when you are on a trip and want to know how much data you have left. I can't believe nobody seems to be complaining about this. :confused:
 
My understanding is you are allowed to roam abroad (this is in the free roaming countries) with as much data as you have on your home contract?
Android data usage apps exist that can break down data usage by mobile/wifi/roaming, that might help you keep a tab on it too?
 
I'm on the 30GB SIM only plan so you get a fair use limit of 12GB when roaming. The kids have iphones and the data monitor on the one that got the text message said he had only used about 4GB since the contract started, apart from Netflix which is meant to be excluded under the Three "Go Binge" service, even when roaming. I actually suspected that the Netflix was being counted as he reckoned he hadn't been doing much else, but Three couldn't tell me either way.
 
tigerstyle said:
My understanding is you are allowed to roam abroad (this is in the free roaming countries) with as much data as you have on your home contract?
Android data usage apps exist that can break down data usage by mobile/wifi/roaming, that might help you keep a tab on it too?
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It used to be, but it's now 12GB. I'm on unlimited for a very good reason, and this trim down is a right pain whilst roaming.

It's also limited to a certain number of days a month you can be roaming, which I understand.
 
hughtrimble said:
It's also limited to a certain number of days a month you can be roaming, which I understand.
Click to expand...
Yes, they say if you use it two months in a row they will limit you, or something like that.

There is also the issue that the allowance doesn't reset at the same time as your monthly contract does. On Vodafone it does, but with Three it's a 30 day period from when you first use it abroad. They don't make that clear anywhere in their T&Cs.
 
RobK said:
Yes, they say if you use it two months in a row they will limit you, or something like that.

There is also the issue that the allowance doesn't reset at the same time as your monthly contract does. On Vodafone it does, but with Three it's a 30 day period from when you first use it abroad. They don't make that clear anywhere in their T&Cs.
Click to expand...
I had no idea. That's very useful to know, thank you.
 
It takes it out of the normal data allowance shown

When I went to Switzerland it was exactly like being in the UK, I had a reminder saying 500MB left and sure enough the Three app showed 500MB remaining
 
If I have 12GB roaming out of 30GB that only works if I can remember how much I had used before I went, and if the normal allowance hasn't reset while I've been away. I'd be surprised if the app was up to date while roaming too since it seems so hard for them to get the information from the partner networks.
 
RobK said:
I'm on the 30GB SIM only plan so you get a fair use limit of 12GB when roaming. The kids have iphones and the data monitor on the one that got the text message said he had only used about 4GB since the contract started, apart from Netflix which is meant to be excluded under the Three "Go Binge" service, even when roaming. I actually suspected that the Netflix was being counted as he reckoned he hadn't been doing much else, but Three couldn't tell me either way.
Click to expand...

I think only SD Netflix is counted on go binge, if they're watching in HD it'll come out of normal data
 
While i understand that it sucks, this is honestly out of 3 UK's control (and trust me, I'd like to blame them). Roaming is a complete minefield for telcos as they rely on the destination telco to send the data usage records back to the origin telco (who typically settle the bills between each other in a big monthly bill using a service called Intec Interconnect). Some Telcos have a second system in place where they can get the data records very quick but generally, the smaller the destination telco the longer it takes to settle. e.g. roaming from O2UK to Telefonica Espania = 1or 2 day reconcile as they are the same company but EE-UK to Ooredoo Maldives = probably monthly. I'm honestly surprised you're managing to chunk through the data so quickly considering the hyper-aggressive throttling 3-at-home, which country are you in if you dont mind me asking?
 
explicit4u said:
I think only SD Netflix is counted on go binge, if they're watching in HD it'll come out of normal data
Click to expand...
That is a good point but he was on Netflix all the time before we went away and it never impacted his data allowance before, so unless he changed his settings I don't think it could be that.

Myshra said:
While i understand that it sucks, this is honestly out of 3 UK's control (and trust me, I'd like to blame them). Roaming is a complete minefield for telcos as they rely on the destination telco to send the data usage records back to the origin telco (who typically settle the bills between each other in a big monthly bill using a service called Intec Interconnect). Some Telcos have a second system in place where they can get the data records very quick but generally, the smaller the destination telco the longer it takes to settle. e.g. roaming from O2UK to Telefonica Espania = 1or 2 day reconcile as they are the same company but EE-UK to Ooredoo Maldives = probably monthly. I'm honestly surprised you're managing to chunk through the data so quickly considering the hyper-aggressive throttling 3-at-home, which country are you in if you dont mind me asking?
Click to expand...

We were in Portugal and I was surprised he had managed to hit the limit as well, since I was getting about 1Mbps on 3G there. I can see that there are technical issues involved but when I was on Vodafone you could check roaming usage anytime on their app, so I assumed I'd be able to do the same on Three.
 
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I've recently switched to Three and feel they are a bit of a strange set up. I'm on PayG right now as I want to see how they shape up before getting a 12 month contract. I'm heading to the Canaries for a week and I thought why not get a data bolt on for the trip. It's costing £5 for 500MB which seems pointless as my current data cost is 1p/MB which is the exact same as £5 for 500MB! What's the point? :confused:
 
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