Surprise AT&T Roaming Charges

MarkR · Post by **MarkR** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:57 pm

Just got my AT&T cell phone bill that had two weeks of charges from St John on it. All the calls were covered by the plan EXCEPT for 2 calls.

Two calls made on a Sunday evening within 10 minutes of each other, were picked up by a tower in the BVI's. The 23 minutes of roaming is $80.27. The per minute roaming charge was $3.49 per minute.

Has anyone had this happen and get it removed from their bill?

Those going with AT&T cell phones may want to watch when making a call, that it's not going into roaming.

Mark

Kathyzhere · Post by **Kathyzhere** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:16 pm

Hi Mark,
I did have that happen to me but I was
staying on the North side of STT. My
Mom was using my cell to check in on
a sick friend back home so I really didn't
pay attention. I noticed that 3 of the calls
were really high but just paid it without even
really thinking.

Then someone on here I think mentioned that it
happened to them. They just called ATT and
told them they were on STJ and the calls bounced.
I'm 99% sure they said those charges were dropped.

I guess there is a new-ish tower on Tortola that
some calls go to instead, depending where you are
on the islands.

Good Luck and at least now I know to dispute
them in the future.

Kathy

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:31 pm

that happened to us and we called ATT and they removed it from the bill. $75.

cocosmom · Post by **cocosmom** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:57 pm

I posted the same a couple of times. Just call them & tell them they will remove. We never used our phone the one day we were in BVIs & got roaming to BVIs also from STJ

Carolyn · Post by **Carolyn** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:04 pm

Prior to our recent trip my husband called AT&T to make sure we would not incur roaming charges on St John while calling home. They reassured him that w/ our plan we would not receive those charges. I don't know that either of us has looked at our bill online but we will be certain to follow up due to this thread. Thanks MArk!

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:14 pm

I'm not with AT&T, I'm with Verizon, but I also called and told them I was going to the VI and there were no roaming charges that I can remember. I really think it's valuable to call first and inform them, then if you get high roaming charge, it's on your record that you notified them in advance.

loria · Post by **loria** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:21 pm

California Girl wrote:I'm not with AT&T, I'm with Verizon, but I also called and told them I was going to the VI and there were no roaming charges that I can remember. I really think it's valuable to call first and inform them, then if you get high roaming charge, it's on your record that you notified them in advance.

ooohhhh good advice--re verizon.....also, turn off roaming (hubby is with ATT, he HAD to get the iphone.......)

steve · Post by **steve** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:07 pm

I have used ATT a lot on St John. I usually rent in Catherinberg and if you look at the ATT coverage map the N Shore is the only dead area. Att assured me with my no roaming plan as long as I was in VI I would not be charged....boy did we rack up several hundred $ of roaming. you get a great signal but it is BVI. I had to argue up the chain, they claimed I must have been in the BVI and I assured them to that point I had never been off the USVI...I offered to copy my passport!. Finally a manager who knew some geography told them to forget the charges but they told me to never roam in STJ again or I would be stuck! I now bring a calling card to use in the villa (La Jolla Caribe and most villas block out going long distance calls but you can dial an 800 #, the calling card from Costco is great and cheap). I have since had a few BVI roaming charges and they always take them off on request.

stjohnjulie · Post by **stjohnjulie** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:42 am

Most people can easily turn the international roaming off on their phone. You will want to do that if you have ATT and are going East. My friend, who is blind, got hit with a HUGE bill. He had no way of telling if he was was roaming (they set the phone up for him). After a long talk with ATT, they removed the charges. Just turn the international roaming off and you should be ok!

sailorgirl · Post by **sailorgirl** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:08 am

Can roaming be disconnected from the phone, or does the carrier have to do it?

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:09 am

You can do it yourself. Depending on what type of phone you have the process will be different, but you have to go into your settings and set it to manually find a signal. Of course, this can be a pain because you have to remember to go in and find your signal when you get back to an area you have service. Or at least I did last year.

Even when I was on Jost, I was still getting an AT&T signal, but the same as others here said all you have to do is call and tell them you never left the United States, then they should take the roaming charges off. At least that's what my guy told me last year, but I never got any roaming charges, and I know I got some texts when I was on a BVI tower. Calling ahead does seem to help.

MarkR · Post by **MarkR** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:10 am

Here is the follow up....
Just called AT&T, talked with a very nice lady and she removed the roaming charges. The call only
lasted probably 30 seconds, no pleas, threats to switch carriers or talking to a supervisor. Painless.

With all the taxes removed a savings of $91.98.

Thanks to all who offered advise.

Mark

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:23 am

Mark, that's excellent! Great news!

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:33 am

great news! when I called I was informed that it was a one time only exception but who knows about that!

usvi-on-line

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Surprise AT&T Roaming Charges

Surprise AT&T Roaming Charges