How to enable Data Bar whilst abroad outside UK + Roam Free destinations?

[harry66]

Hi,

I want to enable Roaming Data bar whenever it would cost me - i.e. outside the Roam Free regions

I log into my account and go into "Services and Extras"->Roaming option.

But I only see an option for  'Data while abroad bar' - which says 'stop data being used while you're outside UK'.

Which seems a silly since all contracts have 'Vodafone Global roaming' which allows free data in the 50 RoamFree destinations.

So, how I do bar data usage only when outside the UK and RoamFree regions?

Thanks!

[AnnS]

Hi @harry66

I don't know if you have seen the link from support below.  You can also text to 40506 to turn the cap off.

https://support.vodafone.co.uk/Account-bill-and-top-up/My-allowance-usage-and-charges/Data-capping/9...

[Anonymous]

The simplest answer is still to turn your mobile data off and leave it off. On modern phones this is usually well hidden in the deeper levels of the menus so you are highly unlikely to turn it on again by accident.  On an iPhone you also need to disable that option which allows the phone to switch to mobile data if it loses wi-fi signal - sorry, can't remember the name, I've been back on Android for a couple of months !      Vodafone are hardly likely to implement the kind of a faciltiy to automatically prevent data usage outside the Roam Free region.   Why would they - it woud just lose them money !

[harry66]

'Vodafone are hardly likely to implement the kind of a faciltiy to automatically prevent data usage outside the Roam Free region. Why would they - it woud just lose them money !'

Seriously? What on earth do you think the Roaming Data Bar feature did then before the EU regulations / RoamFree stuff kicked in?

[Makelo]

It was in response to regulation changes, it wasn't a voluntary thing by any of the networks. This was to prevent people running up thousands of pounds in accidental roaming charges. They introduced the maximum spend cap, I think it was 50 euro, which was on by default but the customer could make a conscious decision to turn this off. 

Barring data use whilst roaming was possible before this regulation took effect, the difference was that it was off by default and had to be turned on by the customer contacting CS. 

It is a legacy thing really, ideally it would be updated to reflect the changes in legislation since it was introduced and I agree your suggestion that it should really block all spending outside of roam free or in excess of fair use in roam free destinations is a logical soluton

.Whether that will happen, who knows.

[Anonymous]

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@harry66 wrote:

'Vodafone are hardly likely to implement the kind of a faciltiy to automatically prevent data usage outside the Roam Free region. Why would they - it woud just lose them money !'

Seriously? What on earth do you think the Roaming Data Bar feature did then before the EU regulations / RoamFree stuff kicked in?

 Steady on, you'll be accusing them of altruism next !

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[donnyguy]

I think the simple answer here is that the standard network bars that Vodafone (and other networks) offer are service bars that are logic driven rather than price.

BT Mobile offer spend caps on all their accounts where you can limit (to a minimum of £5) the amount you can spend over your contract each month both in the UK and abroad.

There's also a seperate 'Data Roaming' cap which can be set to as low as zero meaning you'll be able to use the service in the EU but not get access to data anywhere where it'll be chargable.

That's what Vodafone should look to introduce if they don't already.

But back to the logic driven network bars, BT Mobile and EE (along with everyone else) can restrict service for new customers if they have a low credit score (but not low enough to get a no). I'll post the link below but the story is horrified that these customers whose credit score meant that they weren't allowed to have roaming for the first six months (until there's a history of paying bills) were not able to well... roam.

As the free EU roaming came into effect last summer, the story was saying that these customers should have been able to roam in the EU as it would be free. Whereas the logic behind network bars was, is the customer allowed to use their phone whilst roaming. Answer = No. 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2017/08/bt-customers-who-fail-credit-check-cut-off-fro...