Nexus S - Data while Roaming Disabled but random GPRS charges sucked my wallet dry

**DroogBC** · 08-22-2011, 07:17 PM

Just noticed that since around August 1 I've been getting hit with tons of random GPRS charges. Lots and lots of small varying amounts have been deducted daily and have sucked nearly $30 of My Wallet this month. I use a Nexus S and have data roaming disabled so I don't understand where these charges are coming from.

Before I contact Mobi, anyone here experience anything like this?

**adrianf74** · 08-22-2011, 07:22 PM

Seeing that you're in B.C., I'm wondering if you're travelling in "fringe" areas?

I know with my Optimus T, it's not enough just to disable data but you also have to ensure that SYNC is _OFF_ and that all background sync activities are cancelled otherwise you'll get hit.

**xtachx** · 08-22-2011, 08:06 PM

I use a nexusw one - and I went to montreal few days back. Turned data off - and wasnt hit with a gprs charge

**Kerlo** · 08-23-2011, 08:51 AM

I've had this experience only once on my Nexus S. When I was transferring zones data was still coming through even though I was on GPRS. I thought I had gotten free data, but then I looked at my wallet and it was sucked dry.

Seems like you need to be careful if you are using a stream of data between two zones.

**samsungsammy** · 08-23-2011, 10:10 AM

Happens to a lot of people even with different phones roaming in the home zone, if you feel the charges were unfair complain if everything was actually turned off and that's one of the main reasons individuals don't keep a lot of funds in the wallet. Customer Service usually give you a hard time after they dismiss the first incident and this in my opinion is a huge negative effecting Mobilicity.

**Mr.Conviviality** · 08-23-2011, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by samsungsammy

Happens to a lot of people even with different phones roaming in the home zone, if you feel the charges were unfair complain if everything was actually turned off and that's one of the main reasons individuals don't keep a lot of funds in the wallet. Customer Service usually give you a hard time after they dismiss the first incident and this in my opinion is a huge negative effecting Mobilicity.

looks like the 5th incarnation....

**droidacolyte** · 08-23-2011, 11:04 AM

I mysteriously lost 45 cents while staying in Mississauga/Brampton with data roaming turned off. And I didn't make any calls or send any texts without it showing that I was on Mobi's network (and being in Mississauga/Brampton I was on Mobi's network except for the couple times I noticed it showed that I was on the EDGE network. But then I switched my phone settings to WCDMA only and I didn't get that problem again.) This was with the Nexus S as well.

The best policy is to basically only put funds in MyWallet when you need them and to set your phone to WCDMA only.

**robsaw** · 08-23-2011, 11:05 AM

Well part of the issue is that, on some android phones at least, the data roaming off still allows certain background data while roaming. I use a hard APN disable mobile data on/off toggle widget/app to make sure it is "really" off. There are several, but I use one called "Quick Settings".

**samsungsammy** · 08-23-2011, 11:30 AM

That app is actually a pretty good one, one individual I know actually has only talk and text with no data and his wallet was being depleted in his own home- "Quick Settings" was the only thing that helped.

**Ago Vino Verita** · 08-23-2011, 12:22 PM

I think people are not using their phone properly.

You want all data off --- Turn Radio OFF Or AIRPLANE ON (Depending what you phone options)
Want to disable 3G --- Just turn 2G Only ON
You want to disable --- Data Unless it is on Command?

Turn GPS-A Off.
Turn all Sync Off (Facebook, Email, Twitter)
However because you may still have data hungry programs that you are not even aware they may be
"calling-home" or updates, the best thing to do is is if you are on fringe areas to turn all data OFF.

Don't rely on just disabling roaming only because there had been issues in which it might not work 100%.

All the options at there on Android, so look for an app that might do this for you if you don't have the options easily available. I use MIUI and it gives you a lot of control.

**xtachx** · 08-23-2011, 01:03 PM

I use miui and I love the firewall. Keeps rogue apps from using data when data is off

Sent from my Nexus One using HowardForums

**cricketfan** · 08-23-2011, 01:47 PM

Or use Toggle Mobile Data Widget that comes with JuiceDefender. Does the job.

**cmstlist** · 08-23-2011, 02:10 PM

There's gotta be something wrong here - if the Nexus S is sipping data with roaming disabled, then it's a serious software bug. The proper Android behaviour - and this is what I've *always* experienced on LG Optimus One, Nexus One and Motorola Milestone - is that when you disable data while roaming, disabled means disabled. It does not sync in the background. It does not make any attempts to access the mobile data network. Are you using a stock ROM or custom? You should be reporting this to Google/Samsung if you are getting this in the stock ROM. You should NOT have to be resorting to third-party apps to force the correct behaviour.

Moreover, if this is happening using the stock ROM as shipped by Mobilicity on their Nexus S models, it is part of Mobilicity's responsibility. You did exactly what you were supposed to do to prevent roaming data charges, but the phone they sold you broke the rules. Dave Dobbin should be made aware if this is the case.

**samsungsammy** · 08-23-2011, 02:31 PM

Exactly, beautifully said-that's precisely what happened with the MobiFlip when Mobilicity changed it from the original Danger software to their own-it was tampered with so badly that even someone with only a Voice/Text plan excluding Data was losing funds from the Wallet, where you couldn't also change the APN with all the settings off and none of the Techies/CS were able to help either blaming the customer/low signal area. Data off means Data off and somehow if it slips through it's Mobilicity's fault due to tampering/some unknown network issue that won't allow the release. Under these conditions the phone should not be sold without a warning and yet it's still on the market.

**bluenote73** · 08-23-2011, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by samsungsammy

Exactly, beautifully said-that's precisely what happened with the MobiFlip when Mobilicity changed it from the original Danger software to their own-it was tampered with so badly that even someone with only a Voice/Text plan excluding Data was losing funds from the Wallet, where you couldn't also change the APN with all the settings off and none of the Techies/CS were able to help either blaming the customer/low signal area. Data off means Data off and somehow if it slips through it's Mobilicity's fault due to tampering/some unknown network issue that won't allow the release. Under these conditions the phone should not be sold without a warning and yet it's still on the market.

Hello Laser Android.