topic Re: Call forwarding and roaming in Network

Call forwarding and roaming

Laz — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 17:16:27 GMT

Hi,

If I forward all my calls to my UK Skype number (or another number), will I get charged while roaming ?. I need to turn on my phone while roaming to receive SMS messages

Thanks

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

JonathanB — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:22:13 GMT

Hi @Laz,

You can divert to voicemail for free but other numbers will count as an outgoing call, so it's best to double check the roaming rates for the destination before setting this up.

Hope this helps,
JonathanB

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Sat, 25 May 2024 05:59:55 GMT

Hi - it's quite hard I get some clarity in this scenario - so please see if you can help -

Phone 1 is in 3.

Phone 2 is on another network where roaming is included ins. Particular country at no extra cost.

On phone 1 (3, unlimited calls package), I already have a divert set up to divert all phone calls to phone 2 - the coverage in phone 2 is much better for calls most of the time. At the moment - this comes out of the unlimited bundle allowance and works very well. This is an I conditional divert - every call is diverted from phone 1 (3) to phone 2 - other network - without ringing.

Now - if I take both abroad and switch both on - phone 2 will receive calls for free. But will I be charged for the divert I use daily at the moment? Assuming I disable data too and only use phone 1 for SMS - and assuming that unconditional divert is setup at the core network level - there would be no additional charges to divert calls from 3 right? I know EE and Voda and o2 don't charge in these scenarios but I've never tried this on 3 .

Secondly - if there is a charge in the case above - if I never switch on the 3 phone abroad - then the 3 SIM would never register on a network abroad. So this would mean the divert would come out of the UK allowance anyway right ? Only issue is I can't use the line for SMS etc. so I'd prefer it if the original scenario worked well!

Thoughts?

Thank you!

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Sat, 25 May 2024 06:08:54 GMT

In addition to the questions above - do Three have roaming bars that we need to remove - or the only settings we need to check on the phone? Years ago we'd have to call to have bars removed - is that still the case or is it just the spend cap?

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

PeteG — Sun, 26 May 2024 10:48:23 GMT

Hello.

If you take both phones abroad and have them both on, my understanding is that you would be charged for diverting your call to the 2nd number. This is because whenever you are diverting calls, the call must be routed to the last network your phone was connected to, this means the divert would be a roaming call. You mentioned this works differently for other networks, however in looking into it, I found that other networks charge in the same way, with the exception being if you have free roaming calls with them. With Three, you do have free calls when you're within a Go Roam destination, but would be subject to a daily charge of £2 or £5 depending on the destination. You can find out specifics about your destination on the Roaming Support page.

If you leave the 1st phone at home, or take it with you but never connect it to a roaming network, the diverts would be treated as normal UK diverts and you shouldn't be charged on line 1 for those calls being diverted to line 2. If line 2 is able to receive calls for free while you're roaming, you will have avoided any charges there too.

There is an International Roaming setting that will need to be enabled on your account in order for your phone to work abroad. If you haven't used the roaming before, it's like it won't be active. If you head through to the Support Team, you can request to have that enabled on your account.

Pete.

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Sun, 26 May 2024 15:19:48 GMT

This is incredibly clear and helpful. Thank you. I thought if the unconditional divert was set at network core - then it wouldn't be chargeable regardless - but your reply clarifies that and the avoidance circumstances - especially with the option even leaving the phone 1 entirely off with no roaming connection.

One last query - I'd phone 1 is turned off - but calls are set to divert to three voice ail before leaving the UK - this way it could be used to receive SMS s for free, but assuming all data is turned off and all calls eventually go to 3 voicemail without diverting elsewhere - this would not trigger roaming right? So having calls divert to 3 voice ail when abroad is free under all conditions and is free and doesn't trigger roaming unless data roaming, outbound call or outgoing smss do? Is that right ?

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Sun, 26 May 2024 15:22:28 GMT

I mean three Voicemail where it says voice ail**

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

PeteG — Mon, 27 May 2024 16:01:52 GMT

I'm not sure I've fully understood this question. You mentioned the phone being off, but said you'd be able to receive SMS, could you clarify here?

The phone would need to remain off or in flight mode for the entire time you're outside of the UK in order to avoid the roaming kicking in. If it's connected to any over seas networks, this will shift the line into a roaming state until the line connects to a UK network again.

Sorry I've I haven't understood correctly.

Pete.

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Mon, 27 May 2024 18:47:17 GMT

Hi - sorry I mean another scenario - so before I leave the UK - I change the divert settings so that calls are diverted to Three Voicemail. If I then turn off data roaming - and calls are diverted to three Voicemail - there will also be no roaming charge right? So all my calls when connecting to a foreign network will forward to three Voicemail - which I can access from another line, and I can still view any SMS s coming in as well - without triggering roaming?

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

PeteG — Mon, 27 May 2024 18:58:08 GMT

With Data Roaming off, the SIM would still connect to the service overseas and would register on the network there. It would still be roaming, calls would still be routing through the overseas network.

I've also noticed a few users here on the Community talking about an issue on iPhones where the phone ignores the disable data roaming option, and taps into the mobile data network several times a day, causing them to be charged. I've had a look around and can see signs of this happening to iPhone users on other networks as well. If you're an iPhone user, and don't want to risk being charged, I'd recommend having the phone in Airplane mode, turned off, or disabling the SIM by removing it, or turning it off in settings if it's a eSIM.

Pete.

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Mon, 27 May 2024 19:03:06 GMT

Thanks for that - and on android - if calls are forward to three voicemail - is that still chargeable (if that's the only service used but the phone it turned on)?

Thanks !

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

JonathanB — Tue, 28 May 2024 09:23:42 GMT

Hi @HD1983,

According to our info the default divert to our Voicemail won't trigger roaming charges, but you should also check the Roaming rates for your destination.

Destinations which are not covered by Go Roam will charge you for calls you answer, and they'll charge you an outgoing call rate for non-standard diverts (a divert you've set up to any number other than Three Voicemail), assuming you're currently registered as roaming.

So I think, if we've followed correctly, your intention is to take a Three SIM with you, receive incoming texts for free, and also have incoming calls go to Three Voicemail. And you'll dial into your mailbox from another line?

If so that ought to work, or if you want to be on the absolute safe side, as Pete suggested you could leave the Three SIM, or leave it in flight mode, so that the SIM doesn't register as roaming. In that scenario you won't be able to monitor incoming SMS of course.

Hope this helps,
Jonathan

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Tue, 28 May 2024 09:47:45 GMT

Again - really helpful - I'll make a decision as to what to do - likely divert calls to voicemail as standard and see how that works out. Thanks again! Hunain

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

JonathanB — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:50:46 GMT

Awesome and no worries, happy to help. Please let us know how things go, and we hope you enjoy your travels!

Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

lasantha — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:59:41 GMT

Hi,

This information is incorrect. I have tested the Three and EE networks, and the cost for this service is zero. If you forward your mobile calls to another landline number before leaving the UK, the calls will be covered using your free UK minutes (non-roaming). I then visited Sri Lanka and used my phone to receive text messages without incurring any roaming charges. We should avoid activating Go Roam Passes, as they only incur a daily charge of £5 if activated. The same applies to the EE network.

Lasantha

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 22:08:00 GMT

Thanks - as I'm roaming in Europe and the risk is low (2gbp a day) I might disable data - leave my UK call diversion intact and test it. Either that or divert to voicemail. It's as I thought - if it's diverted in the core network before the phone is taken abroad - it should be free. I know that's the case with EE and Voda but I didn't know Three work that way too

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

WestyOfPoole — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:12:55 GMT

Sorry to jump in on this fairly old thread.

If I purchase a Lebara SIM that has Roaming included, can I forward my Three calls to the Lebara number without incurring any charges?

Will the Lebara phone receive Texts that were sent to my Three number?

If the Text's aren't forwarded, is it possible to create an auto return Text, giving the Lebara number (similar to an Out of Office email)?

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

JonathanB — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:49:48 GMT

Hi @WestyOfPoole,

Diverting to Voicemail is free, but if you choose another number like the Lebara one mentioned, this technically does use UK voice minutes to do so, so may trigger a daily Go Roam charge, or charge you per minute if in a non Go Roam destination.

So other Community members have recommended in the past to leave the Three SIM out of their phone whilst they're away, so that it doesn't actually register as Roaming.

The question on texts is a bit more difficult, we don't have an automatic text forwarding feature, although I have seen mentions of using messages.google.com to remotely access SMS from a different device. I believe you do need to "pair" the other device/browser with your phone, as well as entering your Google log in though, so it's best to test this out before you leave the UK.

If you're an iPhone user, I'm not sure there's a direct equivalent to this.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction anyway.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

HD1983 — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:56:36 GMT

Leave the sim out of the phone - Three are still unable to fix the phantom roaming chargers - it still happens. So if you leave the sim in your phone, but keep it disabled and roaming data off for the 3 SIM, every day, it will claim to have connected for a few KB (usually 4KB) - and this will trigger the daily roaming charge. or Just use the 3 sim abroad and bulk buy the roaming package to save on costs 🙂

Re: Call forwarding and roaming

WestyOfPoole — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:50:41 GMT

Hi Jonathan & HD1983,

My intentions are to set up the Call Forwarding before we leave home and remove the Three SIM from the phone. From what I have read, it will be noted that the last connection was in the UK so call forwarding will work at UK rates which is inclusive in Pay Monthly packages?

TIA,

Westy