The Great Roaming Rip Off

[LostInIceland]

Currently in Reykjavik, Iceland. Received the expected text saying that roaming charges apply etc and my phone automatically connected to a local server. Unfortunately I was unable to get online at all without WiFi 😡 no messaging, no WhatsApp and more crucially NO CHUFFING MAPS! Not ideal when in this country for the first time, -4° and I don't know where I am or going 🤬 after using a cafe wifi to contact Three 4 times on chat and 3 phone calls STILL NOT WORKING, 3 hours of my first day of holiday spent trying to fix the problem...

Will be leaving Three as soon as I land back in the UK

[PeteG]

Hello there. 

Welcome to the Three Community. 

Oh, that's the worst time to be having network issues. Do you already have roaming passes active on your account? Or if you don't have roaming passes enabled, do you have enough budget set on your spend limit to allow the system to charge you for a daily roaming pass? 

Pete. 

[LostInIceland]

I've tried everything, followed all of the instructions given by 3 tech support, still nothing. All the settings are correct and I can receive calls but no internet, so no maps. Even paid for extra roaming pass hoping that would solve it, but nothing. Pretty pxxxxd off now....

[JonathanB]

Hi @LostInIceland,

I'm sorry to hear this, it sounds like the issue is more likely to be a technical one than a billing issue if you can get call service. I'm not sure what the tech team will have covered already, so apologies if this has already been covered, but the next thing to check after your account and phone are definitely set up for roaming is to try manually connecting to alternative networks.

If you check in your settings for network/carrier selection, when this is set to manual you should be able to choose other networks with signal in the area. Just in case the one you're connecting to automatically has a fault or limitation. I'd try each service provider one by one and check if any have data service.

If you do this, make sure to set your network selection back to Automatic when or before you return to the UK.

Thanks,
Jonathan