Verizon Wireless Billing Using an IPhone 4s near the Canadian border

Question

We summer in Vermont near the Canadian border. When we arrived this year we started incurring enormous global service charges based upon our proximity to Canada. While we have never left the continental U.S. we are being billed as though we're roaming in Canada . When I turn off "global data" I no longer get incoming calls. What gives, and how do I fix it?

Answer 1

While I don't have an answer for you I am very familiar with the problem. We live in Vermont and travel to Canada or the northern boarder of Vermont often at certain times of the year. I know based on the notifications I get and then the bills that my son's Iphone as well as my husbands basic phone pick up a Canadian tower and are charged for being in Canada well before they cross the boarder (often when they never actually do cross into Canada during the trip). It has been a real source of frustration for me as well when I know they aren't in Canada but we get charged for roaming in Canada or even worse using data. I have learned to add a "Canada" (I think it may just be global now) package for the time any of us will be in the area. You can add and subtract it whenever you want and while it does cost something it gives you regular usage for a far more reasonable rate than paying by the time or mb. You can even add the package by calling them to include any time you are already showing charges for as long as your billing cycle hasn't closed yet. The other thing you should know is that if you have unlimited texting (and maybe any texting plan) you will not incur any extra charges for texting, it's the one way you can communicate without any added charges. I also get notified by email every time anyone on our plan accesses data (and probably voice but I'm not sure) for the first time each day in Canada. I don't remember if that's something I signed up for or set or if they do it for everyone automatically but it let's me know to remind my son to turn off the cloud and any automatic data stuff as well as to text and not call unless he has to. It also reminds me to put the package on again. That all said, it has always been a frustration to me that I should have to think or pay for any of this when we are in Vermont not Canada since I pay for a National plan that should give me coverage anywhere in the US. Elector is probably correct and a tower in Quebec is stronger than the closest one in Vermont but seems like there should be a way to make sure you are using the US tower, maybe turning off roaming will do that but I'm not sure if it would cut off access to local one in the US as well... While I know many people aren't aware of it Vermont is part of the United States and not Quebec. Sorry for the length here hope you can use some of this info or at least the commiseration. Have a great vacation and enjoy your time here in Vermont!