Can international DATA roaming be turned off by Xfinity?

I know how to turn off Data Roaming on my device (iPhone), but can Xfinity block DATA roaming on my lines in their system? I do not want to deactivate international calls/texts, only DATA.

We travel internationally several times a year, and although I always keep "Data Roaming" turned Off on our iPhones, I want to ensure that no data roaming charges slip through.

This was never an issue for the past several years, but on our past couple of trips this year I noticed multiple data roaming incidents of .01-.03/MB each even though Data Roaming was turned off on my iPhones. Luckily the $ charges were very small, but it was disconcerting seeing any data roaming charges at all.

I am completely satisfied using "Pay as you Go" for call/text roaming, so have no interest in subscribing to or paying for "Global Travel Pass" for data, especially now that XM includes international calls/texts roaming at no charge on all their plans.

So if I request it, can Xfinity block DATA roaming on my lines while still allowing calls/texts?

Responses

DaveO3

Problem Solver

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777 Messages

24 days ago

Great Question, especially since calls and text (SMS) while international roaming are now free, BUT Data is now $.30/MB ($300/GB):

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/traveling-internationally

Technically if you turn off cellular data there shouldn’t be any data charges? However if you add a data eSIM for a lot less money then you would not want to turn off cellular data and you would just make your eSIM the default for data, and then determine whether you want to allow data switching to your XM line for data for XM voicemail etc.

Let us know what you figure out.

user_vqziu5

Visitor

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3 Messages

23 days ago

I was hoping someone had already tried requesting this so I wouldn't have to be a guinea pig. I don't look forward to trying to reach Xfinity customer service, or learning after I've left the US that they've [Edited: Language] something up and international calls/texts are blocked.

I usually use foreign SIMs when traveling, but I also keep my US/Xfinity SIM active for calls/texts, so I don't want to completely turn off cellular data on my iPhone. As I mentioned above, I had never experienced these mysterious small Data Roaming charges before, they only started this year, so I'm trying to avoid them in the future. I only need Xfinity calls/texts roaming, I don't have any need for Xfinity Data Roaming.

I'll let you know if I discover any revelations.

(edited)

user_vqziu5

Visitor

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3 Messages

I contacted XM yesterday, and the dreadful experience went pretty much exactly as I expected. First I called, and between the cacophony of background noise on the agent's end and the language barrier between us, I learned absolutely nothing and made no progress.

I then contacted an agent via Xfinity Assistant live messaging. The agent seemed to understand what I was asking, and he assured me he could disable DATA roaming on the line but keep calls/texts roaming active. I asked him like 3 times to confirm this, and he did. So I asked him to go ahead and make the change.

Later in the day, with the help of the family member who's line I made the change to, and is currently in Europe, I ran some tests. I had them turn on their Xfinity SIM, and we were able to text/call each other, thus confirming international calls/texts roaming was still active on his line. But unfortunately, my XM account activity then showed several "data roaming" charges of .01-.03/MB each. So obviously the agent did not deactivate Data Roaming as he claimed.

I later contacted another agent via Xfinity Assistant live messaging, and this agent confirmed what I suspected. They cannot just turn off DATA Roaming while keeping calls/texts roaming active. International roaming is either all on, or all off.

So now I will continue to research why this year I've started getting these small amounts of data roaming usage, and how to prevent it.

21 days ago

XfinityShawn

Official Employee

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1.6K Messages

user_vqziu5 We appreciate that update as the last representative you spoke with was able to help you figure this out.

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Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
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21 days ago

XfinityArmand

Official Employee

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2.2K Messages

22 days ago

Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out to Xfinity Support @user_vqziu5! We are so glad to hear from you and want to assist in any way that we can to ensure you are having the best experience with your service. No worries! You have reached out to the best team to assist in getting you the answers you need for your travels. In disabling the roaming, were you traveling outside the international coverage area?

Plan

user_vqziu5

Can international DATA roaming be turned off by Xfinity?

DaveO3

user_vqziu5

user_vqziu5

XfinityShawn

XfinityArmand

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