T-Mobile is popular with many travelers because they offer a free hour of Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi on domestic flights. And because users on eligible plans can enjoy unlimited international data coverage and texting when traveling overseas.
But it looks like T-Mobile is trying to discourage folks from going overboard with the international data benefit. If you’re a T-Mobile customer using more than 50% of your voice or data outside of the T-Mobile network for any 2 billing cycles within a 12-month period, there’s a chance your account is going to be blocked or shutdown.
Don’t forget to check out our post with a list of the best credit cards to pay your cell phone bill!
T-Mobile seems to be enforcing a term that was already in their contracts for years. Affected customers on the T-Mobile ONE and T-Mobile ONE Plus plans have received messages stating the following:
The majority of the last two months of T-Mobile usage on line XXX-XXX-XXXX has been roaming internationally. If this line continues to roam extensively abroad over the next month, the use will violate our terms and conditions, and your roaming usage will be blocked on September 25 2018. See details: t-mo.co/roaming
Many other cell phone providers have a similar clause in their terms and conditions, but don’t enforce it as strictly. That said, most other carriers don’t offer free data overseas!
If you are going abroad and know you’re going to be roaming excessively, you might consider:
- Purchasing a local SIM card before you travel
- Renting a Wi-Fi hotspot
- Trying out Google Project Fi
We recommend checking the roaming terms and conditions in your phone plan before traveling abroad so your account doesn’t get shut down! And so you don’t come back to a bill with lots of expected charges!
Hat Tip: The Points Guy
I purchased a SIM through surfroam.com and it works nearly everywhere. Rates are normally 1 to 2 euro cents per megabyte but always check first. The Solomon Islands was over 20 euros per MB! If I plan on staying more than a day or two I will purchase a local SIM but it is great to have coverage on arrival. One bonus – in China it works for all websites, no VPN required – I used it to upgrade my VPN app. I do not get any commissions for promoting their product; I am just a very happy customer.