Receive text messages from Canada while abroad?

[VictorMeldrew]

With the recent changes to PM subscriptions, I have just upgraded, and I notice on the fine print of my new subscription that it says: "International picture and text messaging includes text messages that are sent from or received in Canada. Excludes premium and subscription-based messages, and texts sent while roaming outside of Canada.".

It specifically says that it excludes texts sent while abroad but no mention of ones received. Does that mean that I can now receive text messages sent from Canada to my phone while I am abroad? I am thinking specifically here about receiving 2FA messages which has always been a bit of a pain in the past.

[Luddite]

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@VictorMeldrew wrote:

If that is the case, then (and this is rhetorical) why isn't that spelt out in the fine print instead of the rather ambiguous statement?

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Because PM really has 🤔

[DennyCrane · Accepted solution]

@hairbag1 Yes. As I said, incoming text messages are free anywhere there is service, including roaming. Because PM has roaming services in the US, incoming text messages work, and are free. But because PM doesn't have roaming services beyond the US, you won't receive texts anywhere else.

[VictorMeldrew]

Ah ok thanks. So that would explain why @hairbag1 and I have received text messages in the US without having a roaming package.

[DennyCrane]

@VictorMeldrew The cell carriers never intended to offer free incoming SMS while roaming anywhere, but legislation changed well over a decade ago that outlawed carriers from being able to charge for incoming texts. The reason being is that while you can decline to answer a phone call, you can't control who sends you a text message. And this legislation applies to texts when roaming as well.

Carriers will promote packages that allow you to send text messages, but they're likely quieter on the incoming text message component because they don't want us to know they're free. Just a theory.

[VictorMeldrew]

Ah ok, I think what you are saying is that because PM has no roaming arrangements outside of the US, then PM subscribers cannot receive any text messages outside of Canada and the US.

If that is the case, then (and this is rhetorical) why isn't that spelt out in the fine print instead of the rather ambiguous statement?

[hairbag1]

@VictorMeldrew 

everyone is just doing the best they can. If you read what PM says, there's no service w/o the add-on....so that's the response when the question is asked...BUT...as you and I know from experience...we do receive some texts even w/o the add-on.

[DennyCrane]

@VictorMeldrew, @hairbag1 answered in the very first post.

Text messages are free to receive anywhere, but it's dependent on having service. Because Public Mobile does not offer roaming services outsides of the US, you won't receive any text messages if you're outside of Canada or the US.

[VictorMeldrew]

Thanks @hairbag1 yeah, I have received text messages while in Buffalo, but that may be because I was still in range of the towers. I don't travel that often, but I do tend to go further afield than the US when I do, so knowing whether receiving text messages has now changed would be helpful.

No offence, but this is the problem with the community, all of the answers here are anecdotal. The community is great for most questions and can be really helpful, but I get the impression that the people who might really know the answer to my question, probably don't read the community messages. I might just have to wait for my next trip abroad to find out.

It just seems odd that the way the fine print is worded omits receiving text messages. If sending and receiving text messages is (still) not possible whilst abroad, why doesn't it say that in the fine print?

[hairbag1]

@VictorMeldrew 

I'm calling on my personal actual experiences...when in US, I can receive SMS messages...just not able to respond unless I purchase the roaming text add-on.

[VictorMeldrew]

Thanks. I know that has always been the case, but I was wondering that with the subscription changes whether something there had changed too. The fine print doesn't specifically mention about receiving texts or indeed about having a US roaming add-on.

Problem is it is very hard to find out categorically what is or isn't the case with PM. Your answer @hairbag1 is different to that provided by @Handy1 so although both of you may have been correct at some point in the past, your answers may not be totally accurate today.

[Handy1]

@VictorMeldrew  PM only works in Canada and the US with us roaming add on or CAN/US plan . 

[hairbag1]

@VictorMeldrew 

when you leave Canada or US, you won't recieve any messages at all using your PM plans. You will get messages while in US ...even without an add-on...you just won't be able to respond to them. Everywhere else...nothing !

added...any messages sent to you while you're abroad, will be stored for several days only. After that ...poof...they gone.