US with Roaming Turned Off - Can I receive texts and can I see if someone calls me?

[A-E]

I am travelling to the US and not planning on purchasing the roaming add-on as I'm not planning to use anything outside of wifi. On my old plan (with a different company) I would turn roaming off when traveling to the US and would still be able to receive texts and calls. I would not be charged for texts (incoming texts were free) and if I received a call as long as I let it go to voicemail and didn't pick up I would not be charged. I couldn't call my voicemail, though, as that would count as a call and I would be charged for roaming. I'm wondering if this is the same setup. Specifically, I have the following questions:

1. If I turn roaming off, can I still receive texts?
2. If I do receive a text, will I be charged? Or are incoming texts free?
3. If I turn roaming off, will calls still come through so I can see if someone calls me?
4. If I do receive a call, if I let it go to voicemail and don't pick up, will I be charged?
5. If it does go to voicemail, am I able to call voicemail to listen or will I be charged for roaming if I call my own voicemail?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[hairbag1]

@A-E 

if you did decide you wanted to be able to respond to texts while in US, you can pay $15 for a talk / text add-on for use while in USA. Look in the add-on section of your account. You'd be able to send and rec texts all day long for 15 days ...without any added costs other than the $15 for the add-on. You'd also be able to send and rec phones calls to most any US or Cdn phone number. If you do want to use the talk portion, best to make sure that volte has been enabled in your phones settings. Safe travels.

[hairbag1]

@A-E 

---

@A-E wrote:

It sounds like this means I won't be able to send outgoing SMS text message or make any outgoing calls, even if I wanted to, if I haven't purchased the roaming add-on. Is this correct? Meaning I can't do either by accident? That would be fantastic!

---

Correct you are. There simply are no added or unexpected charges later on regardless.

[computergeek541]

As menfioned, calls and SMS text message don't need an internet connection.  Also, as Hairbag1 stated, there are no pay-per-use charges at Public Mobile. If a service hasn't already been paid for, it won't work.

[A-E]

It sounds like this means I won't be able to send outgoing SMS text message or make any outgoing calls, even if I wanted to, if I haven't purchased the roaming add-on. Is this correct? Meaning I can't do either by accident? That would be fantastic!

[hairbag1]

@A-E 

you will be able to receive the texts sent to you, but you won't be able to respond. Regardless if data is enabled or not.

[Dunkman · Accepted solution]

@A-E 

With public mobile, you do not even need to turn off roaming on the phone.  You will not be charged extra.  No overages or surprise charges with Public mobile. The service just does not work if you have not prepaid for that service.  

You will be able to receive incoming texts for free.  You will not receive phone calls and receive any notifications of missed calls without US roaming packages.  The call will go to voicemail.  You can't check your voicemail via your own phone while in the USA though. 

[A-E]

Thank you for the correction, I definitely meant that I disable data for roaming which means SMS texts and calls would still come through. I guess I'm wondering is this the same situation - will texts and calls still come through, and as long as I don't reply to them I won't get charged?

[computergeek541]

On most phones, there is no such setting to specifically disable roaming. The most common setting is for only enabling/disabling data while roaming. Data isn't need for calls or SMS text messaging.

[hairbag1]

@A-E 

---

@A-E wrote:

I am travelling to the US and not planning on purchasing the roaming add-on as I'm not planning to use anything outside of wifi. On my old plan (with a different company) I would turn roaming off when traveling to the US and would still be able to receive texts and calls. I would not be charged for texts (incoming texts were free) and if I received a call as long as I let it go to voicemail and didn't pick up I would not be charged. I couldn't call my voicemail, though, as that would count as a call and I would be charged for roaming. I'm wondering if this is the same setup. Specifically, I have the following questions:

1. If I turn roaming off, can I still receive texts?...Yup
2. If I do receive a text, will I be charged? Or are incoming texts free?...Nope..no charges
3. If I turn roaming off, will calls still come through so I can see if someone calls me?...Nope
4. If I do receive a call, if I let it go to voicemail and don't pick up, will I be charged?..No calls / no charge
5. If it does go to voicemail, am I able to call voicemail to listen or will I be charged for roaming if I call my own voicemail?...nope

Thanks in advance for your help!

---

@A-E...doesn't matter if you turn roaming off or not. With Pm you won't be charged later for anything. As a prepaid service...you pay ahead for anything you want.