Avoid heavy charges for using your cell phone overseas on clarkhoward.com

Recently, Clark heard from a listener who took an iPhone to Europe and got hit with more than $5,000 in fees for overseas use. Now The Los Angeles Times reports that a woman went to Canada, made 6 calls totaling 15 minutes and was billed some $2,400 by T-Mobile. That's about $158/minute!

Meanwhile, AT&T has a new add-on plan for iPhone users that should help deal with the massive overseas charges. For $120-$200/month, you can buy coverage that allows you to use your iPhone outside of the United States.

Here's a general rule of thumb: Before you go abroad, get in writing the terms and conditions that will apply to phone use overseas.

But realize that there is a much better alternative. Get a pre-paid SIM chip to use in an unlocked world phone. Clark typically uses GoSIM.com to purchase chips, but he also recommends Telestial.com.

Whatever you do, don't trust a stateside cell carrier with your wallet while overseas!

What others are saying

RE: intanat
I just checked with TracFone. Accoerding to their website:
"Can I make international calls on my TRACFONE cell phone when I am outside of the United States?

No. TRACFONE cell phones don’t work outside of the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands."

Good idea to call from here to there though.
By Paul @ 08/05/09 04:43:52 PMreport abuse
frugal cell phone overseas
My prepaid TRACFONE can be used in over 100 countries for the same rate as a local US call, minute per minute. It's available at Wal=Mart, Target or online and the best value I've found for staying in touch when abroad...
By intanta @ 07/21/09 04:54:00 PMreport abuse
Using a Cell Phone in Europe
Bought an unlocked, new Quad Band Samsung SCHM140L on the internet for less than $60 and added international roaming to my ATT non-contracted account. The phone worked flawlessly and per minute cost was $1.29. I thought this was the best way for me during a short one week vacation.
By Vic Sammartano @ 06/15/09 03:43:52 PMreport abuse
Re A. Carter comment about GO-SIM 01/05/09
I know that there are a few countries (North America and the Caribbean) where GO-SIM's rates do not offer great savings or, in A. Carter's example with Verizon and the Cayman Islands, may even be more expensive. This is largeley due to US based carriers offering loer roaming rates to those countries where the US traveler is more likely to travel to close to home. So if it is just the Caymans then A. Carter is right.

However, for those traveling to Europe or Asia, significant savings can be made (often up to 85% cheaper than US carriers), with most countries enjoying unlimited free incoming minutes.

To be sure of the best solution, always check what the rate calculator says on gosim.com, and then compare that to the rate offered by your US carrier. Our rates are easy to find, which can't alwayss be said of their rates. There might be a reason for this...

David Agar,
CEO
GO-SIM
By David Agar @ 06/10/09 07:42:52 AMreport abuse
Re Jack's comment about GO-SIM 08/28/08
Firstly, an apology for the late response to Jack's post below (we simply hadn't seen it). As the CEO of GO-SIM I would like to re-assure everyone that GO-SIM's call rates are highly competitive against most carriers in most situations. Of course there will be some that are not, but we are always looking to improve wherever possible.

Jack's point (a valid one) is that there may be other ways to reduce your call costs, such as wifi/internet cafes etc. Indeed there are a few other options such as Skype which are very good. However, not everyone may be in a wifi area, nor may they have wifi compatible devices to benefit from such technologies. Therefore having a GO-SIM card that will work in any unlocked compatible GSM phone, with pretty much global network coverage, is still a no brainer for most people (most of the time). Most people will not have access to direct dial phones, and if you use a Payphones then you may be subject to a lot of hidden set up fees etc which can work out really expensive (and most Payphones won't accept incoming calls either). So having a GO-SIM is by far the most convenient solution available.
By David Agar @ 06/10/09 07:32:09 AMreport abuse
t-mobile
I've used my T-Mobile phone very recently in Europe and Costa Rica. I do have some international roaming option turned on and it cost me around $1.50/min for phone calls and $0.35 for text messages. At that rate, it wasn't worth investing in a phone/SIM for these trips. If I were staying for an extended period or needed more use it would be worth it. Lots of places have markets with used phones and it's cheaper to get them there. Ebay is a good place for used unlocked phones too.
By james @ 06/04/09 05:43:24 PMreport abuse
Unlocking your wireless device
My provider gave me the unlock code for my Palm Treo 750 for FREE!!!
By Justin @ 05/19/09 06:49:10 PMreport abuse
German Cell Phone in Germany
In your show today you said the student could buy a SIM card there. This can be correct and it can be very cheap (less than 10 euros adn calling to the USA for some off brand providers using big name networks can be below 10 uro cents per minute. HOWEVER, Germany requires a local address for buying a SIM card and phone number. I have bought several, and had to show a piece of mail with my name and address. Old fashioned calling cards purchased at news stands work well for calling out, of course.
By Howard @ 02/23/09 02:46:31 PMreport abuse
Cell Phone Rates
I am traveling and I went to the GoSim.com site. Their rate for calls to the U.S. from the Cayman Islands is $3.50/minute. I checked with my wireless carrier (Verizon) and they said the rate would be $1.99/minute with no monthly or other fees. I will definitely post another message if I get any unexpected charges.
By A. Carter @ 01/05/09 05:59:55 PMreport abuse
EU roaming charges to fall
Visit http://www.expatica.com/fr/articles/news/EU-roaming-charges-to-fall.html for full details
By Ed Wolffe @ 08/28/08 10:49:35 PMreport abuse
Calling from Canada
I went home to Canada to get married and we had almost 90 people fly in from around the world to attend. Needless to say I had 100 phone calls a day on my cell, I chose to text the entire time we were there and it only cost me an extra $30 on my phone bill, I have T-mobile, but some of my guests did the same and they were charge over $100, so check with your provider!
By Charlie @ 08/28/08 03:26:13 PMreport abuse
overseas
I just take my Magicjack with me, along with a cheap corded telephone that I used to have in my kitchen. It plugs into the back of my laptop and it's just like using the phone from my house..... Honestly, the Magicjack is one of the best purchases i've ever made!
By eddie @ 08/28/08 01:09:02 PMreport abuse
Calling from Overseas to USA
There is a better way. From foreign country go to STD booth and make call to USA that will be very chip . Or go to cyber cafe and try it from there, it is even much cheaper. Gosim charges are too high to make a phone call to USA from foreign country. Clark should know this.
By Jack @ 08/28/08 11:14:29 AMreport abuse

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Aug 27, 2008 -- Avoid heavy charges for using your cell phone overseas

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