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Why would my id mobile phone not work in the USA?


my id phone would not work at all in the USA. I have a Samsung A14 the problem was the id contract and not the phone.  

We were in Wyoming for 2 weeks and Id were absolutely useless and provided no support. 

Once we left Denver and went up into Wyoming the phone was dead which was rubbish as the hire car sat nav needed Google Maps via the phone. So we were blind until I could get a paper map. 

It was a disaster and nearly spoiled the holiday. 

When in a hotel and on their wi-fi I tried to contact id but they make it impossible to get through. 

The chat room helpers are awful

I paid extra (£25) to get more data (as I thought that the problem) and was then told I could not use that extra data until I got back to the uk...which was infuriating. Please refund me £25. 

Im trying to contact id now im back in the uk but they hide and don't give phone numbers or email adress so I hope one of you guys at id answers this. 

Absolutely ridiculous….please explain why you don't cover USA or at least warn users spy they are not left in a mess.

 

Steve Beder. 

 

Best answer by Tom

Hi @Steve Bedder 

 

You would only be charged in the USA for the usage you had used while there, it wouldn’t charge you for usage that didn’t happen, charges for usage while in the USA would not be refunded.

 

Tom

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20 replies

  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024

my id phone would not work at all in the USA. I have a Samsung A14 the problem was the id contract and not the phone.  

We were in Wyoming for 2 weeks and Id were absolutely useless and provided no support. 

Once we left Denver and went up into Wyoming the phone was dead which was rubbish as the hire car sat nav needed Google Maps via the phone. So we were blind until I could get a paper map. 

It was a disaster and nearly spoiled the holiday. 

When in a hotel and on their wi-fi I tried to contact id but they make it impossible to get through. 

The chat room helpers are awful

I paid extra (£25) to get more data (as I thought that the problem) and was then told I could not use that extra data until I got back to the uk...which was infuriating. Please refund me £25. 

Im trying to contact id now im back in the uk but they hide and don't give phone numbers or email adress so I hope one of you guys at id answers this. 

Absolutely ridiculous….please explain why you don't cover USA or at least warn users spy they are not left in a mess.

 


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024

As it stands IDMobile doesn't have a roaming package or agreement for the USA. 

thats from elsewhere on the “community”. 

Why don't id have an agreement? 

Very poor service. 

 

 


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024

I have waited for over ½ on “live chat” and it just dropped out. 

 

it did offer me a “satisfaction survey” though...ha ha ha. 


Geluk
Silver Contributor
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  • Silver Contributor
  • 423 replies
  • June 10, 2024

Best to check your phone providers international options, before you leave.

id Mobile is an online service, so there’s no phone support. 

Use CHAT, or direct message them via social media.


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024

id treat their customers very badly. 


  • Author
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  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024

I did check id before I left...I expected it to be expensive. id show the tariffs for calls and data. 

now im back in the uk I learn id just don't have an agreement with the use operators...thats why im furious..I did check first!

 


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024
Calls to UK* £1.68 £1.68
Calls to United States* £1.68 £1.68
Calls received* £1.50 £1.50
Texts to United States** £0.42 £0.42
Texts to UK** £0.42 £0.42
Picture message (MMS) sent** £0.60 £0.60
Internet and Data (per MB)*** £0.30 £0.30

  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 10, 2024

thats their usa published tariff..but it just don't work when you get there. 

 

thats why im fuming...I checked and they did not deliver. then “live chat” encouraged me to pay £25 more for more data which I cant access until back in the UK...how stupid!

 


andewhite
Platinum 
Contributor
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  • Platinum 
Contributor
  • 12055 replies
  • June 10, 2024

Yeah, the Live Chat can be a lottery on occasions, @Steve Bedder

You might’ve had a better experience contacting iD support by sending a private message using Facebook Messenger, or X (formerly Twitter).  

If your iD account bill cap was £0, then iD roaming in the USA wouldn’t have worked. 

 


Tom
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 7891 replies
  • June 24, 2024

Hi @Steve Bedder 

 

Sorry to hear you had this experience.

 

Add ons cannot be used in non-inclusive roaming zones and unfortunately cannot be refunded.

 

While in the USA, our customers will be able to use AT&T and T-Mobile, however this is at an extra cost based on the usage while there.

 

If issues come up, it’s always worth trying to manually connect to the above networks, instead of relying on automatic network connection, or even while you’re there, trying a network settings reset on your device.

 

It’s also worth noting that if your bill cap was £0, you wouldn’t have been able to use any premium services that would cost you extra, such as roaming in a non-inclusive zone like the USA.

 

Tom


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • June 24, 2024

Tom,

look at my bill this month..its outragous..you have taken money and not provided services. think about it.

I managed to “talk” to your live chat from America (by hotel wi-fi) and appeal for help getting my phone working so I could get data and use the car sat nav / google maps.   

The “live chat” “assistant” suggested I buy more data, which I did at £25 and I raised the cap. Why do that if it don't work where I was located? Mis-information. 

I would have happily paid the 30p per megabyte..but your stupid restrictions and rules would not let this happen. 

Why sell your customers things which don't then work? 

You have also charged me for “roaming” in USA which I was unable to do.

Most annoying is that before we travelled to USA I looked at your web site, to check my phone would work, and checked out the USA charges..which I have pasted several messages above. 

Regards your information above..you should display that “new information” next to the tariff table so travellers know what to do before they go..much better than abandoning them when they get there. 

My position remains you do not inform or support your customers adequately, you took additional monies under false pretences (your |live chat advice was incorrect). 

You should now refund or credit me the additional charges you took while I was in USA. (the £25 extra data plus the roaming charge). 

Get your facts right and provide a decent customer service. 

 

Steve Bedder. 

 

 


Tom
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 7891 replies
  • Answer
  • July 8, 2024

Hi @Steve Bedder 

 

You would only be charged in the USA for the usage you had used while there, it wouldn’t charge you for usage that didn’t happen, charges for usage while in the USA would not be refunded.

 

Tom


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • July 8, 2024

Tom,

Read the problem I have set out above carefully. 

I have learned iD are not compatible with USA providers. 

A iD assistant advised me to buy £25 of data (to get my phone working while I was in the USA). 

That data was not available to me until I returned to the UK. (iD told me later I could not use it in the USA). 

You have charged me for data purchased but which it was impossible to use. (and which I did not need in the UK)

I am disgruntled and feel I am entitled to a refund for poor service and bad advice.

 

Steve Bedder.  

 

 


Kash
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 8003 replies
  • July 23, 2024

Hi @Steve Bedder,

We can certainly check this out. 

Have you been in touch with the Live Chat Team regarding this?

If you still require assistance, please let us know and we can PM you.

 

Kash


  • Author
  • Active Contributor
  • 13 replies
  • July 23, 2024

Yes I have communicated with the live chat team...if you read the conversation above this part of my complaint..the advice they give was simply wrong. 

 

Feel free to direct message me..you know my email address and you know my mobile phone number...lets see some customer service and best of all refund me for the unusable data you advised me to buy while I was in America. 

 

Come on..you can do it..finally come good. 

 

Steve Bedder. 


Tom
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 7891 replies
  • July 31, 2024

Hi @Steve Bedder 

 

We don’t know your email address or phone number, as of this message, you’re an anonymous poster on the community page, which is in no way linked to any iD Mobile plan.

 

We’ll shortly send you a Private Message to your Community account, so we can discuss your issue further. 

 

To access your messages, click your profile picture in the top right hand corner and then click ‘Private Messages’. 

 

Alternatively, if you are currently logged in, you can use the following link: https://community.idmobile.co.uk/inbox/overview  

 

We’ll see you there. 

 

Tom


  • New
 Contributor
  • 4 replies
  • January 22, 2025

I just arrived in the USA and have exactly the same problem as all the other people posting in the forums. Roaming does not work in the USA, and purchasing the add-on doesn't fix it.


@Steve Bedder How did you get on with customer support in the end?


Tyler
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 3001 replies
  • January 22, 2025

Hey there ​@philcloth, sorry to hear that.

 

Have you tried the troubleshooting above?

 

We can send you a PM if you’d like us to investigate further.

 

Thanks,

Tyler


  • New
 Contributor
  • 4 replies
  • January 22, 2025

Yep, tried everything and went through the steps with an agent on live chat. They said it was impossible to get working and refunded my data add-on, which I am thankful for but generally this is an awful experience. I'll be switching away from iD as soon as I get home. The agreements you have with US carriers clearly aren't working correctly and you don't seem to have any intention of fixing it.


Kash
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 8003 replies
  • January 23, 2025

Hi ​@philcloth,

Sorry to hear that it didn’t work.

It certainly sounds like a roaming issue and not an issue with just the add-on.

Did the team carry out all the troubleshooting methods?

 

Kash