Using a mobile in France

[GWblueblueblue]

Absolute disaster when it comes to understanding technology. It’s just not my forte.

I’m hoping someone can confirm my understanding or tell me if I’m wrong.

My work phone is the only phone I have. I don’t use it at weekends and I never take it away.

However, I’m in France for the weekend and due to a family illness I need to be contactable. Not 24/7 but I need for message to be got to me. These are what app messages and calls, not text and not “regular” phone calls.

As family members are scattered and some elderly, I can’t go about getting a cheap phone with a new number.

So I need to use this work phone.

Am I right in thinking that if I turn off roaming within my settings and turn off incoming calls then there won’t be an impact? As in, there won’t be a a charge to my employer for me using the phone abroad.

Can anyone tell me how to turn off I coming calls? It’s an iphone and when I look at the settings in “phone” the only buttons I can see that are turned to green are dial assist and Wi-Fi calling. As I said, I don’t want any calls to be made or received over normal phone. Is there a way to prevent this? Prevent to the point my employer isn’t charged as opposed to it just stop ringing out.

I think I’m right in saying, if I do the above, but log into Wi-Fi whenever I can find it, message to what’s app will come through and I can make outgoing what’s app calls / receive what’s app calls.

And again by using Wi-Fi only, there won’t be a charge to my employer for using the phone.

Thanks anyone that is patient enough to respond!

You can turn roaming off, but have you asked your employer if there is anything included in your package? Our work phone packages include Europe and it costs the same as regular data/calls.

I don't think there would be a charge for incoming calls if you just didn't answer them?

But yes turn off roaming, and connect to wifi whenever you can.

Our work phones have roaming included for free as part of the contract so it is possible yours is the same anyway. When you arrive in France you'll get a text message setting out the charges - it will either say you can use your plan as normal or it will say how much it costs to use texts / calls / data.

Are you allowed to use your work phone abroad for personal stuff?

OP, some network providers , Lebara being one, have no additional charges for using the phone in Europe.
Who is your network provider?

Thank you. I won’t ask them as I don’t want them to know I’m using it.

Probably not which is why I’m trying to be under radar about it and not cause any charges.

The phone tells me EE. But if I’m honest, I don't want to risk it not being included.

They’ll know it’s connecting to overseas networks and will likely be able to see what you’re doing with it.

For the trip, just use WiFi and have it in aeroplane mode. Some companies will use their phones set to be disabled abroad for both cost and security reasons, though.

Honestly, you need to fix this more permanently. Your employer could probably work out what you’re doing, including in the UK, very easily if they wanted. Most contracts have something about company tech not being used for personal reasons in them.

Plus, if you lose your job you’re suddenly phone less and might not be able to contact people to tell them that!

Put the iPhone into airplane mode. You can use WiFi to make calls via what’s app but not make or receive other calls. We do it all the time in the States.

I know someone who was sacked for taking his work phone abroad and connecting to WiFi, because he hadn’t told his work. They talked about data breach, among other things.

You should let them know beforehand, because they’ll certainly know afterwards.

Assuming a monthly plan that didn’t start before July 2021, there’s a £2.59 roaming charge that will automatically be added to the bill.

https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs/countries/france

Why not?

I'm afraid it's difficult to know whether this would work - some employers would immediately know you'd connected your phone to an overseas WiFi network. Also public WiFi is very unsecure, I would never connect my work phone to a public WiFi without using a VPN because of risk of hacking work systems/emails.

Why can't you just ask your employer if you can use your phone abroad due to family emergency and tell them you'll pay any roaming charges? Much more secure and usually capped at a few quid a day in Europe.

Tell your employer. And ask them if its ok to install an e-sim, which gives you data and access etc. Airalo is the one I use, but I get "reasonable" use with talk talk anyway