When using Fi, but you have a carrier SIM installed, is that SIM completely off? AT&T slammed me!

[PaulQ]

When using Fi, but you have a carrier SIM installed, is that SIM completely off? AT&T slammed me!

I was in Africa for a couple weeks in late May. I used Project Fi during the trip but I left my AT&T SIM in my phone. I never switched over to it in the mobile networks settings while I was there. I only left it in the phone in case there was some sort of failure of Project Fi in the region. Basically, as a back up.

Now I have a $109 bill from AT&T for exactly 30 minutes of international roaming calls. I see no international calls on my account - at all. I only see 10 one minute call forwards to my private voicemail number while I was gone.

I did make a few calls on Project Fi and Project Fi billed me for those calls.

As far as I understand it, if i don't actively switch the mobile networks, the AT&T SIM remains dormant. Is that right? Is there any way my AT&T SIM could have "come alive"?

I wanted to ask you guys first before I call AT&T so I am armed with information.

Thanks!

 

[maj71303]

you have to pay more attention to what the phone is doing what when you have a dual SIM phone. I would have completely removed the att sim and forwarded calls to the project fi number. Some have trouble with att and Verizon sims trying to override phone settings of which SIM makes calls, data, and sms.

And yes if you were turning your phone on and off it could be putting the Sim slot active. Lesson to learn just forward calls and take the physical Sim card out when traveling international.

 

[Rukbat]

Re: When using Fi, but you have a carrier SIM installed, is that SIM completely off? AT&T slammed me

Supposedly, if you're using the eSIM, the SIM should be dormant. Check with Google tech support, maybe try to elevate it to level 2, to try to get someone to explain what happened. When I had 2 accounts on the P2, Fi on the eSIM and a T-Mobile MVNO on a physical SIM, if I was on Fi, I stayed on Fi.

 

[PaulQ]

Re: When using Fi, but you have a carrier SIM installed, is that SIM completely off? AT&T slammed me

Ok. I went ahead and called AT&T after reading your comments. I was ready to get slammed by some technical glitch.

First, I have to tell you - we are on a family plan with 5 lines so the bill is like 25 pages. The agent was able to point out that the calls were not placed on my line. It was my dad's number. I missed the calls in the pages and pages of tiny printed numbers.

He almost never makes international calls but happened to make a few during the same billing month I was in Africa. It was just coincidence. He says he didn't realize he was calling his friend back (my dad is older - but still quite active!). No idea what happened there.

So... I will round out this post by saying the AT&T SIM did not actually "leak" during my trip. I was a little concerned by maj71303's comment about turning on/off the phone could cause it to connect. I know i reboot my phone at least once while I was there.

If anyone is reading this and concerned - I can say that the AT&T SIM will not connect when it is not activated as a mobile network on the Pixel 2. I'm not going to say anything more than that or about other carriers.

Thanks for the replies guys. I am relieved!

 

[jrodjrxbox]

you have to pay more attention to what the phone is doing what when you have a dual SIM phone. I would have completely removed the att sim and forwarded calls to the project fi number. Some have trouble with att and Verizon sims trying to override phone settings of which SIM makes calls, data, and sms.

And yes if you were turning your phone on and off it could be putting the Sim slot active. Lesson to learn just forward calls and take the physical Sim card out when traveling international.

He asked a question about a sim not for a lesson in responsibility

 

[Almeuit]

Re: When using Fi, but you have a carrier SIM installed, is that SIM completely off? AT&T slammed me

You do know He asked a question about a sim not a lessen in responsibility

I don't see where he said anything about responsibility? I think you may need to reread the post.

He said talk to Google if it did activate when it shouldn't have. He then went on to say when he did the same thing with another carrier it stayed on the eSIM versus the physical.

Not sure what you thought you read.

 

[jrodjrxbox]

Re: When using Fi, but you have a carrier SIM installed, is that SIM completely off? AT&T slammed me

Yes your correct quoted incorrect person