Cell phone users are questioning the fairness of a new wireless roaming internet for Rogers customers traveling in the U.S.  

Sean contacted Steele On Your Side after he noticed a $7.99 U.S. internet roaming charge on his cell phone bill. He learned the fee is a new flat rate being charged by Rogers for customers who use data services south of the border. The fee covers up to 50 megabytes of data per day. But Sean wants to know why he was being charged the flat fee, even if he did not use the 50 megabytes of data.  

Rogers told CTV that Canadians’ wireless habits are evolving and it decided to implement the new fee to let customers roam worry-free without unexpected charges. For a rate of $7.99, customers will get access to 50 megabytes of data over a 24 hour period while travelling in the U.S. The company says the new rate will provide customers nearly twice the data they would typically use domestically and a customer will be alerted before reaching the 50 MB limit.

All Rogers customers are being converted to the new pricing model. The fee kicks in as soon as a customer uses one byte of data in the U.S. Alternatively, customers can sign up for monthly travel packs when travelling to the U.S.

If you do not want to be charged the fee, you have to ensure your data roaming is turned off on your phone when traveling to the U.S.