How can I prevent massive charges whilst in USA

[amici-pat]

I have 2 pay monthly accounts with o2.

I will be spending 2 weeks in USA and want to avoid large bills on return.

Quite often I get phishing calls and or voice mails from various companies, and if I don't recognise the number I do not answer, but I assume I will be charged for receiving voice messages.   How can I stop this from happening?

I have also recently been receiving messages from 02 regarding downloading aps for making calls via wi-fi, not sure what this is about, but will I also incur charges for these?

For the first time ever, this month I have received a warning that I have used 80% of my data allowance, and cannot think what this would have been for.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

[MI5]

Use Tugo over wifi and any calls or texts to and from the UK will come out of your UK allowance (ie, no additional charges).
I would also strongly advise that you turn off mobile data completely as it is £6/mb in the USA. Just use wifi for data.

[MI5]

Link for Tugo http://www.o2.co.uk/apps/tu-go

[adamtemp64]

As @MI5 says this is what I am doing now just sent a few messages via tugo on iOS over a barging 1 month boingo half price wifi package $4.49 (paid by PayPal) and will cancel when I return home next weekend 6th . Boingo provide wifi at jfk and loads of other places suggest searching before you fly 

before I left Heathrow this morning put phone into airplane mode and will not turn it back until my return 

hope that helps 

[MI5]

Enjoy your hols mate

[Cleoriff]

Pleased you arrived safely @adamtemp64

PS @amici-pat I always turn voicemail off before I travel. 1760 for off ...1750 to turn back on....

[adamtemp64]

This paid access just checked PayPal £3.40 is fast and even gives some coverage on selected mobile (2 device plan) in uk with no data usage caps 

Hope me this is of use for others traveling to the USA 

[jonsie]

Nice find @adamtemp64 

I use Tugo with a local sim card and have no issues and more importantly, no charges.

[adamtemp64]

@jonsie But you use android let's see how my iPhone fares this week 

[jonsie]

You should be ok with anything outgoing. The problems seem to be with incoming calls from what I understand.

Enjoy the USA, been there a dozen times and always had a great time but do let us know of any issues. I'm not sure what it is but you never seem to have the various problems other iphone users report on here. There's a moral there somewhere