🚀 go-pugleaf

Back to the original Question.

Breif run down of Roaming:

When you log on in China you are registered on the VLR (Visitor Location
Register) where your details are registered as an 'optus / vodaphone /
telstra' user if an agreement is made between your network and that country.
All calls made to you hit the Australian service centre and are redirected
to you in China.

This is why you are charged between Australia and China when people make
calls to you. If someone calls you within China, it is a national or local
call as they are registered on the national network, however if they call
you from England you receive the call from Australia.

ie:

UK > Australia > China.   Not  UK > China, as some people have mentioned.

Similar to Voicemail / Diverts.

1.UK -> 2.Australia -> 3.China (China VLR replies to Australian HLR (Home
Location Register) that is is N/A) -> 4.(HLR in Australia receives
message) -> 5.Person calling from UK hears Australian Voicemail Box ->
6.Voicmail sends a Message waiting indicator to China.

Therefore  you are charged between 2. -> 3. and 5. -> 6.  and if the message
waiting indicator can't get through it will keep trying and you will be
charged for all the transactions from Australia to China.

If the phone is switched off then the call ends in Australia and no charge
is made.

The problem is you can't really put up with a fight, most networks either
say "do you realise it is expensive to go roaming" or "do you agree to any
charges incurred by roaming" and everyone always says "yeah sure..."

- Dave