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CNBC
09-08-2025
- CNBC
Using my phone as a Paris guidebook cost me $50 — here's how to save on your bill when traveling abroad
I didn't think much of my daily cell phone use during a vacation to Paris in May. But by the end of the five-day trip, I'd amassed almost $50 in extra charges — for fairly routine tasks like checking restaurant hours and menus, or researching neighborhood attractions after long, meandering walks. While not a bank-breaking sum of money, it was high enough to frustrate this personal finance reporter and make me rethink phone use (and the value of better pre-planning) for my next excursion. Luckily, there are many ways to potentially reduce or eliminate extra cell phone costs when traveling outside the U.S., experts said. "There's no one single way to save money using your smartphone when you're overseas," said John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, a consumer advocacy group. The best strategy depends on how travelers plan to use their phone during a trip, he said. My additional charges resulted from my provider's international phone package. My carrier, AT&T, charges a flat, daily rate of $12 per day for international cell use, similar to other providers. I incurred that daily charge each day I opted to use the international cell network instead of Wi-Fi to look up directions or restaurant hours. While many carriers typically charge a per-day fee or a "hefty surcharge," some T-Mobile plans cover international roaming, said Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations" and "A Better Life for Half the Price." More from Personal Finance:How will the end of the SAVE plan impact you?This is the 'No. 1 reason' to buy the early boarding upgradeHow to avoid the 45.5% 'SALT torpedo' As such, switching to T-Mobile as your cell provider may make financial sense for those who travel abroad often — especially those who don't rely on their phones for more than the occasional text or data usage during trips, he said. "If this is your plan, awesome," Leffel said. "You're ready to travel the world without missing a beat." There are limitations, though. Not all T-Mobile plans cover international roaming charges. One longtime T-Mobile customer reportedly racked up $143,000 of charges during a 2023 trip to Switzerland because of international data roaming. (The company later reportedly withdrew those costs.) While its international plans generally include unlimited texts and an allotment of high-speed data when overseas, phone calls may come with an additional price tag. (One workaround: All calls made over Wi-Fi to the U.S., Mexico and Canada are free, according to T-Mobile's site.) T-Mobile plans also don't work in every country, so customers should be wary to avoid extra fees in such places, experts said. Additionally, such plans may not be well-suited for digital nomads (they're not intended for extended use abroad, according to T-Mobile), or for heavy data users, Leffel said. Check what your cell plan already offers, and compare costs and services before making any changes, Breyault said. People who intend to use a lot of data away from Wi-Fi networks may be better off buying a SIM card, Breyault said. Replacing your phone's current SIM with an international one essentially turns your device into a local phone, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Many people can use a digital eSIM service today instead of replacing their phone's physical SIM card, experts said. It's generally a cheaper option compared to many carriers' international phone packages, experts said. Pre-paid SIMs let travelers more easily manage their budgets, they said. "Now you can just download an app and buy as much data as you need, generally $1 or less per day for usage spread out over a week or a month," Leffel said. "If you run out of data, you just buy more instantly." He recommends sticking with more established providers like Saily, GigSky or Airalo to be safe. They generally work anywhere in the world, he said. Many people opt for data-only SIM plans and save any calls or texts for Wi-Fi, he said. One caveat: Travelers may need to "unlock" their phone for an eSIM to work, Breyault said. This would ensure the phone isn't locked to a particular carrier. In such cases, customers should reach out to their provider before traveling to ask if they can unlock the phone, he said. Also, be aware that your phone number may temporarily switch to a local number when using a new SIM, experts said. OK, yes, this may sound obvious. But there's no denying that leveraging free Wi-Fi — perhaps at a hotel, restaurant or otherwise — can save you money. You can use Wi-Fi even when your phone is on Airplane mode, which ensures you won't get dinged with international roaming charges. Experts have some hacks to help limit your need for cellular data when away from Wi-Fi. Among the top tips: Download an offline map on Google Maps before traveling. This will allow you to navigate an area via GPS even without internet. There are some drawbacks: It may be difficult to find details like the nearest museum or restaurant and their respective hours on the fly without internet, for example. Download any helpful article PDFs or guidebooks ahead of time to limit your need for the internet while on the go, Leffel said. Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks may pose a digital security threat, so avoid conducting sensitive transactions like banking over Wi-Fi, Breyault said. In such cases, consider sticking with a cellular network, which is more secure, he said. I returned from another trip last week, to Namibia and Botswana, during which I adopted a strict policy of putting my phone on Airplane mode and, if necessary, occasionally using public Wi-Fi. My extra cell fees? $0.
WIRED
09-07-2025
- Business
- WIRED
The ‘Click-to-Cancel' Rule Was Killed, but Consumer Advocates Could Revive It
A US court scrapped a rule requiring a simple method for canceling recurring payments. Experts are hopeful regulators will revisit the issue and ease consumers' rage over 'subscription traps.' Photo-Illustration:United States residents almost escaped subscription cancellation hell, but the Federal Trade Commission's 'Click to Cancel' rule was unanimously struck down by the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Tuesday—just days before it was set to go into effect. What would have happened if this updated FTC rule had gone into effect on July 14 as planned? 'The stated goal was that they wanted to make it as easy for you to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up,' says John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications, and fraud at the National Consumers League. How reasonable! It's the type of rule that sounds like it should already exist as part of baseline consumer protections. If I can sign up for a gym membership or a news website subscription or a food delivery service with just a few, seamless taps on my smartphone, then why am I so often thrown into a labyrinth of puzzles—with people to call or in-person locations to visit—whenever I want to opt out from one of the recurring subscription charges. Even services that do allow users to cancel online may include more steps than the sign-up process or introduce confusingly labeled buttons that slow down the process. The Eighth Circuit's decision to nix the 'Click to Cancel' rule was based on procedural complaints, not on the substance of what the consumer protections entailed. 'While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices in negative option marketing, the procedural deficiencies of the Commission's rulemaking process are fatal here,' reads the appeal court's published opinion. John Davisson, director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, sees this decision as 'very poorly reasoned' and hopes the current FTC tries to revisit the rule to protect consumers better. 'It would be such a slam dunk for the commission,' says Davisson. 'I think everyone understands why the subscription traps are bad. No one without a financial incentive or career advancement motive to sustain these subscription traps thinks they should exist.' A broad base of support from individual consumers for streamlining the opt out process could help eventually revive the 'Click to Cancel' rule or similar consumer protections. 'I'm somewhat hopeful, given the public support for this important option of canceling, that the commission will go back and get this thing re-going again,' says Bill Baer, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and former member of the FTC. 'It'll take some time, but it's an important benefit to consumers.' If the current FTC decides to try again, which it may not, the process would likely take months or even years to complete. 'It's unfortunate the FTC's rule won't be enforced,' says Mario Trujillo, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. 'But, the opinion doesn't stop states from acting, Congress from acting, or even the FTC from bringing individual cases.' States-level rules already have started to step in with more consumer protections than what's currently offered at the federal level and won't be impacted by the court's recent decision. For example, California's own version of 'Click to Cancel' went into effect last year and remains intact. Like many Americans, I'm seeing more and more of my paycheck go to subscription services each month. While some of the services are essential, others are less so. But, the hassle of going through the opt out process to cancel these unwanted services is often so tedious that I've put it off in the past—until I see the $20 recurring charge again the next month and get frustrated with myself. While deep-pocketed business interests will likely try to block any future attempts to mandate a simplified cancellation process, a deep-set hunger for change from consumers, fueled in part by righteous indignation, may eventually prevail. 'I think, on balance, it is something worth doing that can be done with modest cost to the business community and a hell of a lot of benefit to the consumer community,' says Baer.
Los Angeles Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
The Real ID deadline is finally here. How bad will it get airport as long-delay rules hit?
After nearly two decades of delays and warnings, implementation of the federal government's Real ID program is set to begin Wednesday at airports around the nation amid questions about how the change will impact air travel. The requirement that travelers present a Real ID card as well as regular identifications marks one of the biggest changes to airport security, but officials on Tuesday said the roll-out will be gradual. Travelers will be allowed to fly without the Real ID but should expect additional questioning but generally will be able to board fights. Travelers without a Real ID or a Transportation Security Administration-acceptable form of identification 'may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,' at TSA checkpoints, said Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday. 'We will make sure that it is as seamless as possible and that travelers will get to stay on their intended itinerary,' Noem said. 'What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line, and [they] will issue their ID and show it. If it's not compliant, they may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step, but people will be allowed to fly.' John Breyault, vice president for the National Consumers League, warned travelers to expect that a high number of people will be diverted for additional screening. How that will impact wait times will depend on how many TSA officers will be assigned to perform the additional screening, he said. Currently, 81% of travelers have the Real ID, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 'If 1 in 5 people are diverted to secondary screening at TSA, it will be a complete disaster at some airports around the country,' Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow of the American Immigration Council posted on X. Whether you have a Real ID or not, Breyault suggested fliers arrive even earlier at the airport for the next few days and weeks to avoid missing a flight. 'Even in the best of times, we say, arrive at the airport an hour and a half early for domestic flights,' he said. 'I would say in the interest of just being as risk free as possible, two hours, at least, seems like a good rule of thumb.' If you're traveling with a group with a mix of Real ID and non Real ID holders, factor in even more time depending on the number of people you're traveling with. Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 to improve security and minimize fraud in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The original deadline to have a Real ID to allow Americans to travel domestically or enter federal facilities such as military bases or federal courthouses was May 2008. Funding challenges, concerns over travel interruptions and the pandemic delayed the government from implementing the Real ID requirement for almost two decades. 'We are telling people that this law will be enforced, and it will allow us to know individuals in this country, who they are and that they're authorized to travel,' Noem said Tuesday. As of Jan. 1, more than 18.5 million California residents now have their Real ID, compared with last year's January count of 16.9 million according to recent data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. More than 35 million Californians have either an ID, both an ID and a driver's license, or an ID for people under the age of 16. If you don't have a Real ID or you applied for one but it won't arrive by the May 7 deadline, the TSA will accept other forms of identification at screening checkpoints. The TSA accepts: U.S. passport U.S. passport card Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards. HSPD-12 Personal identity verification card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card A TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identify, according to the TSA website. It is unclear how that information is verified. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening. You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you decline to provide acceptable identification, you don't cooperate with the identity verification process or your identity cannot be confirmed. To get a Real ID, you have to apply for it through your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. From now until June 27, 18 DMV offices will open at 7 a.m., an hour earlier, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to serve only people with appointments to obtain a Real ID. To start the process, you should visit the DMV website and review the document checklist for what you'll need to prove your identity and residency. You can fill out an application online, upload the required documents and schedule an appointment at your local DMV office. These DMV offices will open an hour early: Pleasanton (6300 W. Las Positas Blvd.) Fremont (4287 Central Ave.) Folsom (323 E. Bidwell St., Suite A) Carmichael (5209 North Ave.) Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida de los Arboles) Van Nuys (14920 Vanowen St.) Arleta (14400 Van Nuys Blvd.) Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd.) Pasadena (49 S. Rosemead Blvd.) Culver City (11400 W. Washington Blvd.) Westminster (13700 Hoover St.) Costa Mesa (650 W. 19th St.) San Clemente (2727 Via Cascadita) Rancho Cucamonga (8629 Hellman Ave.) San Diego Clairemont (4375 Derrick Drive) San Marcos (590 Rancheros Drive) El Cajon (1450 Graves Ave.) Poway (13461 Community Road)
Los Angeles Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
The Real ID deadline is finally here. How bad will it get at airports as long-delayed rules hit?
After nearly two decades of delays and warnings, implementation of the federal government's Real ID program is set to begin Wednesday at airports around the nation amid questions about how the change will impact air travel. The requirement that travelers present a Real ID card as well as regular identifications marks one of the biggest changes to airport security, but officials on Tuesday said the roll-out will be gradual. Travelers will be allowed to fly without the Real ID but should expect additional questioning but generally will be able to board fights. Travelers without a Real ID or a Transportation Security Administration-acceptable form of identification 'may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,' at TSA checkpoints, said Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday. 'We will make sure that it is as seamless as possible and that travelers will get to stay on their intended itinerary,' Noem said. 'What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line, and [they] will issue their ID and show it. If it's not compliant, they may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step, but people will be allowed to fly.' John Breyault, vice president for the National Consumers League, warned travelers to expect that a high number of people will be diverted for additional screening. How that will impact wait times will depend on how many TSA officers will be assigned to perform the additional screening, he said. Currently, 81% of travelers have the Real ID, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 'If 1 in 5 people are diverted to secondary screening at TSA, it will be a complete disaster at some airports around the country,' Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow of the American Immigration Council posted on X. Whether you have a Real ID or not, Breyault suggested fliers arrive even earlier at the airport for the next few days and weeks to avoid missing a flight. 'Even in the best of times, we say, arrive at the airport an hour and a half early for domestic flights,' he said. 'I would say in the interest of just being as risk free as possible, two hours, at least, seems like a good rule of thumb.' If you're traveling with a group with a mix of Real ID and non Real ID holders, factor in even more time depending on the number of people you're traveling with. Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 to improve security and minimize fraud in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The original deadline to have a Real ID to allow Americans to travel domestically or enter federal facilities such as military bases or federal courthouses was May 2008. Funding challenges, concerns over travel interruptions and the pandemic delayed the government from implementing the Real ID requirement for almost two decades. 'We are telling people that this law will be enforced, and it will allow us to know individuals in this country, who they are and that they're authorized to travel,' Noem said Tuesday. As of Jan. 1, more than 18.5 million California residents now have their Real ID, compared with last year's January count of 16.9 million according to recent data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. More than 35 million Californians have either an ID, both an ID and a driver's license, or an ID for people under the age of 16. If you don't have a Real ID or you applied for one but it won't arrive by the May 7 deadline, the TSA will accept other forms of identification at screening checkpoints. The TSA accepts: U.S. passport U.S. passport card Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards. HSPD-12 Personal identity verification card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card A TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identify, according to the TSA website. It is unclear how that information is verified. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening. You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you decline to provide acceptable identification, you don't cooperate with the identity verification process or your identity cannot be confirmed. To get a Real ID, you have to apply for it through your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. From now until June 27, 18 DMV offices will open at 7 a.m., an hour earlier, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to serve only people with appointments to obtain a Real ID. To start the process, you should visit the DMV website and review the document checklist for what you'll need to prove your identity and residency. You can fill out an application online, upload the required documents and schedule an appointment at your local DMV office. These DMV offices will open an hour early: Pleasanton (6300 W. Las Positas Blvd.) Fremont (4287 Central Ave.) Folsom (323 E. Bidwell St., Suite A) Carmichael (5209 North Ave.) Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida de los Arboles) Van Nuys (14920 Vanowen St.) Arleta (14400 Van Nuys Blvd.) Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd.) Pasadena (49 S. Rosemead Blvd.) Culver City (11400 W. Washington Blvd.) Westminster (13700 Hoover St.) Costa Mesa (650 W. 19th St.) San Clemente (2727 Via Cascadita) Rancho Cucamonga (8629 Hellman Ave.) San Diego Clairemont (4375 Derrick Drive) San Marcos (590 Rancheros Drive) El Cajon (1450 Graves Ave.) Poway (13461 Community Road)
NBC News
27-04-2025
- NBC News
As Real ID deadline for U.S. air travel approaches, there are ‘workarounds,' experts say
The deadline for U.S. travelers to get a Real ID is fast approaching — and those who don't have one may not be able to board flights within the U.S. The Real ID card is an optional, upgraded driver's license or state identification card that is issued by a state driver's licensing agency and marked with a star. The good news: There are other forms of identification U.S. travelers can use — such as a valid U.S. passport, passport card, permanent resident card, or certain Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards — if they can't get a Real ID by the deadline, May 7. 'There are workarounds people can use,' said John Breyault, a travel expert at the National Consumers League, a consumer advocacy group. 'Most people already have the ability to travel, whether they have a Real ID or not.' About 19% of travelers don't yet have a Real ID-compliant type of identification, according to Transportation Security Administration data as of Thursday. Passengers who arrive at the airport without an acceptable form of ID 'can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,' according to the TSA. Even passengers who have a Real ID card or other acceptable ID should aim to be at the airport at least 1½ hours ahead of their flight, due to likely delays in airport security lines as enforcement gets underway, Breyault said. What is the Real ID law? Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005. The law set minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards. The federal government will require Americans who access federal facilities to have a Real ID starting May 7. That includes travelers who go through TSA airport security checkpoints and board commercial airplanes, even for domestic flights. The rule applies to all airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck members. How to get around the Real ID rule Travelers can skirt the requirement to present a Real ID card if they have other types of approved identification. Experts said the most common among them are: a passport or passport card; a Global Entry card; an enhanced driver's license issued by Washington state, Michigan, Minnesota, New York or Vermont; or a permanent resident card, also known as a green card. Here's a list of all acceptable alternatives, according to the TSA: State-issued enhanced driver's license U.S. passport U.S. passport card Department of Homeland Security-issued trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs). HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) 'Get that Real ID' It may be somewhat riskier to travel with an alternative document such as a passport for domestic flights, said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. 'A passport is much more complicated to replace than a driver's license, and it's more expensive,' French said. 'Get that Real ID.' A traditional passport book costs $130 to renew. Real ID fees vary by state but are generally less costly, experts said. They typically aren't more expensive than a standard driver's license. For example, in California it costs $45 to renew a standard driver's license or $39 to renew a regular ID card; in Virginia, there's a $10 one-time Real ID fee, plus a driver's license fee, usually $32. Desperate travelers can also gamble by showing up at the airport without a Real ID-compliant form of identification on May 7 and beyond, and hope airport agents show some mercy, French said. It's a 'much longer screening' process and isn't guaranteed, French said. It's a 'Hail Mary,' she said.
