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3G Usage Price Increase on a phone using VoLTE

  • July 28, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 58 views
S

I am being charged $5/mo for a “3G Usage Price Increase” even though my phone supports and uses 4G. The only thing that might explain this is on koodoo's support page where it reads “your data connection uses LTE while calls fall back to the legacy 3G network” [1]. But my phone (a OnePlus Five) has VoLTE enabled and the Koodo SIM status reads “LTE” under “Mobile voice network type” and “Mobile data network type”.

As far as I can tell, I am using a “4G LTE” device, right?

So according to Koodo:

“After you switch to a 4G LTE/5G device, you'll no longer see this amount on your monthly payment starting on your following renewal.”

I should not be billed $5/mo. Right?

What am I missing here? Is there a legitimate reason for this? Because this just comes across like a grift by Koodo to get me to buy a new phone from them.

 

I’m asking this here because I can’t find a find a phone number or email address where I can get in touch with their customer support.

 

[1] https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/explaining-koodos-3g-usage-price-increase (under “My device says LTE in the corner, so why did I get charged?”)

    4 replies

    Dinh
    Forum|alt.badge.img+4
    • Dinh
    • Mobile Master
    • July 28, 2026

    Hi

    From your description, the charge tracks what the network considers your device to be, not what the status bar shows. The page you linked spells out the criteria — on select devices (those more than six years old, not certified by TELUS or from another country), your data connection uses LTE while calls fall back to the legacy 3G network. So having VoLTE enabled and seeing LTE under voice and data doesn't rule the charge out on its own.

    Firstly. I recommend you run the device through the compatibility checker to see how the network reads it https://www.telus.com/en/support/article/how-to-use-volte

    As well, if calls really are falling back to 3G, the $5 isn't the whole story — the 3G network shuts down nationally starting March 1, 2027, and you'd lose calling on that device at that point.

    If it still looks wrong to you after checking, you don't need a phone number — submit it through "Ask us to review a charge" in Self Serve and Koodo will get back to you by SMS or email https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/ask-us-to-review-a-charge-on-your-bill

     

    A Koodo customer, opinions are my own.
    S
    • sqwishy
    • Author
    • Beginner
    • July 28, 2026

    The page you linked spells out the criteria — on select devices (those more than six years old, not certified by TELUS or from another country), your data connection uses LTE while calls fall back to the legacy 3G network. So having VoLTE enabled and seeing LTE under voice and data doesn't rule the charge out on its own.

    But everything on my phone indicates that it’s using VoLTE. The Koodo SIM status reads “LTE” under both “Mobile voice network type” and “Mobile data network type”. If my phone were using 3G for calls, I would not expect it to say “LTE” for “Mobile voice network type”. Right?

    Dinh
    Forum|alt.badge.img+4
    • Dinh
    • Mobile Master
    • July 28, 2026

    The page you linked spells out the criteria — on select devices (those more than six years old, not certified by TELUS or from another country), your data connection uses LTE while calls fall back to the legacy 3G network. So having VoLTE enabled and seeing LTE under voice and data doesn't rule the charge out on its own.

    But everything on my phone indicates that it’s using VoLTE. The Koodo SIM status reads “LTE” under both “Mobile voice network type” and “Mobile data network type”. If my phone were using 3G for calls, I would not expect it to say “LTE” for “Mobile voice network type”. Right?

    It's actually quite simple to test if your phone is compatible with Koodo VoLTE. Just turn off your Wi-Fi, make an outgoing call, and check the top right of your screen. If the LTE icon changes to 3G or HSPA, your phone is not compatible with Koodo VoLTE

    A Koodo customer, opinions are my own.
    M
    Forum|alt.badge.img+4
    • MilkyWay
    • Mobile Master
    • July 28, 2026

    Unfortunately, your device is extremely outdated and not compatible with VoLTE on the Koodo network. It is mainly relying on the 3G network when you are making or receiving calls, which is why you are seeing the charge on your bill.

    This should be an easy fix. If you want to keep a OnePlus device, you can upgrade your phone to the OnePlus 10 or later. According to this link, they should be capable of using VoLTE out of the box.

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