Control what calls you receive when roaming

Because of the cost of incoming calls, you may find it useful to set call barring when roaming.

A call bar allows you to restrict what calls can be made or received. This setting is in the network, not in your handset or sim.

To set or remove call bars, you need the network password, which Customer Services of your Service Provider should be able to tell you. You can change this password if you choose.

Barring and call diversion

If your account has call diversion active, you can't set call barring for incoming or outgoing calls. This applies even if there is just the automatic default diversion to answerphone set. You cannot remove this automatic diversion yourself: you have to ask Customer Services to switch off the "automatic diversion to answerphone". Once this is off, you can switch on and off diversion to the answerphone (or other destination) using the phone's menus or the GSM codes.

Types of call barring

All incoming or outgoing calls - this needs no explanation!

Outgoing international calls - calls to countries other than where the mobile is at the time the call is made.

Outgoing international calls except for calls to the home country - this applies when you are roaming, and allows you to call home or to call numbers in the country you are roaming in, but not other countries.

Incoming calls - this simply stops anyone phoning your mobile. Note that calls will not go to your answerphone. They simply won't get through.

Incoming calls when outside home country - this stops you having to pay the incoming call fee for calls received when roaming.

All incoming SMS messages - this will stop you being disturbed, but few, if any, networks charge for incoming SMS messages when you are roaming, so the bar should not be needed for financial reasons.

Setting, cancelling and querying call barring

Some mobile phones have menus that allow you to set, query and remove call bars. If they are not available, you may be able to use the GSM codes instead.

If you are unable to change call barring settings, this may be because call barring has not been enabled on your account. Some networks only allow call barring when roaming is enabled.

The GSM codes specific to call barring are listed below.

There is a fuller list of GSM codes in the GSM codes page of the Technical - Using it section.

All calls Set: *330*barring code#[SEND] Cancel: #330*barring code#[SEND] Query: *#330#[SEND] Outgoing calls Set: *333*barring code#[SEND] Cancel: #333*barring code#[SEND] Query: *#333#[SEND] Incoming calls Set: *35*barring code#[SEND] Cancel: #35*barring code#[SEND] Query: *#35#[SEND] Outgoing international calls Set: *331*barring code#[SEND] Cancel: #331*barring code#[SEND] Query: *#331#[SEND]

Outgoing international calls except to home country Set: *332*barring code#[SEND] Cancel: #332*barring code#[SEND] Query: *#332#[SEND] Incoming calls when outside home country Set: *351*barring code#[SEND] Cancel: #351*barring code#[SEND] Query: *#351#[SEND] Cancel All Call Barring #330*barring code#[SEND] Bar incoming SMS messages Set: *35*barring code*16#[SEND] Cancel: #35*barring code*16#[SEND] Change Call Barring code **03*oldcode*newcode*newcode#

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