Roaming charges with roaming turned off. Apple reimbursement?

No, Apple will not reimburse you. That usage is text messages to Apple’s FaceTime and iMessage server, not roaming data. The only way to prevent it is to log out of iMessage and FaceTime (not just turn them off).

Your roaming network provider is not an Apple partner. That means they can charge for the international SMS messages that are used to activate and maintain your FaceTime and iMessage. Unless you want to pay for daily international text messages to Apple’s server in the UK you should log out of FaceTime and iMessage. Note that turning them off is not sufficient; you must actually log out.

FaceTime: Go to Settings/FaceTime, turn it on if it is off, tap on your Apple ID and tap Sign Out

iMessage: Go to Settings/Messages, turn it on if it is off, tap on Send & Receive, then your Apple ID, and tap Sign Out

Two more international texts will be sent after you do this, but they should then stop.

The issue is not Apple, it happens on all smartphones. Basically the network you roam onto charges for attempted data connections for data, regardless if the SIM has no data roaming allowed. You need to refer this to your home mobile provider to get them to check the commercials they have with the visited network (its a commercial agreement between the operators). The only way that these attempts would be successful is if the visited network has VoLTE & you have not completely disabled your home SIM for all services, then it would only be KB of data for the attempted connections. I was informed by my home network that location services also generate data sessions, which is nonsense as this is powered by GPS (satellite tech that is not charged). Hope this helps.

I have a esim with data roaming enabled (not required really) and the uk phone sim with roaming turned off and still getting charged roaming every couple of days even with the phone on the side in the house with WiFi (in the early morning). I tried logging out of iMessage and face time as suggested and even set low data rate mode on the primary sim. None of these worked so have now turned off the primary sim. One sure way of getting charged I found (even with the settings above) was to turn the phone off and on. Looks like the reason is due to system services so I guess it is an apple iPhone 15 issue.

@Paulfarley the issue is the network you are roaming on. 1. its ok sliding roaming data off but if the visited network has VoLTE active in their Diameter network with your home provider this will search for your SIM (IMSI) regardless (voice & SMS functions). 2. Check to ensure the visited network has not have VoLTE enabled, if they do turn all services off on your primary SIM. Set the eSIM as your main number whilst roaming. Also certain MNOs will charge for attempted data connections not successful, how this is billed to you as roamed charges depends on your provider.