The collection of iPhone users traveling abroad have returned to the U.S. with phone bills costing hundreds or thousands of dollars due to unsuspected data roaming charges.

One California traveler spent a few days in Paris and rang up a $550 bill because he took a picture, according to Phonesreview.co.uk.  (See,  AT&T says, the iPhone constantly updates itself through the data roaming key. Even if a person turns it off, when they go to use a device that needs updating, such as the camera, the phone can turn on the data roaming and forget to mention it to the phone user.) The phone owner will learn about it at the end of the month when this happens:

1. Bill arrives.

2. Owner opens bill.

3. Owner screams at bill.

4. Owner screams at AT&T rep, who smugly replies, “Please pay by the due date so as to not incur any additional charges.”

Think the $550 charge was bad? Another iPhone owner headed off to the UK and Ireland. His data roaming charge topped $3,000 according to SlashGear.com. Others reported a $1,300 bill and $2,100 bills. All of this sucks.

Turning off the data roaming on your phone is a start. But make sure the data roaming is off every time you turn your phone on — as the iPhone will automatically turn it on as a default setting — no doubt a feature endorsed by AT&T. About.com offers its solutions to worried iPhone holders.

We’re not saying leave your iPhone at home. It’s quite alright to toss into your plaid shirt pocket and snap goofy facebook photos all day long. We’ll be doing just that when we head to Amsterdam next week. There’s nothing wrong with a big bill, as long as it was for a flamboyant dinner, a massive bar tab or some other fantastic indulgence. But a big phone bill for not even attempting a late night hook up?

That’s just wrong.