Mobile phone companies are having to cut their roaming charges within the EU from 1st July, and a ban is set to be introduced next summer.
Mobile roaming charges within the EU will fall again on Monday (1st July) with a total ban on them to follow next July.
Following horror stories of huge bills and phone companies making more than 200% profits on calls made and more than 400% on calls received, the European Commission (EC) decided to step in.
It ordered companies to cap their roaming charges last July, and followed up with another cap this summer.
Here is what your mobile phone company can charge you for calls, texts and data now and from 1st July:
|
Service |
Cost until 30th June 2013 |
Cost from 1st July 2013 |
|
Making a phone call |
29 cents (25p) |
24 cents (20p) |
|
Receiving a phone call |
8 cents (7p) |
7 cents (6p) |
|
Sending a text |
8 cents (7p) |
8 cents (7p) |
|
Data (per megabyte) |
70 cents (60p) |
45 cents (38p) |
There’s also a €50 (£42.60) cap on mobile roaming charges in any one billing period.
The EC is also introducing a complete ban on roaming charges in the EU from 1st July 2014, meaning mobile phone usage abroad will cost the same as it does in a person’s home country.
Charges still high outside the EU
If you’re travelling outside the EU the cost of using your mobile on your normal tariff can still be eye-wateringly high.
For example, if you data roam in the US Orange charges £8 per MB, O2 will set you back £6, Three will cost you £3 and Vodafone charges £3 per MB up to a £15 limit and £15 per 5MB thereafter.
How to cut costs
You should check what your mobile provider charges before you leave, and based on where you’re going and how much you’re going to use your phone you should consider some of these cost-cutting options.
Turn your phone off
You don’t have to turn your phone off entirely, but you should definitely think about turning off data roaming when you’re not using the internet on it.
Do your downloads before you go
If you want to download maps, city guides or anything else that could eat a lot of data, do it before you leave the UK.
Buy an overseas bolt-on or bundle
Most operators now offer a bolt-on or bundle for overseas use. This could prove particularly cost effective if you need to stay in touch with home regularly.
Use your home calling plan
[SPOTLIGHT]BT and Virgin both offer apps that allow you to call home at your UK calling rate. But you should use these over free Wi-Fi if you don’t want to pay overseas data charges. Emma Lunn looks at them in more detail in How to make cheap mobile phone calls home from abroad.
Use apps
The Viber app offers free calls and texts, as does the Skype app, while Whatsapp allows you to send free messages to people on other networks. Again, beware the charges if you’re not on an inclusive roaming deal or free Wi-Fi.
Use internet cafes
If you only want to send a few emails or have a quick chat via Skype, an hour in an internet café could prove the cheapest option.
Buy a local or global SIM
If you’re going away for a while to one country, then buying a local SIM could be well be a smart investment.
If you’re travelling around, a global SIM can offer cheaper calls from different destinations. Recommended providers include 0044, GeoSim, TravelTalk, and Tru.
Your phone will need to be unlocked to use a different SIM.
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