UK communications regulator Ofcom has found that nearly 20% of holidaymakers are unaware of roaming charges when travelling, and over 80% rely on their network to alert them about the extra costs, even though mobile phone companies are no longer obliged to let their customers know when they are about to incur charges.
Since Brexit on 1 January 2021, UK mobile users lost access to EU free roaming rules, (which ban mobile network providers from levying additional roaming charges in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA). An interim measure which temporarily protected British consumers abroad by warning them when they were about to rack up hefty bills, has now ended.
Travel Tomorrow reported back in 2020 on what to keep in mind when travelling after Brexit, but here’s an updated summary of ways to save money on roaming charges.
1. In what ways can UK phone users get around the extra charges?
You can avoid additional roaming charges if your phone is registered in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway, who all have an agreement permitting residents to ‘roam like you’re at home’. Pay-as-you-go users are also only charged domestic rates for the country the phone is registered in when they are abroad in EU countries.
As Travel Tomorrow has already reported, this agreement is due to be reviewed in 2032. Fair use data limits apply. Any additional charges are capped at €2 per gigabyte in the EU, set to decrease to just €1 from 2027.
EU roaming rules do not apply in Monaco, Switzerland or Turkey, among other countries.
2. Compare providers
Not everyone will be able to register a phone abroad or have a dual SIM card situation with an EU-registered SIM. Besides, paying for an additional SIM may not be the most cost-effective way to manage the roaming charges, depending on how much you travel.
Consumer help site, Compare the Market, has published a helpful round-up of the charges from four major providers: EE, 02, Three and Vodaphone.
Meanwhile, UK consumer champion Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert, has published his own value comparison of fair use data caps and charges from over 18 providers, in which EE comes out as number one (as of July 2023). On the same page, he also lists a useful set of top tips for not getting caught out by your phone providers’ billing system
