Data roaming abroad - how much you'll pay to use your phone on holiday this summer
Following on from Brexit, the majority of major mobile networks reintroduced their data roaming fees for holidaymakers.
While many Brits are excited to head abroad this summer to soak up the gorgeous sunshine and a host of different cultures, many of us forget the added inconvenience of getting charged for using our phones while in a different country.
Following on from Brexit, many major mobile network providers decided to reintroduce their roaming fees. Long gone are the days where you can freely use your phone while abroad to keep in touch with those back home.
Before the fees were forced back on Brits, holidaymakers used to be able to use their existing calls, texts and data allowances in Europe for no extra cost.
Back in October last year, new rules were introduced that mean mobile providers must now notify their customers when they start roaming while abroad, reports the Mirror.
On top of this, they must notify users of any "fair use" limits that apply to their existing contract. The "fair use" cap is the amount of your UK data allowance you can use while roaming in Europe.
Just to make it more confusing, every mobile provider has a different limit for their customers to work by. Here is the list of each provider and their specific cap so you know how much you will be spending this summer...
EU roaming costs by mobile provider
EE: £2.59 a day for contract customers. £2.50 a day, or £10 for seven days, if you are pay-as-you-go. EE has a 50GB "fair use" limit.
Three: £2 a day for contract customers. You can buy a three-day pass for £5, a seven-day pass for £12, or a 14-day pass for £24. You can also buy a Data Passport for £5 for unlimited data in 89 countries. No charge for pay-as-you-go. Three has a 12GB "fair use" limit.
Vodafone: £2.42 a day if you're on contract. You can buy a European Roaming pass for £12 for 8 days or £17 for 15 days. £9 for 3GB for eight days if you're pay-as-you-go. Vodafone has a 25GB "fair use" limit.
Sky: £2 a day. No "fair use" limit.
Voxi: £2.45 a day for one day. You can buy a pass for £4.50 for two days, £12 for eight days, or £17 for 15 days. Voxi has a 20GB "fair use" limit.
O2: No roaming fees. O2 has a 25GB "fair use" limit.
GiffGaff: No roaming fees. GiffGaff has a 5GB "fair use" limit.
Tesco Mobile: No roaming fees until 2026.
Before you head on holiday, it is important to check with your provider what cap and extra cost they are providing.
Additionally, some providers offer passes that may be worth some consideration as they could work out cheaper in the long run.
How to cut down your mobile bill
For those who are thinking of switching mobile providers or are wanting to cut down on their existing mobile bill, we have some tips on how to make sure you are getting the best deal.
The first thing people should do is use a comparison website to see what other deals are currently available.
It is important to look at your texts, call minutes and how much data you currently use so shoppers can choose a plan that would best fit their needs - not point going for 100GB of data if you use more than that in a month.
Some people may find that they are actually paying more for their allowances than they should be, especially if you aren't getting full use out of it. For those out of contract, this is a perfect time to switch to a cheaper deal.
However, if you are still within your contract, it won't cost any harm to call up your current provider and haggle them down.
If you choose to do so, you should explain to your provider that you have seen better deals elsewhere and ask them if they can match these or beat the price.
It is said that the best time to do this is near the end of your contract or when a price rise has been announced.
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