EE customers to be hit with controversial charges from TODAY – how to avoid it

EE customers will be hit with controversial charges from today when using their mobile abroad in Europe.

The mobile network first revealed last year that it was planning to bring back the EU roaming fees for customers in 2022.

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Originally planned for January, a number of tech issues forced the company to delay the new charge until March.

From today (March 3), EE customers will face an extra charge of £2 per day when they visiting 47 destinations in Europe.

This will cover use of data, minutes and text allowances of the contract you’re on.

Speaking about the upcoming change for all customers, an EE spokesperson said: “Customers travelling abroad for longer will be able to use a 30-day Roam Abroad Pass.”

The pass allows you to use your standard minutes, text and data plan allowances while abroad in 47 European destinations as well as USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

“Essential plan customers will be able to take the Pass for £10, while Smart or Full Works plans customers are able to include the same pass as part of their plan,” the spokesperson added.

The new charge applies to new customers who joined the network from July 7 2021, and existing customers who upgraded after this date.

Meanwhile, other major UK networks are also bringing back roaming charges for their customers.

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It follows the UK’s exit from the European Union, which allowed firms to apply a fee.

Vodafone brought in a new roaming charge for Brits abroad from January 26, 2022.

Customers who took out a contract with the network provider after August 21, 2021 have to pay £2 a day to use data in European Union countries.

Similarly, those signed up to Three have until May 23 before they’re also facing a £2-a-day charge.

But the fee only applies to people who joined Three after October 1, 2021.

To avoid the extra charges you could immediately disable mobile data as soon as you land and try to find free Wi-Fi networks to get online.

It’s also possible to avoid EE’s EU roaming costs by switching to other networks that offer customers a free allowance when travelling.

For example, O2 allows its customers to use their data, minutes and text allowances as usual abroad – with limits on internet usage in place.

You can only use up to 25GB of your data at no extra cost when you’re travelling in Europe but you’ll be charged £3.50 per gigabyte after you hit the limit.

However, don’t just switch contracts because the roaming price is cheaper – this obviously should depend on how much you travel to Europe.

You should take a look at how many minutes and texts, as well as how much data you’re using, to find out which deal is best for you.

And if you’re still in your contract period, you might be charged an exit fee.

It’s worth using comparison websites, such as MoneySupermarket and uSwitch.com, to compare tarrifs and phone prices.

More on mobile phone contracts, we explain how you could save £300 a year on your mobile bills with one phone call.

Meanwhile, one TikToker has revealed how you can switch broadband mid-contract with no fees.

Plus, we round up six tricks that can help you get a discount on your broadband and phone bill.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk