Summer holiday warning as major mobile networks hike roaming fees

HOLIDAYMAKERS are facing bigger phone bills this summer as major mobile networks have hiked roaming fees.

EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 are among the firms charging customers more for using their phones abroad.

1

Roaming in the EU was free, but after Brexit mobile phone operators can charge you for using your phone on holiday.

GiffGaff and BT Mobile are also making changes to their policy for Brits travelling in Europe.

So far, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Plusnet and Sky Mobile haven’t announced any extra roaming charges.

As consumers get ready to jet off on summer holidays this year, we explain everything you need to know about roaming charges.

EE

EE has brought back roaming charges in the EU for some customers.

If your contract started after July 7, 2021, you’ll be charged a daily payment of £2 to use your plan allowances.

If it started before that date, the charges won’t affect you.

Alternatively, you can buy a Roam Abroad add on for £10 a day, which might work out cheaper for you depending on your phone use and the length of your trip.

Most read in Money

The charges were introduced last month.

Vodafone

Vodafone started charging roaming fees at the end of January for pay monthly customers who joined after August 11, 2021.

Charges are £2 a day when you’re travelling in EU countries, not including the Republic of Ireland.

Three

If you started or renewed a Three contract after October 2021, you’ll be charged a roaming fee for using your phone in the EU.

Customers will have to pay £2 a day to use their contract allowances in the European Union.

O2

O2 customers can use their data and other allowances as usual in the EU, up to 25GB.

You’ll only be charged extra if your monthly UK data allowance is more than 25GB.

After that, you’ll be charged £3.50 per GB used.

GiffGaff

Similarly, you can use your GiffGaff allowances as usual, up to a limit of 20GB of data.

If you go over that limit, you’ll be charged 0.36p per MB for roaming in the EU.

BT Mobile

BT Mobile customers can use their data allowances in Europe as usual, unless they get more than 50GB a month.

You’ll face a 0.36p per MB charge if you use more than 50MB in one billing cycle.

It comes as mobile networks are hiking prices for customers in the UK.

Vodafone, BT and EE customers have been hit with bill increases today.

TV companies have also upped their prices, including Virgin Media and Sky.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk