What do roaming charges mean

However, they can extend the area covered by the scheme to include these locations by signing up for a Travel Bolt On. This also allows customers to make and receive calls within Europe for 50p per call and talk for up to 60 minutes for no extra charge.

Text messages with an O2 Travel add-on are free to receive and 5p to send. Vodafone customers on its Essentials and Red Extra plans qualify for inclusive roaming in 48 locations, under its Roam Free scheme. This lets you use your UK allowances in extra locations, which are generally further afield. Customers who signed up to one of Vodafone's Red Entertainment plans after 15th August qualify for roaming in 77 locations worldwide for no extra charge.

However, if you signed up before this point, you come under the Roam Free scheme, which is limited to 50 locations in Europe. Vodafone's low-cost Basics plans don't offer inclusive roaming at all.

So if you're signed up to one and want to use your phone overseas and not rack up large bills, you'll need to upgrade to another plan. Virgin Media pledges that customers who exceed their allowances will be charged no more than they would at home. All Sky customers on Sky Mobile plans can use their mobile data, calls and texts in 36 European locations for no extra cost.

For customers with Unlimited Calls and Texts as part of their plan, all calls to landlines and mobiles and all texts sent within the EU are included.

The other big 'sell' with Sky Mobile as far as roaming goes is that if you've already stored a trove of unused data your Sky Piggybank, you can use the data when you're in Europe too. Most networks now offer specific tariffs or add-ons[7] to help prevent customers from losing out. So before travelling overseas, it is worth checking whether your destination is covered by your existing deal, or if an add-on is available. Data is where the real costs are often incurred, and quickly - though most networks do now operate caps to prevent bills spiralling out of control.

Alternatively, if you must use your phone a lot when abroad, the most cost effective option is usually to buy a local SIM. Want to know more about tariffs too? Get all the information you need here: Guide to mobile phone tariffs. Want an Apple phone? We'll help you get the best iPhone for you.

We use cookies and similar technologies. You can use the settings below to accept all cookies which we recommend to give you the best experience or to enable specific categories of cookies as explained below. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy. Uswitch Mobiles All articles. Mobile data roaming explained Catherine Hiley - Last updated: 10 August What do you want to read about?

How will Brexit affect roaming charges? We take a look at what Brexit will mean for EU roaming. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Market Intelligence Who we are Contact Us. Alternative Investment Guide.

Market Intelligence. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Password recovery. Home personal-finance. EU roaming charges: what do they mean for your mobile phone bill? September 11, Image sources: Getty Images. Share this page: Three is the latest mobile provider to announce that it is reintroducing roaming charges for its customers. So what will this actually mean for your mobile phone bill? EU roaming charges are back on the agenda Brexit and rising wholesale costs have pushed mobile operators into changing their stances on EU roaming charges.

Increased costs The days of free roaming are numbered. How to keep your bill down If you are worried about roaming charges pushing your mobile phone bill too high, then you have the following options: Switch providers — O2 has said it currently has no plans to change its roaming charges.

And Sky Mobile has confirmed that customers will continue to be able use their data, call and text allowances for free when travelling in the EU.

So, if you are nearing the end of your current contract, it could be worth taking a look at switching. Compare mobile phone plans — It is a good idea to compare mobile phone plans, just as you would compare car insurance quotes. But comparing is even more important with roaming charges making a comeback. You may find there are additional benefits you can include to make it cheaper for yourself.

Make sure you do your research beforehand though, so you come armed with the right information. Looking for a top-notch travel credit card? Was this article helpful? Yes No. Previous article 'Gold fever is a thing': meet Scotland's new prospectors — The Guardian. If you have the roaming feature turned on, all of this will happen automatically. What you pay for roaming charges will depend on your carrier , but plan for roaming charges to breakdown somewhat like this:.

Needless to say, it is way too expensive to rely on roaming data during your, well, roaming. Before you venture out into an area outside your coverage boundaries , make sure you know what your carrier offers for travel.

The TravelPass allows you to use your normal Verizon cell phone plan abroad without incurring any extra fees. T-Mobile is the best wireless carrier for traveling perks. In fact, you might not need to buy a data pass at all. Sprint currently covers more than destinations around the world.

I was able to use my maps app everywhere and rely on Yelp for everything I ate. If your network coverage feels spotty, check out the best wireless networks out there. This site is a U. Consumer site. You can learn more about our site and privacy policy here. What Is Data Roaming? Learn what is data roaming and how to avoid extra charges.