How to avoid big mobile bills abroad

By TARA EVANS
Updated:

 

If you use your mobile phone to surf the internet when you're abroad then you could end up coming home to large bill.

Texting on a beach abroad

Sandstorm: Internet roaming rates vary between networks

Earlier this month the European Commission announced new regulations which will help prevent shock bills.

Customers can now request their phone provider to cut off their access to the net when it reaches a certain level in other European countries.

If a limit isn't requested before 1 July 2010 then a limit of 50 euros (or £45/$65 ) will be automatically set.

Phone firms have to warn users when their bill hits 80% of the limit when they are using the internet or 'data roaming' when on holiday.

Even with the new regulations holidaymakers can still rack up large bills when abroad as they may not be aware that they are being charged to make and receive calls.

Mike Wilson, mobiles and broadband experts at moneysupermarket.com said: 'The cost of using your mobile abroad will quickly add up and operators may still charge for receiving calls, as well as making them. The cost of using the internet on your mobile or using a dongle can also result in crippling bills.'

'Those who have internet access on their phone and pay a set price for using it in the UK should be aware using the internet abroad is not included. Several people have come home to a bill in the thousands for downloading films or watching BBC iPlayer on their handset.'

We've come up with some top tips and a guide to how much it costs if you want to avoid a nasty phone bill while you're abroad.

Before you leave the country you should check with your mobile phone operator to see how much calls (making and receiving), texting and using the internet will cost.

You should also ask if there is a cheaper international tariff available – some providers will offer 'bolt-ons' or specific deals which can help making using your mobile abroad cheaper.

Research before you go to see if you can use free Wi-Fi facilities, your hotel may have this or there may be a place nearby.

You should also try to turn your phone off if you're not using it while you're away. Alternatively, you may be able to turn off your data roaming – which means you won't be charged.

Virgin Media

Last month Virgin Media launched a range of Travel Passes for customers, which means that you can access mobile internet or mobile broadband (using a dongle) while you're away.

Customers can get a one hour £4 Travel Pass or a 24 hour Travel Pass for access to mobile internet. To activate the pass you will need to text BUY plus pass name (eg 24HR or 1HR) to 23456.

There are four different choices of mobile broadband Travel Passes which allow you access to data using mobile broadband (usually through a dongle) for one day (£10 for 10MB), 3 days (£15 for 15MB), 7 days (£30 for 30MB) and a 30 day pass (£60 for 60MB).

To activate you mobile broadband pass you should text BUY plus the pass name (e.g 1DAY or 7DAY) to 23456.

Virgin mobile customers will be subject to the automatic data roaming cap. They will be alerted to a warning page before browsing and once they reach their allowance. Customers are also sent a text before the allowance expires (at 80%) and then again once the data roaming allowance has expired.

For more information and a fill list of the countries where Travel Passes can be used visit the Virgin Media website.

Orange

The EU data cap will apply to all mobile and mobile broadband Orange customers from March who will see their data capped at £44 excluding VAT when roaming in EU countries.

Orange are planning to alert customers by text when they've used 6MB data and again when they are close to reaching the 12MB allowance. Customers can choose to override this allowance if they wish.

Orange offer a full range of travel bundles which can help cut the cost of you bill while you're abroad. The Travel Data Bundle costs £3 for 3MB of data for 30 days. They also offer bundles to save on the cost of calling and receiving calls while you're abroad.

For more information on Orange Travel Data bundles visit the Orange website or call 150 from your Orange mobile phone.

Vodafone

From February Vodafone introduced an opt-in cap, which customers must request, limiting usage up to £43 per month. Customers can opt in by calling on 191. After July 1 2010 all customers will be included in the cap, unless they opt out.

Before you go away, you can opt in to Vodafone Passport - a price plan for making calls from Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It is free to opt in and then calls made and received are subjected to a 75p connection charge. The calls are then charged at the same rate as you would be charged for making a call in the UK. You can even use your free minute allowance.

3 Mobile

3 Mobile focuses on competitive pricing rather than offering specific packages for customers.

Customers need to request international roaming to be enabled on their account when they go to another country for the first time. They will receive an alert via their mobile broadband dashboard which will alert them to how much it costs. If a customer tried to use the internet on their mobile phone they will receive a similar message.

As of March, this year, 3 Mobile customers and Mobile Broadband customers have their data use limit set to £45 when roaming in EU countries. They receive a text message, either to their phone or broadband dashboard, when they reach 80% and then again when they hit the limit for usage. Once the 100% limit has been reached the customer will have to contact 3 to get it reactivated.

For more information visit the 3 Mobile website.

02

02 offer two data Bolt Ons to customers going abroad – Data Abroad 10 (10MB for £20 per month) and Data Abroad 50 (50MB for £50 per month). Both of these can be added for one month and removed the next. 02 advises customers to call them 24 hours before going abroad.

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