Phone receipts can be a shock for Brits – 49 per cent of whom remain unaware of the international roaming charges. On average, people are charged an extra €51 for roaming abroad, with Vodafone, EE and Three charging their costumer’s data roaming charges around €2.67 per day when travelling to the EU.
Holidays looking to travel further away can be charged €7 for data used and not be aware of it until they receive their bill, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Furthermore, 32 per cent of Uswitch mobile respondents noted they were surprised by their charges to access data while they were travelling, while the share of people charged was higher for those aged between 25 and 34-year-olds – 49 per cent.
Out of those that were surprised by the additional charges for using data outside their plan, on average, they were charged €51, and 35-44 year-olds were hit the hardest.
More than half of the demographic group of 25 to 34 years old said they were likely to choose their provider based on who offers better deals on EU roaming.
Currently, O2 is the only provider in the UK that includes EU roaming as standard, and some MVNOs like iD Mobile and Lebara also offer EU roaming in some contracts and plans.
Uswitch’s mobiles expert, Rehan Ali, pointed out that access to data abroad is a top priority for many Brits headed to Europe for their vacations. With inclusive roaming becoming less common among mobile networks, consumers are likely to opt for providers that still offer EU roaming in their plans.
“As the summer holiday season approaches, it’s clear that being able to access data while abroad is a top priority for many Brits. With inclusive roaming now being a rarer perk amongst mobile networks, we anticipate that consumers may shift towards providers that still offer inclusive EU roaming in their plans,” Uswitch’s mobiles expert, Rehan Ali, says.
Although some providers, like eSIMs, offer temporary international SIM solutions, Brits generally choose to have roaming with their existing phone plans and contracts.
Given the potential cost of up to €51 in additional charges for UK travellers, it is crucial for them to explore their best options before travelling abroad this summer.
A report by the EU Commission has revealed that more than 81 per cent of EU residents can use mobile data as well as call and text without being charged extra. In addition, the survey revealed that a total of 72 per cent of the respondents who have travelled to the EU, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein travel once or twice a year. Another 28 per cent of respondents travel more often.