Hidden mobile roaming charges set to end – but not in time for summer: How to avoid a hefty bill in the meantime

Almost a fifth of people are not aware that they could be racking up extra data roaming charges while holidaying abroad, data claims.

Regulator Ofcom said that 19 per cent of people aren’t aware of the potential charges, while 18 per cent fail to research roaming charges ahead of their visits abroad. 

These people are set to benefit from new roaming rules that are set to come into effect from October.

Under the new regulations, Ofcom says the UK mobile users will be protected from accidentally building up massive roaming bills in foreign countries.

Costly: Heading abroad could see you build up a massive data roaming bill if you are paying on standard rates

Mobile providers will have to inform customers when they begin roaming, and provide them with the necessary information about how they can use their phone abroad.

It said this will include explaining any fair use limits or time limits on their data services, informing them that they can add a spending limit, and directing them to further information on roaming.

According to Ofcom, the new rules will also prevent inadvertent roaming, which can see customers’ devices roam to a network in a different country even if they have not crossed the border.

Before the UK left the EU, mobile operators were required to inform customers when they began roaming, and there was a worldwide £45 data roaming cap in place. This is no longer the case, though many operators still choose to let customers know when they begin roaming and have kept a cap in place.

As many as 14 per cent of UK customers said they had experienced this, with people who live in Northern Ireland being particularly affected. 

Some on the south coast of England have also found their phones connecting to French networks.

Ofcom’s new rules will mean that people are alerted when they begin roaming.

Cristina Luna-Esteban, director of telecoms consumer policy at Ofcom, said: ‘The last thing holidaymakers want when returning from a trip abroad is an unexpected mobile phone bill. At the moment, some customers aren’t getting clear information from their provider to help them manage their mobile use and plan their spend.

‘Our new protections will mean you’re told what it’ll cost when you start roaming, so you can be confident that there won’t be any surprises when it comes to your mobile bill while on holiday.’

Clarity: From October, providers will be required to inform customers when they begin roaming

With the new regulations not set to roll out until October, and with summer on its way, millions could still be at risk of losing out to roaming charges.

Over the Easter period alone, Uswitch says as many as 8.1 million will be heading abroad, and could land themselves with hefty roaming bills if they fail to plan ahead.

In fact, Uswitch research shows that 61 per cent don’t check their providers’ roaming policy before travelling, and 66 per cent aren’t aware of its fair usage policy.

Fair usage policies prevent customer’s from overusing a network and is often capped below what they pay for in the UK. 

Pushing over the fair usage cap will trigger special charge rates, meaning that customers can easily rack up a bill without realising they have breached the policy.

Almost a quarter of Brits, 23 per cent, are planning to visit high-cost roaming countries this year, such as South Africa and Egypt.

According to the switching service, a person visiting China for a week and using 1GB of data per day, could leave with a roaming bill of more than £40,000.

How to avoid roaming charges this summer

Before the new rules come into effect, those travelling abroad are still at risk of being stung by an eye-watering bill if they don’t take the right precautions when it comes to their phone. 

‘Using your phone abroad has become just as essential as packing your toothbrush for most travellers,’ says Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch. ‘But nobody wants to find their holiday buzz ruined by a shock mobile bill,’

Switching SIM: Ernest Doku suggests looking into short-term and eSIMs as cheaper options

Holiday-goers should make sure to check their network’s roaming policy before going abroad, Doku said. While roaming in EU countries is still straightforward, of the four main network providers in the UK, only O2 charges no extra fees for doing so.

Three, EE and Vodafone all add at least £2 per day for contract customers.

Various other providers, such as BT Mobile and Giffgaff, offer free roaming in Europe.

‘Even if you and somebody else you know are with the same network, your individual roaming deal or fair usage allowance could be different to theirs. This all depends on what contract you have, so we would always recommend checking your tariff,’ Doku said.

Outside of the continent, however, things are a bit more tricky. Customers will have to buy an expensive data roaming pass from their provider. These are also available for European travel to avoid daily rates. 

The alternative is to take the hit of standard roaming rates, which are likely to eat into your bank account even more quickly.

‘While Uswitch supports Ofcom’s recent announcement of improved protections around clarity, there is still virtually nothing to stop providers from charging enormous sums when you use your phone abroad,’ Doku said.

What is a travel eSim? 

Another option is to buy a temporary digital Sim card, which allows you to connect to a local network in the country you are visiting. 

Doku added: ‘There are some great deals around, so it’s worth looking into a short-term Sim or travel eSIM as a cheaper option.

‘In the simplest terms, an eSim is short for “embedded Sim” and replaces the need for a physical ‘card’ to be inserted into a phone and is able to provide all your connectivity settings digitally. 

‘ESims make it easier to change networks, so if you are roaming abroad you can easily connect to the local network without having to add or swap a physical card for your device.

‘You can hold multiple Sim profiles on your device, so if you’re regularly switching numbers or travelling to different locations, you’ll be able to keep them all safely in digital format, and not risk carrying around – and potentially losing – several small cards.

‘If in doubt, contact your provider to talk about roaming caps and what your current deal will allow you to use as well as how much this will cost.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk