EE customers will face daily charges to make calls or use data while on holiday in EU countries from today.
The mobile network provider has brought back roaming charges, which cost £2 per day when abroad in certain destinations.
EE had originally planned on reintroducing roaming charges from January this year, but this was delayed until March 3.
Mobile firms were previously banned from charging extra fees to use your UK allowance - calls, texts and data - while holidaying in the EU.
However, this no longer applies now the Brexit transition is over.
Are you an EE customer affected by roaming charges? Let us know in the comments below
Roaming charges for EE customers will affect those who joined the network or upgraded after July 7, 2021.
It will apply to those holidaying in 47 countries. Those who won’t face new charges include those who are on specific roaming tariffs, such as its “Smart” and “Full Works” deals.
But EE isn’t the first major mobile provider to bring back roaming charges - and many more are expected to follow suit.
Vodafone reintroduced the fees when abroad from January 2022, again charging £2 per day.
This applies to those who took out a contract with the network provider after August 11, 2021.
Three will bring back roaming charges from May 23, also at a charge of £2 per day for using calls and texts in certain EU countries.
This fee will kick in for customers who joined Three after October 1, 2021.
O2 has changed its “fair use” policy - this caps the amount of your UK data allowance you can use for free while roaming in Europe.
Mobile firms were allowed to set fair usage caps before Brexit, and this is separate to flat-fee roaming charges.
As of August 2 this year, O2 customers who use more than 25GB of data a month in Europe are charged £3.50 per GB for any extra data used. There was previously no limit.
How to save money if you’re an EE customer
If you're an existing EE customer, you won’t be charged roaming fees until you sign up to a new deal, or renew your existing contract.
This is because it is only those who signed up from July 7, 2021, onwards who will have to pay.
If you have updated your EE deal since then, and therefore will be charged when abroad, you may be able to cut costs by purchasing roaming passes.
EE customers can pay £10 for a 30-day “Roam Abroad Pass” - this will be cheaper than paying £2 per day if you’re spending more than five days on holiday.
You can also cut the cost of your phone bill when abroad by using Wi-Fi wherever possible.
Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, previously told The Mirror: “When it comes to travelling, don’t leave it until the last minute to check the roaming charges for your destination.
“Use hotel and cafe Wi-Fi when on holiday where possible, ensuring any public access points are safe and secure before logging on.”
The 47 places EE customers will be charged
Roaming charges will apply in these 47 EU destinations:
- Austria
- Azores
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus (higher fees apply to those who connect to a Turkish network)
- Czech Republic
- Canary Islands
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana Guyana
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Jersey
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal (including Madeira)
- Reunion Islands
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saint Martin (France)
- Saint Barthelemy
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain (including Canary Islands)
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Vatican City (Italy)
