Now that the UK is no longer part of the EU, some mobile phone providers have reintroduced roaming charges but not all phone companies are equal when it comes to bills.
While thousands of Brits will have to pay extra to use their mobile phones abroad from March others won't be charging customers.
So, just who and who won't be billing phone users? Here's what everyone with a mobile needs to know.
What you need to know
A number of mobile networks in the UK have announced that they will be re-instating EU roaming charges for customers, reports Liverpool Echo.
Vodafone, EE, Three, Lebara and more will all be scrapping free EU roaming and bringing back the charges soon.
Some users have already noticed changes to their bills. For instance, Vodafone reintroduced roaming charges for Brits last year, meaning new and upgrading customers have had to pay up to £2 per day to use their monthly allowance of data, calls and texts in the EU.
But each mobile network provider will operate on different fees and thresholds when it comes to using their phone abroad.
Roaming explained
Roaming is when a mobile phone is used outside of its home network, so overseas, and connects to another available cell network.
Before the UK left the EU, Britons could use their monthly allowances of calls, data and texts while in 28 destinations in the EU for no extra charge.
Now the UK is no longer part of the EU some mobile providers have reintroduced roaming charges, while others are allowing customers to still roam for free.
Which firms are charging?
To make it easy for you we have compiled a guide below of all the mobile networks in the UK that have brought back the fees, with information on when the charges will begin and for what cost.
EE
Roaming charges will be back in place with EE from March 3, 2022.
Those who have taken out a pay monthly handset or SIM plan with EE from July 7, 2021 onwards, will incur a daily charge (£2 per day if you go over your allowance) for using their phone in the European roaming zone.
However, if your contract started before July 7, 2021, then you won't be charged the £2 fee.
Customers who pay monthly for a tablet, laptop, mobile and broadband will also incur the charge if they took out their contract from August 18, 2021.
Here's how the new charges will work:
One low fixed daily payment of £2 per day
You don't need to do anything to opt-in, if you use your allowances you'll pay £2 for that day, and if you don't, you won't be charged anything
All your allowances work just like at home - and you can buy more data if you need to.
Vodafone
Roaming charges are back on at Vodafone.
New and upgrading customers will have to pay up to £2 per day to use their monthly allowance of data, calls and texts, unless they signed up before August 11, 2021.
However, those using Vodafone will be able to reduce the cost to £1 per day by purchasing a multi-day pass for eight or 15 days (Vodafone will charge £3.13 per GB over its 25GB limit).
Those on the firm’s more expensive Xtra plans will still have roaming included, while the Republic of Ireland will be exempt for all customers.
Lebara
Lebara currently has no plans to bring back EU roaming charges.
The SIM-only company also have some great deals on offer too so this network could be the key solution to saving a bit of money on your bills this year.
Their 30 days 5G SIM only plan comes with 2GB of data, 1000 minutes and 1000 texts for just 99p per month for the first three months with code LEBARA5 - find out more about it here.
Three
Three will apply a flat £2 daily charge for customers using their phone in an EU country.
Customers will see the changes come into effect from May 23 2022. (Three's fair use limit is 12GB and customers will be charged £3 per GB above that)
Three has introduced Go Roam which lets customers use their plan or add-on allowances in over 70 destinations around the world at no extra cost.
However, if users go over their plan they will be charged.
For £5 a day, customers can benefit from unlimited unrestricted data (up to fair usage limits) which can be used exactly as customers like, whether that's to upload pictures, stream TV shows or create a personal hotspot.
If you use a lot of data or just want the best internet experience, Three says their Data Passport is made for you.
SMARTY
There are currently no EU roaming charges at SMARTY.
Users who are with the company have a 12GB data cap for roaming in the EU.
Their cheapest SIM-only plan starts from £6 per month.
O2
It's a bit confusing when it comes to O2.
They say they have no plans to re-introduce roaming charges in Europe as they will be part of customers' monthly plans (O2 customers have a monthly data limit of 25GB and will be charged £3.50 for each GB after that).
However, they say those who are travelling outside of a Europe Zone and do not have their O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On will incur a charge.
They recommend customers get the O2 Travel Bolt On as they say it's the perfect way to stay connected when you’re on holiday - it costs £4.99 a day in selected destinations outside Europe.
Customers can pay a single, fixed daily rate which will give you 120 minutes, 120 texts and all the data you need. There's no upper usage limit on data, but data speeds might vary.
Lycamobile
Roaming in the EU for Lycamobile users is currently free with a 20GB cap.
Rates will vary if that threshold is broken.
Sky Mobile
Sky Mobile customers can use their phone or tablet in over 30 European (EU / EEA) destinations at no extra cost with a Roaming Passport.
Sky say when customers travel abroad they will text them information about the roaming charges in the destination they are visiting.
Sky has also set up a worldwide data roaming spend cap of £45 per month for each SIM so customers will never spend more than they want to on data. You can remove this cap here.
Any mobile data used will come out of the customer's UK data plan.
If customers have Unlimited Calls and Texts whilst they are roaming in the EU/EEA, calls and texts to standard EU/EEA mobiles and landlines will be included (and it won't cost anything extra to receive calls either).
If you’re a Pay As You Use customer whilst you are roaming in the EU/EEA, the cost to make a call or send a text message to standard EU/EEA mobiles and landlines is 10p per minute or per text (and it won't cost anything extra to receive calls either).
The cost to send a picture message is the same as if you were sending it from the UK (40p per message).
Plusnet
Plusnet has introduced a Roam Like at Home bolt-on which can be added to their mobile plans.
It means customers can use their monthly plan allowance in more than 40 EU destinations, including; France, Spain, Italy and Germany.
If you have used all of your plan allowances, you will be charged for any additional usage outside of your plan like you would be whilst in the UK, unless you take out a bolt-on.
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