Roaming

‘Roaming’ is simply mobile jargon for using your mobile phone while you’re abroad. When you do, different charges apply because you’re using the international network.

Call charges

When roaming in Europe, you will be charged in line with the ‘Eurotariff’ which came into effect in 2007.

Under this tariff, a call anywhere in Europe will currently cost no more than 43 Euro cents per minute, and 19 cents per minute to receive a call.

Depending on the exchange rate, that means no more than around 40p per minute to make a call, and around 20p per minute to receive a call, including VAT.

When you first arrive in an EU country (and in Norway and Iceland), your operator must send you a text with personalised roaming price information. They must also give you a free phone number for more information.

Further roaming information

Data charges

Unlike call charges, there is no cap on roaming data charges.

However, to help consumers control how much they spend on data services when travelling, and to address the problem of ‘bill shock’ from unexpectedly high bills, there is a ‘cut-off’ mechanism whereby the data session will be stopped once the customer reaches an agreed limit (unless they consent to continue). This has been available to all consumers since 1 March 2010

There is also an automatic 50 Euro per month limit applied to every mobile phone account – unless you choose a different limit, or indeed opt out altogether.

Watch our video on using your mobile abroad.

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