Ru Bhikha, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “With roaming charges coming back into effect across different mobile operators this year, Three customers will be next to feel the frustration as these kick in, and it’s important for them to be prepared when taking their phones abroad.
“This change means a £2 a day charge for roaming in Europe, or a £5 a day fee in certain destinations outside of Europe from 23 May 2022. The charge will automatically be triggered as soon as you use your allowances abroad, such as by sending a text or using your data.
“It will be a particularly bitter pill to swallow as the network had previously offered some of the most generous roaming allowances, with its Go Roam service covering 71 worldwide destinations, including Australia and the US, as well as Europe.
“If you haven’t upgraded with Three since October 2021 you should be shielded from the new charges, but it is still worth checking your contract. If you are nearing the end of your current deal and want free roaming in Europe without leaving Three you could consider moving to one of its SIM-only pay-as-you-go deals.
“However, a switch to a new provider could mean you can keep roaming for free and save money on your bills. O2 is the last major network not to bring back roaming fees for customers travelling to the EU, but some smaller SIM-only networks also offer inclusive roaming in Europe and could be a good option if you are not venturing too far afield.
“When it comes to travelling, make sure you check the roaming charges for your destination and also your provider’s fair use policy for using mobile data overseas. This might well be lower than the allowance you are used to - so be mindful if you are a heavy data user, or normally have an unlimited package.
“If you are flying to your destination, remember to enable your mobile’s flight mode or switch off data roaming to avoid the risk of incurring changes as you pass through different territories.
“Use hotel and cafe Wi-Fi connections when on holiday where possible, while ensuring any public access points are safe and secure before logging on.”
Notes
1. Vodafone: Roaming Updates.
2. EE: EU roaming charges and changes
3. Three: Where will you roam?
4. O2: Travel in our Inclusive Zone
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.
