Uswitch comments on Ofcom proposal fo roaming alert protections for UK holidaymakers

Uswitch mobiles expert, Ernest Doku comments: “We strongly support Ofcom’s proposal of new roaming rules. There are virtually no regulatory protections left for consumers when they use their phones abroad for calls, texts or data usage - an issue that we have been very vocal about since the EU protections expired. 

“Roaming costs can now be incredibly expensive, and consumers have been left exposed at a time when a large unexpected bill could have severe consequences.

“While many providers have competitive roaming policies in place, there is massive inconsistency across providers, plans and destinations - both in terms of cost and also the information available.  

“Our research shows that a staggering £539 million of unexpected roaming charges hit UK consumers in the past year alone. For example, Sky Mobile customers heading to the Maldives or Seychelles could be forking out a whopping £8.64 every minute for calls to local or UK mobiles and landline numbers. That’s approximately £130 for a 15-minute phone call.

“Many providers will suggest that you purchase a data add-on when you arrive at your destination. However, these often include miniscule data allowances for extortionate prices - for example, with EE, a measly 50MB will cost you £65.32 in Costa Rica, Ghana or Vietnam.

“Given how confusing these policies and plans can be, it’s right that Ofcom is taking this issue seriously. However, as this decision is not being published until ‘early 2024’, it’s vital that implementation happens quickly and in time for next year’s summer holidays. While this proposal shows promising progress, hundreds of millions of pounds are at stake, and consumers shouldn’t be waiting over a year for changes to come into effect."