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Resuming business trips in the EU and want to avoid getting burned by EU roaming charges? Read on.
If you are making holiday plans or resuming business trips in the EU and you want to avoid getting burned by EU roaming charges as a visitor you might want to reconsider your mobile provider. There has never been a better time to go with O2 – who, along with Virgin Mobile, have resisted the urge to cash in on the rule change.
Virgin Media O2 – the company that owns the Virgin Mobile and O2 networks – has calculated that a family of four going abroad for two weeks could now see an extra £100 on their bill, based on analysis of rates from other providers. Business travellers who rely upon frequent mobile phone use could face hefty charges, too.
Three has joined EE and Vodafone in bringing back roaming charges of £2 a day in Europe, despite previously saying they had no plans to do so, so anyone who signed up to a new EE plan from 7 July 2021 will be hit with an extra charge £2 charge if they try using their phone on the continent now. Vodafone started charging for using your mobile phone in Europe from the same date, with new and upgrading customers from 11 August hit with the £2 a day charge. From May 2022, new Three customers and those upgrading after 1 October will also have to pay £2 a day to use their mobile in the EU.
Since the UK left the EU on 31 December 2020 there has been no law in place to prevent networks charging British travellers for roaming on the continent, and, of course, users risk being caught out by pricey data surcharges if they exceed the European fair usage limits set by their provider.
Our advice would be to vote with your feet on this issue – as an official O2 Direct Partner we can advise you on the best O2 options for you. Remember, when it comes to travelling, don’t leave it until the last minute to check the roaming charges for your destination, and, of course, make good use of hotel and cafe Wi-Fi where possible, whether on holiday or on a business trip. It is important to make sure any public access points are secure before logging on. Talk to our team today about switching: 0800 240000.