Mobile Phones - Cost of using your mobile abroad (international roaming) New Legislation June 2007
The European Union has recently introduced a package of measures – called a Regulation - that will significantly reduce the amount we pay for using our mobile phones abroad. Though the cost of international roaming has come down in recent months, it is still very expensive for many callers. The last thing we want when we return from holiday or a business trip is a nasty surprise in the phone bill, so this decision by European policy makers is a good thing for all UK consumers.

What it means - At present, it costs most people between 50 pence to £1.00 to make a one minute mobile phone call abroad, you also have to pay to receive a one minute call – in contrast to the UK where you pay to make, but not receive, calls.

Now the new European regulation has come into effect, all mobile phone companies that offer international roaming services must contact all of their customers during the month of July to explain what tariffs are available when using their mobile phone abroad.

Also, from the end of August, they must provide a standard ‘Eurotariff’. This means a charge of no more than 49 Euro cents per minute (approx. 38 pence per minute inc VAT) to make a call and 24 cents per minute (approx. 19 pence per minute inc VAT) to receive a call.

This means an average reduction in retail prices of more than 50% for most users. Some providers may offer the Eurotariff upon demand before the end of August. If you are travelling during July and August, and have not heard from your provider by the time you leave, call them to find out whether a better tariff might be available.

Different tariffs for different tastes - Some mobile phone users, especially those that travel a lot, have already signed up to offers from their mobile operator which offer savings on the cost of using their phone abroad. In some cases, these services will work out even cheaper than the new Eurotariff.

The new Regulation will not transfer these users to the new Eurotariff unless they specifically request it. It is only the users who otherwise would have been charged the operator’s more expensive default roaming price who will automatically be transferred to the Eurotariff.

In other words, no one should be forced onto a tariff which is more expensive for them.

Other tips - Many consumers travelling abroad in July and August will not benefit from the new Eurotariff. If you follow the link below you will find a number of handy tips that Ofcom has put together to help save money if you are visiting another European country before the new tariff is available.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumeradvice/mobile/cost/reduce/

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