PixabayFrantically checking your phone every hour of your holiday to make sure your mobile data is still turned off could soon be a thing of the past.
Starting today, the cost of using a mobile phone when on holiday in the EU will be lower after a series of new rules were introduced by the European Commission reports the Telegraph.
Mobile phone companies can now charge a maximum of the network charge plus 4p per minute for a call, 1p to send a text and 4p per MB of data used (all excluding VAT) under the new cap.
Travelling in the #EU? From tomorrow, #roaming will become cheaper again! https://t.co/j02I6jEwdH pic.twitter.com/yxQm4Cdc4X
— EC in UK (@EUlondonrep) April 29, 2016
Obviously this will drastically reduce roaming charges with plans to completely abolish them by June next year.
However, it sounds like these changes will come as a big surprise to lots of people.
According to research by uSwitch.com over a quarter of people believe it doesn’t cost any extra to use a mobile in other EU countries. Oh dear.
PexelsErnest Doku, mobile expert at uSwitch said:
It’s wise to add ‘check roaming charges’ to your pre-holiday to-do list – if in doubt about what add ons your network offers, give them a call.
So it sounds like we should be prepared to be extra jealous when the texts and photos come piling in from mates lucky enough to be on holiday this summer. Great.
