Anyone going abroad this year urged to make simple change to stop roaming charge

As a tech writer everything from the April 2024 price hikes to streaming bill price changes, like the unwelcomed Disney+ and Netflix password crackdowns, has been on my radar in a bid to save mobile users a chunk on their tech bill. Including when you jet off on holiday, I've found a simple £12 SIM deal that means you won't pay a penny extra for EU roaming.

Providers like Sky Mobile charge £2 extra per day, when you're away for two weeks that's another £28 to add onto your travel expenses. Looking for a way to help cut costs, I've found one-way holidaymakers can ditch the costs and still use up to 30GB of data when abroad.

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It's all thanks to a simple £12 a month SIM from iD Mobile on its 70GB monthly data plan, while that amount is reserved for UK usage, users will get a 30GB allowance thrown in for free when they're in the EU. It's part of its 'fair use data cap' a feature put in place by a few UK retailers since Brexit.

Another advantage of the £12 deal is that it allows you to roll over any unused data from your 70GB allowance into the next month. iD Mobile includes a 30GB EU roaming allowance on all of its SIM plans, so regardless of the plan you choose, you won't be charged unless you exceed the set amount.

Lebara is another provider with a similar 'use in the EU at no extra cost' perk with a limit of up to 30GB just like iD Mobile. But it doesn't bind you into a 12-month contract. That may be the only downside to iD Mobile's cheaper plan, is you'll have to commit to a fixed contract. If contracts aren't for you then I'd suggest the more flexible 30-day plans at Lebara or GiffGaff, just be prepared to pay a little more per month.

With international travellers becoming increasingly conscious of potential charges, even from opening a social media app whilst data roaming, Ofcom has set new regulations for all mobile suppliers, and it may just change how we use our phones abroad.

According to Ofcom, nearly one in five holiday-goers are clueless about potential extra charges when using their phones abroad, and 18% of tourists don't investigate roaming charges before they take off. However, by October 2024, all providers will have to ensure all users of any potential costs.

As Ofcom said: "To make sure all mobile customers are given the information they need, when they need it, Ofcom is introducing new protections. From 1 October 2024, mobile providers need to notify customers when they start roaming. Providers also need to provide clear, free-to-access information so customers can make informed decisions about whether, and how, to use their mobile phone abroad.

"This includes making sure mobile users are aware of chargeable restrictions such as fair use limits, spending caps, and where to find further information on roaming."

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