Mobile phone users in the UK are being urged to check if they face extra fees in the new year as roaming charges return to some networks in January.
Two of the UK’s four biggest networks – EE and Vodafone – are reintroducing roaming charges for customers travelling to EU countries from next month, with Three also set to reintroduce them in May 2022.
It is understood that people travelling to Ireland from Britain will not be impacted by the changes, while Ireland's main networks also previously confirmed they would not impose roaming charges on customers visiting the UK.
However, for other EU countries, from January 1st, UK customers who joined or upgraded with EE after July 7th, 2021 will face a £2 daily charge for using their data, making calls, or sending text messages in EU member states, while the same fee will apply to Vodafone customers who joined the network after August 11th, 2021, or upgraded or renewed their contract.
Three will bring in the £2 daily charge on May 23rd, applicable to customers who joined the network or upgraded after October 1st, 2021.
Roaming charges are returning for some mobile networks. Vodafone roaming fees come into effect in January, EE in March, while Three charges return in May. If you are planning to travel or want to learn more about mobile data roaming, read more here.
— Uswitch (@UswitchUK) December 30, 2021
Both EE and Vodafone will offer alternatives to avoid the fee, with EE customers able to buy a 30-day Roam Abroad Pass for £10 and Vodafone users able to pay £1 a day for an eight or 15-day multi-pass.
The return of roaming fees follows the UK’s departure from the EU, with the bloc having removed roaming charges for people moving around Europe in 2017.
