Mobile Phone for Europe
Does anyone know of a Mobile Phone plan that can be used in both the UK and Europe ... especially for more than 2 months in Europe?
We are travelling in Europe for up to 6 months at a time. We queried with Tesco Mobile who told us that their Rocket Pack was the way to go ... however after being in Europe for 2 months, they then told us that you are expected to spend no more than 2 out of every 4 months in Europe and there would now be an additional fee for data. Not very pleased as we'd been very specific about the 6 months at a time.
Anyone got a more flexible plan?
Comments
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Colin, I have moved this to European Touring as I expect you will get get more information here.
Whilst the EU has over recent years worked towards allowing citizens the right to use the country of origin phone contract in all EU countries networks can still apply what they call "Fair Use" rules. This usually means that you can only use a percentage (usually quite high) of your data allowance whist away from the UK. If data, rather than calls, is you concern it might be worth looking at a data sim fro the Three Network. You may find other networks other than Tesco more generous. Have a look at Virgin Mobile. Is the problem perhaps that you can only buy Pay as You Go because of the short tern nature of your stay? I suppose it could be a bit dangerous trying to give a definitive answer on this subject this side of 29th March when may or may not still be in the EU which could throw a spanner in the works as far as data roaming and voice/text roaming is concerned!
David
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We (myself and wife) both have Phones Tesco Mobile SIM, and have done for the past 6 years at least. During that time, we have spent 5 months in mainland Europe, most years. I never informed Tesco in advance and have never experienced any problems or excess charges. When in mainland Europe, the phones are used for calls, texts and light data usage (we have a 3 SIM with MiFi for Internet connection). The situation with "best" provider changes from time to time, and, depends to a degree on how you wish to use the service, I believe, at present, Vodaphone may be the "best" provider. Another option (if your phone is unlocked) is to obtain a "local" SIM.
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Yes, data is my issue. We've had no problems with Voice calls or Txt as we make very few of these. We use data for accessing emails and using the internet.
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For what its worth ....
I am on O2, own my own simple phone and have a 'no contract' top up as and when needed arrangement usually with O2. 1p per minute for calls and texts UK & EU. Simple phone so the battery life & reception is better than all of my friend's techi phones - they use mine sometimes !
Seems to work without issue abroad for long periods. Sometimes the honest phone companies & telesales outfits do fib about useage abroad to get more of your money & to sign a bigger contract.
For data on iPad we use Three sim cards, in a mifi, bought as and when at typically £1 to £2 per Gb depending on the deal at the time. Simple and cheap really.
Spent over two years to shake off the leaches and get off the 'contracts' that we had and dont regret it for a moment = very very significantly cheaper and total flexibility.
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I've been using Vodafone for many years, previously the Traveller add on covered continental use, more recently all contract plans are fully portable...I've just renegotiated a 20gb 12mth contract at £17
the issue with the cheapest PAYG sims is that they (certainly O2) charge £1 each day 'data' is accessed, even though the amount of data (and email or two) is tiny...that's £30 a month for (just about) nothing...
turning data off to avoid these costs negates the (main?) purpose of having a smartphone over a simple one...
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I 'upgraded' in November and I get all my allowances including full data in the 53 country Euro zones, this is with EE
...of 4G data, unlimited texts and unlimited calls to UK mobile and landlines, all of which you can use abroad in the EU
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not sure this is true at all anyone more
Whether you’re on a pay monthly, pay as you go, tablet or mobile broadband plan, you can take your minutes, texts and data with you on your travels. Plus, our 4GEE Max plan lets you talk, text, browse and share in even more places – an incredible 53 countries. As well as using your allowances within the EU, you can use them in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico and the USA.
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I agree with corners, all plans are portable these days....and have been for a few years now...
my earlier point about the PAYG plans is not the portability (or lack of it) but how 'hidden' charges can make a cheap plan very expensive.
we will be off gridding for a fair part of our next three months away and a decent data allowance is pretty much essential, my current supplier came up with the goods after I told them about some of the really good deals about...
one of the best value suppliers I found (having not considered them before) was Virgin....runs on the EE network.
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We use PAYG both at home and abroad, on the 3 network.
Mainly it is our children keeping in touch by e mailing, ringing or texting us as they have unlimited contracts.
Last time I checked 3 said that they reserved the right, if you were using the feel at home service in Europe, to suspend use after 2 months abroad. Service is resumed when you return to UK, but whether you can get another 2 months after a set time, I have no idea. Credit is not lost.
We have a phone each and keep one switched off and in reserve in case we do get service suspended.
For internet we use a 3 PAYG data SIM in a dongle and travel router, like the so called mi fi.
We buy pre loaded SIMs and carry 2 or 3, which are usually used up before they expire or have been used for 2 months, so no idea whether the 2 months also applies there.
As these SIMS are not linked to your name by 3, it is easy to switch to a different one if necessary.
Edit........I see now that for phone SIM it is 2 months in 12 only
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This might help https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/using-your-mobile-abroad (document dated September 2018) It is not usually an issue with voice calls or texts. But as BB suggests you do need to check carefully with your own network and even plans within networks. Sometime the Fair Use policy might not stop you accessing data if you are near your limit they can slow it down. I would have thought in most instances, assuming you have a reasonable amount of data in your plan it is possible that you not get anywhere near your limit. However if you want to stream TV abroad that will eat into any data allowance at a faster rate.
Just read the T&C's very carefully.
Happy Roaming
David
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that's the plan that I was considering....in the end, Voda accommodated me without having to change supplier.
i even got a newish (ex son contract) handset and they swapped the contract over to the new sim in a couple of mins.....
ok now for another year....
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Hi
That's a good deal there BB, was that with Vodafone direct? I'm up for renewal in May so looking for a better data deal as the site I'm working next summer the club wifi is worse than pants!!
JK
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yes, the call centre have better prices than the shops or the net, also happy to add 'current customer' discount and to haggle a little.
it was very quick and a no brainer in the end.
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I use GiffGaff which is effectively PAYG as I'm a low volume user. However, they also offer the option of "Goodybags" which last for a month and have various options. I bought a £10 one for our French trip last summer: it gave me 3GB of data and unlimited calls and texts throughout the EU, which was plenty and using the phone as a wifi hotspot gave better speeds than most campsite wifi.
Once we returned home I reverted to my normal PAYG routine.
Incidentally, the goodybags also offer better value than the CMC site wifi if you only want a week or so.
Of course what will happen after 29th March remains to be seen although I am not optimistic.
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I recently bought a “Bundle” from Vodafone - 6 months PAYG at half price = £30 total. 2 G data, 240 mins calls per month. Valid in Europe and unused data plus calls carried over to the next month. After 1 month I had used around 0.2 G and 10 mins calls. How sad!
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