Jetsetters hit by mobile phone costs while travelling overseas

FOR jetsetters taking off overseas during the winter period international roaming charges can hit hard if you are not wary.

IF you’re a jetsetter taking off to Europe this winter, using your mobile phone is about to get a whole lot cheaper.

Kiss goodbye to bill shock, where the cost of uploading a selfie onto your Facebook page can hit you by as much as $15 if you are still hooked into your local mobile service back home.

This is all about to change with new changes implemented by the European Commission.

Telco comparison website WhistleOut’s spokesman Joseph Hanlon said holiday makers heading to Europe from June 15 would be able to get access to free mobile phone roaming from dozens of destinations by using the one SIM card.

Using mobile phones overseas can be expensive if you don’t pay attention to charges that apply.

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This means if they are crossing countries and have purchased a SIM while over there, phone users will have the ability to make same-cost mobile calls and data downloads regardless of which country in the European Union they are in.

“This is a big deal for Australians particularly because they love travelling to Europe and previously will have had to pick up a different SIM card in each country,’’ Mr Hanlon said.

And for any budget-conscious traveller who can’t cope without their smartphone, Mr Hanlon said there’s some simple things you can do to ensure you don’t get slapped with a big fat bill on your return.

A young traveller using data to upload photographs while on holiday to social media sites.

“People don’t think ahead to understand what they are going to pay,’’ he said.

“If you don’t want to pay what your telco charges then turn off your international roaming and look at getting a prepaid SIM card in the country you are arriving in.

“Wherever you can get wi-fi for free use it, most of your phone use overseas will be for data so that’s a great way of avoiding these charges altogether.”

Travellers should look at what their own telco will charge them if they are travelling abroad, but usually this will sting, Australian Communications Consumer Action Network’s spokesman Luke Sutton said.

“Compare prices and call/text/data inclusions for plans offered by your provider with plans offered on travel SIMS and providers in the country you are travelling to,’’ he said.

“Plans offered by Australian providers cost around $5-$10 per day and some of these plans are limited in how much data they offer.

“Depending on how long you’re travelling for the prices can add up.”

@sophieelsworth

Originally published as Jetsetters hit by mobile phone costs while travelling overseas