Guide to Avoiding Huge Mobile Phone Bills Abroad

There is nothing worse than returning from a wonderful holiday to immediate stress and panic. No one wants massive bills simply for using their phone in another country, but it is important that you are aware of how you can prevent these bills.

This is our guide to avoiding huge phone bills whilst abroad;

1. First and foremost, if you are travelling abroad, turn off data roaming on your phone. This should prevent your phone from downloading things in the background and racking up enormous bills.
2. If you frequently visit the same country, it could be worth investing in a local pay-as-you-go SIM card for your phone, that way you will pay local prices and should avoid horrendous bills.
3. To avoid any nasty surprises, contact your network and check how much they charge for roaming in your chosen destination, especially if you exceed your limit. Some companies enforce a cut off limit when you reach your internet limit abroad – you need to check if your company does this, and again if they do it in your destination (sometimes it is only in Europe).
4. Try to find free local Wi-Fi whilst abroad, as opposed to using your mobile network. If unsure, check how you can do this before you depart.
5. You are charged for receiving calls, voicemails and texts as well as making them. Let your friends and family know that you will be away, and not to contact you unless it is an emergency. You can also contact your network and disable your voicemail service while you are away.
6. If your phone is stolen abroad, contact the Police, your travel insurance and your network immediately to report the theft and to stop your credit being used.The EU is trying to cut down on these charges, so hopefully this shouldn’t be a big issue in the future. However, the tips above are good practice to save you some money and stress, plus it’s always nice to ignore your phone whilst on holiday. Good luck!