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Post by jy51 on Jan 8, 2021 14:06:28 GMT
For as long as I can remember I have been using my Vodafone mobile phone contract whilst cruising the Mediterranean on my boat or in my holiday home for up to eight or nine months at a time with no roaming charges or extra costs. The only limitation was that whilst in other EU countries my limitless data usage was restricted to 25 GB per month. I do appreciate that not all providers were as generous as Vodafone, and some got a little annoyed, if you spent too long using the phone in Europe.
During the Brexit discussions we were promised that UK network providers would not reintroduce roaming charges once free of the EU regulations that band extortionate roaming charges.
It seems, this, like most leave rhetoric, was not the full truth. I have received an email from Vodafone telling me that my contract has changed since leaving the EU.
Although the Schengen visa free access period is 90 days in any 180 day period, Vodafone will now only allow roaming free for up to 62 days in any 4 month period. This means that once you have stayed the 62 days on your boat in Europe any more calls, texts and data will be charged as extras at what I feel are extortionate prices.
So British passport holders who wish to exercise their new diminished opportunity to visit their boats in Europe for up to 90 days will have to turn off their UK network provider mobile phone after 62 days or return to an extortionate mobile phone bill.........Happy Days!
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Post by bereboot on Jan 8, 2021 15:32:03 GMT
Perhaps Boris knows about?
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Post by MalcolmP on Jan 8, 2021 15:57:55 GMT
I have Vodafone and also Virginmobile sims Looks like Virginmobile will allow around 60% per month of the data allowance that your contract covers in the UK whilst abroad store.virginmedia.com/FUP-Calculator.html |
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Post by jy51 on Jan 8, 2021 16:43:03 GMT
I have Vodafone and also Virginmobile sims Looks like Virginmobile will allow around 60% per month of the data allowance that your contract covers in the UK whilst abroad store.virginmedia.com/FUP-Calculator.htmlMalcolm, read the small print on your contract, amended from the 1 January. The roaming and reasonable use section on every network I have checked so far says, you must be a U.K. based subscriber and only use the phone for up to 2 months in the EU within a 4 month period. This means, and regardless of how they put it, if you spend 90 day in Europe you will pay extra charges, and depending on your usage these could be very high. |
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Post by alenka on Jan 8, 2021 19:02:03 GMT
Swap to the 3 network where you get roaming in many countries around the world (way beyond the EU) included with minimal restriction. A few years ago you were limited to 3G but that no longer seems to be the case and 4G always pops up my phone.
12GB of data, unlimited text and... I cannot remember but have never run out of phone minutes... For £10 per month.
Vote with your feet and when enough people tell them to stuff their contract/restrictions they might start listening
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Post by Fabrice-Erta on Jan 8, 2021 21:51:17 GMT
Hi
did’you try « free » .
you can get a sim with credit’card for 15€/month. Around 100gb of data in europe / month.
i will check if can helps
fabrice
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Post by jy51 on Jan 10, 2021 12:00:34 GMT
Swap to the 3 network where you get roaming in many countries around the world (way beyond the EU) included with minimal restriction. A few years ago you were limited to 3G but that no longer seems to be the case and 4G always pops up my phone. 12GB of data, unlimited text and... I cannot remember but have never run out of phone minutes... For £10 per month. Vote with your feet and when enough people tell them to stuff their contract/restrictions they might start listening , I think you need to read the small print in your providers terms and conditions, below I have copied and paste, just part of the section relating to roaming, from the 3 network website. “Permanent roaming restrictions You can only use Go Roam for periodic travel, like holidays or short breaks. To ensure all customers can benefit from roaming at no extra cost, we have put in place the following rules for prolonged periods of roaming. If you're in a Go Roam in Europe destination We'll monitor your usage, and if you spend most of your time abroad and consume more abroad than at home over a four month period, we have the right to add a small surcharge to your continued roaming usage. ( that will mean more than two months in any four month period )We'll send you an alert two weeks before the surcharge applies” They speak of a small charge once the fair usage period ends, and of course limit data to a max of 20GB. Their costs for data, text and calls are not much different than Vodafone and all the rest. Alternatively, the terms and conditions, speak of a £5 per day cost to maintain your current data usage. It really doesn’t take a lot to realise that once free of rules to protect consumers the U.K.networks would want to go back to higher costs. Obviously not viable for many but I have entered into a contract with a French mobile phone provider. 19.99 € per month limitless calls and text, with 70GB of date that can be used all over Europe without limit or extra cost. |
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Post by alenka on Jan 10, 2021 14:58:34 GMT
Yes, I forgot you more or less live if France and it seems my comings and goings must qualify as 'periodic use'. So it seems does my Sons travel who works as an international travel photographer and spends (pre-covid) at least 12 days overseas in every month. It seems as long as you keep returning to the UK every now and then there is not a problem.
3 did offer free roaming long before the others were forced into it.
I know many yotties buy pre-paid 3 sims for data use but they have to be first used in the country of purchase otherwise they don't seem to work.
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Post by vasko on Jan 10, 2021 15:28:01 GMT
I'm on business contract with O2 - 100gb and unlimited calls and roaming - still no issues works perfectly the whole 100gb and calls
I'm in Greece currently / Syros
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Post by jy51 on Jan 10, 2021 16:54:21 GMT
I'm on business contract with O2 - 100gb and unlimited calls and roaming - still no issues works perfectly the whole 100gb and calls I'm in Greece currently / Syros Vasko, you are another one who obviously hasn’t read his reasonable usage clause......60 days in any 4 month period, no difference than all the other U.K. based network providers that have amended their terms and conditions since 1 January. |
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Post by vasko on Jan 10, 2021 18:53:31 GMT
I'm on business contract with O2 - 100gb and unlimited calls and roaming - still no issues works perfectly the whole 100gb and calls I'm in Greece currently / Syros Vasko, you are another one who obviously hasn’t read his reasonable usage clause......60 days in any 4 month period, no difference than all the other U.K. based network providers that have amended their terms and conditions since 1 January. I have been in Greece from May / 2020 and my usage is about 1600 minutes EU calls and 95-98GB internet per month - no issues so far - when I get issues I will think how to solve them - no issues at themoment ( I have £5 cap on spending on top of the I tract e.g. no danger of non expected bill) |
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Post by jy51 on Jan 10, 2021 18:54:09 GMT
Hi did’you try « free » . you can get a sim with credit’card for 15€/month. Around 100gb of data in europe / month. i will check if can helps fabrice Thanks Fabrice, but I have already taken a contract with Orange France. |
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Post by jy51 on Jan 10, 2021 19:44:35 GMT
Vasko, the new restrictions only came into effect 10 days ago, obviously you haven't had any issues yet. You, have 50 days usage left, after that, unless your intension is to return to the UK, you have two choices pay up or turn off.
Whatever you decide, wether it be a Greek PAYG phone or a Greek annual contract or simply pay the extra costs of call and data on your O2 business phone it will incur extra costs.
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Post by vasko on Jan 11, 2021 5:51:21 GMT
Vasko, the new restrictions only came into effect 10 days ago, obviously you haven't had any issues yet. You, have 50 days usage left, after that, unless your intension is to return to the UK, you have two choices pay up or turn off. Whatever you decide, wether it be a Greek PAYG phone or a Greek annual contract or simply pay the extra costs of call and data on your O2 business phone it will incur extra costs. There will be always a provider who will want to get more customers by keeping the thing as before - if O2 decide to change the rule then I will change them too - my original term has expired and I can change anytime - if there will be no provider who will keep the things as before then there will be a huge business oportunity - who knows running a virtual mobile provider can be my new venture  |
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Post by jy51 on Jan 11, 2021 10:04:59 GMT
Vasko, I wish I had your optimism, but I really don’t think you have much choice as all U.K. based mobile phone providers have changed the rules since leaving the EU.
I won’t be holding my breath, but please let me know if you find one that will ignore the chance of making extra money for their shareholders.
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Post by saltymetals on Feb 28, 2021 17:35:19 GMT
I have been with Vodafone for 15-20 years and was certainly not pleased when they came out with the roaming limitation of 62 days/4 mths. Note that as i understand it, the 4 month clock will reset if you come back to the UK for minimum one day. Midnight to midnight, UKtime. As another idea at the end of 4 months you could post your SIM back to family/friends in the UK , have them put it in a spare phone for at least one day and then post it back to you.
Andrew
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Post by jy51 on Mar 1, 2021 17:26:55 GMT
I have been with Vodafone for 15-20 years and was certainly not pleased when they came out with the roaming limitation of 62 days/4 mths. Note that as i understand it, the 4 month clock will reset if you come back to the UK for minimum one day. Midnight to midnight, UKtime. As another idea at the end of 4 months you could post your SIM back to family/friends in the UK , have them put it in a spare phone for at least one day and then post it back to you. Andrew No it will not reset if you return to the UK for one day. The higher pricing comes into effect if you use your Vodafone mobile in the EU for more than 62 days in any one 4 Month period. So, after using the phone in the EU for 62 days you would need to return to the UK and continue using the phone for a further 60 odd days before returning to the EU again. Obviously this is not inline with the conditions offered by the Schengen visa free access of 90 days in any 180 day period, no doubt Vodafone hope to catch out (with extortionate rates) those taking advantage of the full 90 day EU access. |
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Post by vasko on Mar 2, 2021 6:08:35 GMT
It is 2nd of March - and I keep using a lot of minutes and 90+GB data per month in Greece - we will know shortly if O2 will impose the restriction - been in Greece from May/2020 onward.. also have 3 SIM in my TOZ camera on the boat and it should affect it too
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Post by jy51 on Mar 2, 2021 9:02:34 GMT
It is 2nd of March - and I keep using a lot of minutes and 90+GB data per month in Greece - we will know shortly if O2 will impose the restriction - been in Greece from May/2020 onward.. also have 3 SIM in my TOZ camera on the boat and it should affect it too Vasko, I find it difficult to understand why you would wish to ignore the rules, (as copied below from the O2 Business Users account) Would it not have been wiser to make alternative arrangements rather than risk a ban from using your phone in the Europe Zone or even the extra charges incurred. Even if you get away with it this time surely they will eventually stop you. O2 Business Fair Usage Policy 8) You may use our services in our Europe Zone for periodic travel only, like holidays or short breaks. If you're not genuinely using our services for periodic travel we may have to charge you for, or suspend you from, using our services in our Europe Zone. What to avoid: Using our services for the first time outside of the UK or using our services within our Europe Zone for prolonged periods which don't follow reasonable business holiday or travel patterns and behaviour. If you use our services in our Europe Zone for 60 or more days in any four month period this is likely to be deemed to be an unfair use of our services and you will be in breach of this Fair Usage Policy. |
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Post by vasko on Mar 2, 2021 10:57:26 GMT
Simple - because I'm happy with my contract with O2 - 100GB UK/EU + 2000minutes EU/UK and I have a cap £5 per month on additional spending.
In case O2 decide to stop my service or charge me - I will just change O2 to another one who will not.
Also I do not have this clause in my original contract which haven't been changed(read all the small prints in it) for about 3 years now and can be terminated from O2 or me with 1 month notice.
in case O2 decide that is so stupid that they want to lose my whole company as a client - they are welcome - wil change them to the next operator in-line - plenty on inline operators... in case all of operators become stupid I will establish my own virtual one and get all unhappy brexit customers... e.g. I'm looking at this as a opportunity not as a trouble..
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Post by jy51 on Mar 5, 2021 12:17:26 GMT
Vasko, I’m sorry to labour the point but in reply to your comments, firstly, 02 have the right to amend your contract and should you decide to change to an alternative UK provider, this will make no difference, the European reasonable usage clause is common to all.
You say, if O2 are stupid enough to lose your business, but you fail to consider that you are one of 35 million customers of a company that turns over more than 6 billion a year, I find it hard to believe they will bend their rules just for you. Vodafone lost all my business including as my UK broadband supplier, but when I explained why I had cancelled all my contracts they simply understood and shrugged their shoulders.
Yes, your £5.00 cap will save you from additional spending up until when they cotton on to your European usage. I really think you need to accept the inevitable and plan for alternative arrangements for the future.
I commend your optimism but fail to see how these extra restrictions and charges can be seen as an opportunity. Maybe you could expand on this point so we can all benefit from these extra restrictions and charges.
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Post by vasko on Mar 9, 2021 6:55:05 GMT
My monthly bill is generated on 12th - from 12th Feb to 9th March (so far) I have used 82GB and 1200minutes call - phone has been out of UK from 25 May 2020 and in Greece from 15 Jun/2020 all good so far and no issues with O2 - will see in the future for now I’m inclined to assume that I should not worry for a problem that I do not have may be I will have in some point - but will deal with it then Te opportunity - it is a opportunity to create a new business - virtual mobile operator - which will include the EU/UK minutes in the contract - there ware plenty if this before the EU abolished the roaming charges - now they will just start to pop-up again... |
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Post by vasko on Mar 9, 2021 7:04:09 GMT
Also it is a bit different for me - one of my side spinoff’s is boat-vitals that so far uses a but mire then 2000 SIM cards across the world embedded in the devices - and adding new at daily bases - plenty of offers for operator switch...
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