Calling near the border could cost you more money.
When traveling within the European Union outside of the EU, there are no roaming charges while using someone else's network with your phone. However, depending on your location, there may still be expenses.
Newer smartphones have the ability to select the best available network, which could lead to high costs for those calling in areas near the borders of non-EU countries, says German comparison portal Verivox. For instance, if someone makes a call from an EU country close to the Swiss border, it could cost up to 1.49 euros per minute.
Other instances include Greece, which borders Turkey, where charges could be up to 2.29 euros per minute. The Greek island of Kos, located near the Turkish border, and Northern Cyprus, partially assigned to the Turkish tariff zone, are also expensive. The same goes for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, which are neighbors of the EU country Croatia.
The worst-case scenario for surfing is more than 12 euros per megabyte in these border regions. However, cost caps, reaching around 60 euros, prevent exorbitant bills in the thousands of euros.
Roaming fees also apply to the microstates of Andorra and Monaco. Additionally, it's important to note that at airports, the tariff zones of the travel country apply.
Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are not members of the EU, but they are treated as such by most providers. The same goes for most providers in Great Britain, despite Brexit.
Expensive accidental roaming is frequent among prepaid and discount plans, reports Verivox's analysis. These plans charge more for using your phone abroad compared to standard plans.
Moreover, the ADAC advises that EU roaming rules do not apply on ships. If someone uses their smartphone on a ferry or a cruise ship and connects to the onboard network, they will be asked to pay - this can cost up to ten euros per minute.
To avoid these hidden costs, Verivox suggests setting your phone to manual network selection to prevent it from automatically choosing the priciest provider. Additionally, if you don't want to be connected to the internet accidentally, like during a stopover at an airport, turn off mobile data. However, the ADAC recommends deactivating mobile data or activating flight mode in these situations.
It's not recommended to purchase special overseas options, as they tend to offer very limited data. For extended stays in non-EU countries, it's better to buy a local prepaid card in advance.
Before your trip, it's useful to ask your provider about potential roaming charges. While abroad, it's advisable to use free Wi-Fi available in your accommodation.
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- To avoid unexpected costs while using a smartphone in border regions within the EU, consumers should consider setting their phones to manual network selection.
- Smartphone users traveling in the Greek island of Kos, near the Turkish border, or in Northern Cyprus, could face high roaming charges due to its assignment to the Turkish tariff zone.
- Consumer centers in the EU provide advice to consumers on mobile phone tariffs and roaming charges when traveling within and outside the EU.
- The Federal Network Agency, responsible for telecommunications, has implemented cost caps to prevent exorbitant bills from accidental roaming, protecting consumers from unexpected expenses.
- When using a smartphone on a ferry or cruise ship, consumers should be aware that they will be charged for using the onboard network, which can cost up to ten euros per minute.
- European Union roaming rules do not apply on ships, and consumers should be cautious to prevent hidden costs during their journeys or vacations.
- To avoid expensive accidental roaming on prepaid and discount plans, consumers should consult their providers before traveling and consider purchasing a local prepaid card for extended stays in non-EU countries.
Source: www.ntv.de
