Experts say people holidaying in certain popular staycation areas are at risk of ‘phantom roaming’ charges even though they never went abroad
Millions of Brits planning a staycation holiday risk being hit with foreign phone fees despite not stepping foot abroad, experts have warned.
Research show how easily it is for some people to find themselves inadvertently on a neighbouring country’s mobile network and what has been called “phantom roaming”.
The danger is that those who do not notice – and depending on which network they are with – could be landed with an unexpected bill, even though they never left the UK at all.
Inadvertent roaming happens when a phone automatically connects to a stronger foreign network rather than a UK one – most commonly in coastal and border areas.
The South East is one of the UK’s known risk areas for this happening. Kent’s coast near Dover and Folkestone is where the English Channel narrows to just 21 miles and phones can pick up French networks.
While the risk is not new, price comparison Uswitch has issued a timely warning given the number of Brits heading off on summer holidays who may not realise in advance that it can happen.
A survey which it commissioned found three quarters of people did not know mobile phones can accidentally connect to foreign networks while you are still in the UK, or thought it was impossible.
The same poll discovered that nearly one in 10 have experienced their mobile phone connecting to an overseas network in this way, resulting in roaming charges or a roaming alert. Based on an adult UK population of approximately 54 million, this equates to more than five million people.
Of those questioned, 13% planned to holiday in south east England – including the Kent coast, Dover and Folkestone – with another 26% heading to Cornwall, Devon, and the Dorset coast.
Phantom roaming is also an issue around the Northern Ireland border, where devices can connect to Ireland’s networks, are the UK’s highest-risk areas for inadvertent roaming.
Paul Williams, a commuter from Deal in Kent, is well aware of the risks already. He explained: “Every day on my commute from Deal in Kent, my train runs along the White Cliffs, and my phone often picks up a French mobile signal. I regularly get a text welcoming me to France, even though I’m still in the UK.
“Fortunately, I always keep roaming switched off, so I’ve never been caught out by unexpected charges. But it shows just how easy it would be for someone to unknowingly connect to an overseas network and end up with a costly roaming bill without ever leaving the country.”
According to Uswitch, the risk of being hit with unexpected charges can depend which mobile network people are on. It says BT/EE and Vodafone/Three are the only UK networks that do not include EU roaming as standard – meaning customers on those networks could face a daily charge if their device picks up a foreign signal near the coast or border.
All other major providers – O2, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, iD Mobile, giffgaff, SMARTY, Virgin Media and Talkmobile – include EU roaming in their plans, so inadvertent roaming should not trigger additional charges, it added
Simrat Sharma, Uswitch mobiles expert, said: “You don’t need to board a plane to face a roaming bill – and with millions of Brits heading to coastal and border regions this summer, many could be in for a nasty surprise.
“When automatic network selection is turned on, your phone connects to whatever signal is strongest – and in coastal areas, that can sometimes mean latching onto a foreign network without ever realising it. Turning off roaming in your settings is the simplest way to avoid being charged.
“Switching it off and manually selecting your UK network before you head to a coastal or border area is the simplest way to stay protected, and it takes two minutes. Most providers also let you set a spend cap or block data roaming altogether through their app – it’s worth doing both before you go.
“If you do get caught out, contact your provider straight away – some will waive the charges, but it’s not guaranteed, so the sooner you flag it, the better.”
