If you’re jetting off to Europe this year, it’s crucial to get clued-up on your mobile phone plan to avoid a nasty bill upon your return to the UK. With summer in full swing, there are plenty of bargains to be had including one SIM which won’t charge users a penny to use their mobile in Europe.
Data roaming is when your mobile phone connects to a network in another country so you can use your mobile as if you’re at home. However, post-Brexit, what was once a cheap or even free perk can now hit users in the pocket – even if you’re on a monthly plan.
A recent £8 deal from a budget provider can help phone users avoid exactly that, as it offers a huge chunk of EU roaming data for free, included in the price of the usual UK plan. SMARTY, a rival with the likes of Lebara and Lyca Mobile, and having previously been backed by consumer experts like Martin Lewis is selling a SIM-only deal too good to beat.
READ MORE: Ninja launches new ‘space saving’ XL double stack air fryer with discount code
For less than £10 per month, mobile users will get 50GB of data a month to use in the UK, along with a hefty amount of unlimited texts and calls. But the standout feature comes for those jetting abroad.
Included in the £8 per month price is 12GB of EU roaming data, all thanks to its fair-use policy. This is a huge perk as bigger providers like Three Mobile charge an extra fee of £2 per day, which will quickly add up if you’re on a two-week trip. Of course, there is a small catch that all users should note – be careful not to go over the 12GB EU allowance as you will then be charged.
SMARTY users can add on an extra EU Roaming Data Pass if they feel they’re going to exceed the 12GB limit. This costs £3 per day or £7 for a 3-day period and allows you to use all of your remaining SIM allowance data while on holiday.
The £8 50GB per month Smarty SIM won’t be around for long, however, as there is just one day left to snap up the offer. Usually, SMARTY charges £8 per month for a much smaller 16GB of data and while the 12GB to use in the EU allowance doesn’t change, shoppers will get a lot more for their money with the UK roaming.
Another reason we’d urge shoppers to look at SMARTY is thanks to its flexible roaming plans, you can leave as and when you like as long as it’s in between each 30-day window. It means you won’t have to lock into a long multi-year contract or pay an exit fee.
Lebara is another provider offering roaming at a snip of the price. Its £25 per month Unlimited data plan (based on a 30-day rolling contract so no need to tie yourself down) includes 100 international minutes for calls made from the UK, reports the Mirror.
If you head over to the drop-down roaming page, you can input your holiday destination to add on affordable data. We selected Spain and opted for an 8-day data deal that offers users an extra 5GB data allowance for just £10 – that’s only £1.25 per day, significantly cheaper than competitors. Lebara also provides fair-use roaming on select plans and hotspots like Spain, France, and Greece for free in its ‘Roam Like Home Destinations’.