topic Re: Data add-ons in the EU in Pay as you go

Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 09:12:57 GMT

Hi everyone,

Can standard data add-ons be used in EU countries? I'm on PAYG with a monthly 'everything pack', but I'll only be needing data in Italy, so the 'roam-like-home' add-ons are excessive. Ideally I'd want to use a 2GB for 30 days add-on for £10.

The EE page on EU roaming says you have to buy a data pack if you don't get 'roam-like-home', mentioning a 500MB add-on. But I can't work out if that's a special EU add-on, or just a standard add-on - and if so, would the 2GB add-on would work too?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

XRaySpeX — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 11:42:07 GMT

Yes, you may buy & use the standard PAYG data add-ons in the EU w/out having the 'roam-like-home' add-ons. Visit http://add-on.ee.co.uk/purchase when not connected to WiFi to see what data add-ons are available. There should be a 2GB for 30 days add-on for £10.

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:39:47 GMT

Thanks for the reply! When I go to that page I can see 4 options: 5GB/30days, 100MB/7days, 250MB/7days, 1GB/7days. All options also have a dropdown 'The important stuff', which says 'if you are a pack customer there is a charge to access this data in the EU', so that doesn't align with what we'd expect.

If I text ADD DATA to 150 I see a different set of options (the options that I'd expect to see), including the 2GB/30days one that I was hoping to get.

So EE's own data seems to be inconsistent, but if I get the pack that I can see by texting 150, I guess that should work in the EU?

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

XRaySpeX — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:47:24 GMT

Which data add-ons does the ADD DATA text show?

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:41:34 GMT

The ADD DATA text shows:

For £2 add 150MB that last up to 7 days, reply 150MB WEEK.

For £3 you can add 500MB that last up to 7 days, reply 500MB WEEK.

For £6 add 1GB that last up to 7 days, reply 1GB ADD.

For £6 add 750MB that lasts up to 30 days, reply 750MB.

For £10 add 2GB that lasts up to 30 days, reply 2GB.

Or for £20 add 10GB that lasts 30 days, reply 10GB ADD.

That all appears to correspond with the 3rd table on page 4 of https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/ee-help/help-pdfs/price-plans/payg/pay-as-you-go-non-standard-price-guide-310322_V2.pdf, which are listed as 'UK and EU'. But I think there's only one option in there (1GB/7 days) that aligns with the options available on the website!

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

XRaySpeX — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:46:20 GMT

That's right! That's what I get. Those are for those users not using packs.

I should take the '2GB' option.

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:55:24 GMT

"Sorry, there has been a problem and we cannot add this add on, please try again later" 😞

I guess I'll try again later, but I get the feeling that that probably won't help.

Re 'those are for those users not using packs' - I am on a monthly pack (£5 everything pack), so does that mean it's actually correct that I shouldn't be able to access the 2GB pack? And if so, that would mean I can only use data in the EU with a 'roam-like-home' add-on, which would cost £30 for 30 days instead of £10, for calls/texts that I don't need. But that can't be right because it would be punishing people for having packs.

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

XRaySpeX — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 17:04:54 GMT

Is your Everything Pack currently active? Or it might be that as that's a legacy pack it doesn't count as having a pack in the present framework.

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 17:07:32 GMT

Yep, it's currently active (renewed this morning on the 30-day cycle). Is it possible that they'd be able to apply an EU data pack to my account manually if call 150?

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Alex_H — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 07:43:11 GMT

Hi @Tom12312,

Thanks for visiting the EE Community 🙂

The 2Gb for £10 30 day add-on is a UK data add-on that would not work abroad. In order to use data whilst in Italy you would have two options, the roam like home add-ons or standard rates.

If you pay either the daily or weekly pass you will be able to use the allowances from your subscription pack whilst there.

Or you can choose to just top up credit, in which case you can then buy the £3 500Mb EU Data access you mentioned, as and when you need it. As well as paying 70p a min for calls and 30p to send a text if needed.

When you arrive and connect to an Italian network you should get a text come through which would have the link to the data portal to buy the 500mb add-on, as well as instructions for activating the daily or weekly pass if preferred.

Alex

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:31:54 GMT

I see - so I'll only be able to see the 500Mb pack as an option once I've arrived in Italy? And does it last 7 days like the equivalent UK add-on?

Incidentally, this thread https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Pay-as-you-go/PAYG-EU-Roaming-W-Out-Pack-How-Long-Does-the-500MB-Add-on-Last/m-p/1292105 agrees with what was said above, ie that all the UK data add-ons should be usable in the EU. Feels like EE really needs to issue a clarification on this - from the number of community threads on the topic, I think everyone's confused!

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Alex_H — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 10:59:15 GMT

@Tom12312 That is correct yes, for standard rates customers or those with a pack who do not opt into the "Roam Like Home" add-ons, the option for EU data is the £3 500Mb add-on, this add-on lasts 24 hours or until the allowance is used.

Just regarding the link posted in that earlier thread and in this thread for the non-standard price guide, that is the older version, the newest version can be found on this page Pay As You Go Price Plans Terms and Conditions | Help | EE and has since been updated to change the available data add-ons for pack or standard rates customers, from UK and EU to UK and ROI. I hope this helps to clarify.

Alex

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:26:54 GMT

So the £3/500Mb add-on really only lasts 24 hours? I can't see that in the documents anywhere - could you point me to where it says that?

If that's the case, does that mean there's no way to get data roaming (without minutes and texts) that's cheaper than using the 'roam like home' add-on with my existing pack? Which would be £10/week. Really I just want a small amount of data for occasional searches and WhatsApp, so that seems like a lot, especially given my pack is only £5/month...

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Alex_H — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:48:21 GMT

@Tom12312 The information on the duration is not on the PayG Roaming help page, I will pass that on to see if that is something that can be updated in the future for clarity.

But I can confirm the standard rates add-on is for 24 hours, and the information is available on our Pay as you page here Best Pay As You Go SIM | Free PAYG SIM Cards | EE under the FAQ at the bottom, Can I Use My Subscription Pack Allowances Abroad. Also it will specify when you access the add-on link in the arrival text before buying.

So in regards to being able to use data abroad on PayG, it is either that add-on or the Roam Like Home options with your existing pack allowance.

Alex

Re: Data add-ons in the EU

Tom12312 — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:39:29 GMT

Thanks for confirming @Alex_H. Looks like Roam like Home is the best option then!

Sadly I've left it too late to switch providers before I leave, but will probably do so when I get back, as this increases the annual cost of my phone quite significantly. And I'll have £30 less to spend on my honeymoon this month 😕