Data add-ons in the EU

[Tom12312]

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!

[XRaySpeX]

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.

[Tom12312]

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?

[XRaySpeX]

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

[Tom12312]

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-gui..., 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!

[XRaySpeX]

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

I should take the '2GB' option.

[Tom12312]

"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.

[XRaySpeX]

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.

[Tom12312]

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?

[Alex_H]

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