Roaming in Europe

[dasmac]

Hi.  I'm going to be travelling to Europe soon - multiple countries. Is there one Roaming pass which will cover me for all countries with one purchase?  The site takes me to the Roaming page, but only allows me to put in one country into the search. Also says I can only do this when I land in the country. One of the answers in the Community talks about a 25 day pass, but still links to the page where you can only choose one country. Is it not possible to sort this out before I travel? I go 7 August to Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium returning to UK 28 Aug

[XRaySpeX · Accepted solution]

As you have given no details of your circumstances & particularly the plan you are on, this is necessarily a lengthy reply.

The EU roaming passes are EU-wide & if you are on contract you would probably want to buy 2 x 12 day roaming passes in your situation.

You'll receive a Welcome text upon arrival at a country giving your roaming options.

You may use your usual UK allowances in the EU with up to 50 GB (contract) or 25 GB (PAYG) data per billing month if you have more. If on contract & your contract started after 07/07/2021 there'll be a £2.72 / day charge for using your UK allowances in EU unless you buy the 7-day EU Pass for £16.50 or the 12-day EU Pass for £27.50 or you already have them as an Inclusive Extra or you have an EE Essential Plus, All Rounder or Full Works Plan.

On PAYG there will be roaming charges to use your pack allowances in the EU, to be taken only from your PAYG credit, not your recurring card payment. You will receive a msg upon arrival offering & inviting you to take up the options for roaming in EU of either £2.50 / day, by replying ROAMEU1D to 150, or £10 / week, by replying ROAMEU7D to 150. If you opt to reply neither or you don't have an active pack, you will be paying standard rates for calls & texts & will need to buy a PAYG add-on for data.

If you are on contract, just remember to text ROAMING to 150 before leaving UK to ensure the roaming ability is enabled on your no.

If you are on PAYG, just make sure you had already used your PAYG SIM to make a call or text in the UK.

[dasmac]

Thank you for your reply.  
Bear in mind I'm not very tech savvy.
Checking my account, I have 25GB Contract. EE Essentials and I have a Full Roaming add on. Though it's not clear whether this means I have full roaming already paid for, or whether it just means my account is set up to allow full roaming when I need it, with the cost you've outlined above.   So long as I just text ROAMING to 150 before I go, then I think I should be ready to go. Or do I still need to purchase 2x EU Pass when I arrive. 

[XRaySpeX]

EE Essentials plans do not include any roaming billing add-ons. How is that Full Roaming worded?

There isn't all that much in it but for 21 days in EU 3 x 7-day EU Pass for £16.50 = £49.50 would work out cheapest.

[bristolian]

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@dasmac wrote:

So long as I just text ROAMING to 150 before I go, then I think I should be ready to go. Or do I still need to purchase 2x EU Pass when I arrive. 

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The text exchange with 150 is what creates the ability to roam, allowing your phone to connect to foreign networks. The daily, weekly, fortnightly (as you see fit) passes are what covers the cost of using your phone on foreign networks.

Generally speaking, you can't choose your billing option until you are in the host country, and thus already connected to foreign networks.

[dasmac]

Thanks for reply. Under 'Manage my Plan' - 'included in plan' - 'show benefits' - 'Add ons' - 'currently active add ons'. It says Full Roaming. With the option to remove it. but it doesn't give any other detail.   

[Leanne_T]

Hi @dasmac 

Thanks for coming back to us. 

The Full Roaming add-on is for using the phone abroad this doesn't include a roaming add-on. 

Details can be found in the Roaming help page for countries included in each zone and available add-ons. 

Leanne. 

[XRaySpeX]

It just means you don't have to text ROAMING to 150 from UK. It's already been done.