Mobile Roaming Charges Abolished in the EU

[The-Real-Deal82]

To bad England is leaving the EU, that's why I'm not sure this ruling will also count for England in two years time. Just like Switzerland which isn't member of the EU.

Unless the UK and the EU can manage a EU deal that includes this ruling as well. Would be better both for the EU and England i.m.h.o. I still regret that England decided to leave the EU which is, again i.m.h.o. bad for both England and the EU. I believe more in working together rather then consolidating and trying to do everything as a single country in these globalising times....

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are rumoured to be joining England with leaving the EU too. Don't quote me on that though lol.

 

[cube]

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are rumoured to be joining England with leaving the EU too. Don't quote me on that though lol.

OK, so Gibraltar goes to Spain.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

OK, so Gibraltar goes to Spain.

I don't see the relevance to be honest? We could just cut Gibraltar off from the rest of the EU and support it entirely rather than make its residents homeless. The country has declared they want to remain British so it's up to them.

If it comes to it we could flatten it and return it to Spain in its previous form.

 

[cube]

I don't see the relevance to be honest? We could just cut Gibraltar off from the rest of the EU and support it entirely rather than make its residents homeless. The country has declared they want to remain British so it's up to them.

If it comes to it we could flatten it and return it to Spain in its previous form.

You did not say it was joining England in leaving the EU.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You did not say it was joining England in leaving the EU.

I didn't say it was joining Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland either?

They are an overseas territory rather than a part of the 'United Kingdom' so the water is murky.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

We could give Northern Ireland back to the Irish but I doubt loyalists want that and I doubt the Irish want to inherit a load of issues.

 

[cube]

I didn't say it was joining Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland either?

They are an overseas territory rather than a part of the 'United Kingdom' so the water is murky.

You said Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were joining England in leaving.

I don't think any part of the UK can remain in the EU regardless of their colonial status.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You said Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were joining England in leaving.

I don't think any part of the UK can remain in the EU regardless of their colonial status.

They can't, but people here keep referring to 'England leaving the EU' when they are just one country affected. The United Kingdom are leaving the EU and that includes the country where I live.

 

[cube]

They can't, but people here keep referring to 'England leaving the EU' when they are just one country affected. The United Kingdom are leaving the EU and that includes the country where I live.

I got your point. I was just zinging a bit.

 

[macnisse]

Fantastic!

 

[dragje]

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are rumoured to be joining England with leaving the EU too. Don't quote me on that though lol.

Sure, I forgot, some of my English friends got upset when mentioning England instead of Great Britain or United Kingdom. Silly nationalism, or as Einstein rightfully put it: "Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind."

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Sure, I forgot, some of my English friends got upset when mentioning England instead of Great Britain or United Kingdom. Silly nationalism, or as Einstein rightfully put it: "Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind."

Indeed, better united than singularly nationalistic.

 

[dragje]

They can't, but people here keep referring to 'England leaving the EU' when they are just one country affected. The United Kingdom are leaving the EU and that includes the country where I live.

You're right, no need to get emotional over it 🙂 Mea culpa, my bad, I started with England while I should have mentioned Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well. Nevertheless, a historical mistake i.m.h.o.
[doublepost=1497551875][/doublepost]

Indeed, better united than singularly nationalistic.

Not 'that united' anymore when looking at the latest election results 😉

Headlines in newspapers referring to a Divided Kingdom, it's a mess allright.
[doublepost=1497552449][/doublepost]

If it comes to it we could flatten it and return it to Spain in its previous form.

'we' ? 🙂 You speak like Gollum. It almost sounds like you speak on behalf of United Kingdom, I hope you're aware that you don't? 😉
[doublepost=1497552549][/doublepost]

The EU dropping roaming charges does not apply to the Swiss operators, as far as I understand, as they are not in the EU.

That's correct.

 

[antonis]

So the carriers will just raise prices for everyone, whether he/she travels or not. No doubt they'll get even more profit from this new situation.

 

[skitidetdu]

Really? That is pretty bad, which carrier is that?

I am in Sweden as well, and being a very light phone user I used to be on the cheapest Comviq plan. When reading the news today I checked the Comviq page and learnt that my plan would no longer work outside Sweden, i.e. no roaming at all. I had to switch to the next higher plan, which has the roaming, and more included minutes+SMS that I have no use for. So for me this effectively meant a price increase, too, but I had to make that switch and confirm it - no automatic extra charging without my explicit consent. Is that even legal?

Telenor...their tactic is to state that (this is Swedish for all you non-swedes) "Vad EU-regleringen säger är att du inte ska betala mer än vad du gör i Sverige när du använder din mobil inom EU och EES."
[doublepost=1497553176][/doublepost]

I'm also from Sweden. Which carrier is that?

Update: Comviq hasn't changed its plans with the exception of the cheapest one, Fastpris MINI, which is kinda understandable. Their cheapest plan doesn't include mobile roaming now. They have also added a few Internet plans in case you end up spending all of your traffic while outside the country. The prices of the prepaid plans haven't changed though, so all is well for the time being.

Telenor

 

[iGeek2014]

The UK plans to add 20% VAT to roaming abroad.

Am surprised we don't do this already given that domestic usage already attracts VAT at 20%....

 

[dragje]

Some readers are reporting that mobile carriers in certain EU countries have already raised their plan prices, although it's still unclear if this is a direct result of the legislation that came into effect today.

I ink you'll see prices rise as carriers look to recoup the lost roaming money. Those who ram a lot would win since the carriers can spread the price hike across all subscribers. The carriers aren't simply going to eat the lost revenue.

I can only state for Holland, but the prizes didn't rise, instead they dropped significantly. For less money I get way more value.

 

[MLVC]

I can only state for Holland, but the prizes didn't rise, instead they dropped significantly. For less money I get way more value.

Indeed, I pay €5 less per month and data has been increased from 20GB to 50GB (KPN Compleet), with no limitations in use in the EU.

 

[dragje]

Switzerland, nevertheless, is a member of the EEA, so some providers opt to include it into their plans, while others don't. In France, for instance, Orange includes it and Bouygues does not.

Well, it count's for all the EU members, including France. So Bouygues will have to change their plans. However, providers are allowed to come up with something called 'fair use policy', so that might explains the difference between providers. For instance, I've got unlimited data usage within Holland but not entirely unlimited when abroad. When I head to France I get 10 gb of data each month not unlimited but I do get unlimited amount of time calling people trouwhout the EU without any extra cost.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You're right, no need to get emotional over it 🙂 Mea culpa, my bad, I started with England while I should have mentioned Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well. Nevertheless, a historical mistake i.m.h.o.

I wasn't getting emotional, just pointing it out in what was a rather lighthearted manner..

Not 'that united' anymore when looking at the latest election results 😉

Headlines in newspapers referring to a Divided Kingdom, it's a mess allright.

Not sure if you want me to disagree with that? Although we are more united with Scotland than we were 2 weeks ago.

'we' ? 🙂 You speak like Gollum. It almost sounds like you speak on behalf of United Kingdom, I hope you're aware that you don't? 😉

I am more than aware that my opinion is my opinion, again said tongue in cheek with no real intention of flattening Gibraltar.

It's common though in the UK to say 'we' when referring to our football teams and country in general. It doesn't mean it's fact, just using it as a phrase.

 

[cube]

Am surprised we don't do this already given that domestic usage already attracts VAT at 20%....

When you buy something from a company in another country, the local VAT applies (besides intra-EU exceptions).
[doublepost=1497554580][/doublepost]

Well, it count's for all the EU members, including France. So Bouygues will have to change their plans. However, providers are allowed to come up with something called 'fair use policy', so that might explains the difference between providers. For instance, I've got unlimited data usage within Holland but not entirely unlimited when abroad. When I head to France I get 10 gb of data each month not unlimited but I do get unlimited amount of time calling people trouwhout the EU without any extra cost.

Switzerland is not in the EEA. Bouyges does need to change anything.

 

[dragje]

Indeed, I pay €5 less per month and data has been increased from 20GB to 50GB (KPN Compleet), with no limitations in use in the EU.

that's even better then t-mobile which I've got.... I got 10 GB each month in whole of the EU. I pay about 26 euro's a month... a well each year you'll get lower prizes.

 

[cube]

Don't forget that in Switzerland cell towers are allowed to emit about a tenth of the radiation as in the rest of Europe, so mobile is more expensive.

 

[dragje]

When you buy something from a company in another country, the local VAT applies (besides intra-EU exceptions).
[doublepost=1497554580][/doublepost]
Switzerland is not in the EEA. Bouyges does need to change anything.

I thought you mentioned two companies within France. My bad. Yups companies in Switzerland doesn't have to go along with this EU decision, true.

 

[Jambalaya]

At least we in the UK will get the benefit of this for 18 months or so before Brexit.....

I have had free roaming with Three for years. Its been a commercial decision to charge for use abroad.