MSE News: Vodafone roaming warning - just one text abroad could cost you £5

redux

I'm struggling to see why this is as big news as it sounds.

Surely Vodafone have had this flat rate fee for many years, £3 a day in Europe until recently, and £5 a day elsewhere. Although it might not have been actually compulsory, they almost made it sound as if it was, and probably most customers went along with it, through either complacency or ignorance.

I can remember about 10 years ago interrupting a friend about to do one brief website visit on his phone, and offering mine instead. It's only £3 a day, not too bad, he said, but I insisted. Using my German SIM it cost 6 or 7 cents. If I'd known better a different German SIM would have made it actually free. Nowadays with Three UK payg it would be under a penny.

Same for another visit with other friends. It's only £3 a day to use my allowance from home. Yes, but that adds up to £60 while we're here, and I expect to spend about £3 overall.

So, whilst some customers like the ones in the article will justifiably be very upset that the fee has been made mandatory, I wonder if some people won't be bothered by Vodafone's cynicism, and I also wonder if people who have tolerated this for years do after all suddenly start complaining would Vodafone then use the fact they've been quiet until now to deny the chance to cancel.

eDicky

IDeamOfFairies wrote: »

Simple solution - go to the 3 website, apply for a FREE simcard

Calls cost 3p / min
Texts cost 2p
Data costs 1p mb

In over 60 countries around the World
http://www.three.co.uk/feel-at-home

Or you can have the free 'Data Reward' SIM that gives you 200MB free per month in those 60+ countries, calls and texts at their PAYG rates. I used mine for example to call Germany from Singapore for 3p/min. They only give you a 2G connection here in Indonesia but my local SIM provides 14GB/60 days (inc.4G) plus some calls and texts, all for £3.73.

ScoobyZ

They are moving their turkey calls to this. Send a text in turkey £6!

jimjames

redux wrote: »

I'm struggling to see why this is as big news as it sounds.

It's big because it's such a change to previous pricing. My father was abroad and sent 6 texts to reply to me on different days and was charged £30. If he'd sent all on the same day it would have only been £5. Previously it was much lower and you just paid for what you used. Obviously if you use lots of data it will save you hugely but for very low users it's now extortionate.

I'll be switching to a 3 Sim for my visit to USA, shame as Vodafone in UK is pretty good

ValiantSon

jimjames wrote: »

It's big because it's such a change to previous pricing. My father was abroad and sent 6 texts to reply to me on different days and was charged £30. If he'd sent all on the same day it would have only been £5. Previously it was much lower and you just paid for what you used. Obviously if you use lots of data it will save you hugely but for very low users it's now extortionate.

I'll be switching to a 3 Sim for my visit to USA, shame as Vodafone in UK is pretty good

But these charges are notified in advance.

By all means use an alternative SIM in the appropriate countires, but it isn't really fair to complain that someone has been charged as per the notified terms and conditions.

FWIW I have been a Vodafone customer for around a decade, but will be switching away from them when my contract expires in the next couple of months because I am fed up of their useless customer service and spending hours dealing with their inability to bill correctly. I also hugely object to the RPI increase every April. I'm moving to GiffGaff. My only problem is that the broadband is up for renewal very soon, and Vodafone has by far the best offer available; dare I take the option and hope that they can manage not to p*** me off with that too?