Talk Talk Mobile roaming in EU

tinateaspoon

Can someone please explain in very easy terms how it all works before I go?  Sadly getting any sense out of Talk Talk is a challenge, however their "help" site says you have to activate roaming before you leave the UK, so I've switched roaming on but do I have to switch data on before I leave the UK too (or can this be done as and when needed abroad?)  I rarely put my data on in the UK for fear of going over limit. I'm on a very old, basic SIM with Talk Talk.Thanks

flaneurs_lobster

It will work just as it does in the UK, if you don't need mobile data then don't turn it on. Use it when you have to.

How much monthly data is included with your plan? 

The_Fat_Controller

You MUST call 0345 172 0044 and request they enable roaming BEFORE you leave the UK.

tinateaspoon

flaneurs_lobster said:

It will work just as it does in the UK, if you don't need mobile data then don't turn it on. Use it when you have to.

How much monthly data is included with your plan? 

500MB, it should be plenty if I only have to have data on when I need it.  Thanks

tinateaspoon

The_Fat_Controller said:

You MUST call 0345 172 0044 and request they enable roaming BEFORE you leave the UK.

Thanks I'll psych myself up to call tomorrow!

The_Fat_Controller

@tinateaspoon 500 MB will go in the blink of an eye if you are not careful.

If you have a smartphone make sure apps are only updating over WiFi.

flaneurs_lobster

Are you on a free sim deal with TalkTalk? If not there are plenty of deals around with other providers that would mean that you would never have to worry about switching mobile data off again. ~£7/month would get you 12GB and unlimited calls/texts (in EU too) and it would be half that cost for the first year.

tinateaspoon

The_Fat_Controller said:

@tinateaspoon 500 MB will go in the blink of an eye if you are not careful.

If you have a smartphone make sure apps are only updating over WiFi.

Thanks, but I'm just not "techie" so how do I do that please?

I always leave data "off" unless I really need it and I can see that several apps are "restricted", presume that means restricted to wi-fi?  So if I switch some of the apps to "Restrict app background data", they will only update over wi-fi?  Sorry to be so dense over this!

BTW - I've switched phone to "connect to data services when roaming", maybe this should be off until I actually need it abroad?

tinateaspoon

flaneurs_lobster said:

Are you on a free sim deal with TalkTalk? If not there are plenty of deals around with other providers that would mean that you would never have to worry about switching mobile data off again. ~£7/month would get you 12GB and unlimited calls/texts (in EU too) and it would be half that cost for the first year.

I have a really old, previously free, but now all of £3 a month SIM!  I'm loathed to give up my bargain as I am not the sort of person who is glued to their mobile!

The_Fat_Controller

Leave ALL data settings off until you need them.

If you go to Play Store > Google Account (click your avatar to RHS) > Settings > Network preference you will find the app download/updates settings.

tinateaspoon

The_Fat_Controller said:

Leave ALL data settings off until you need them.

If you go to Play Store > Google Account (click your avatar to RHS) > Settings > Network preference you will find the app download/updates settings.

Thanks, download pref, auto update & auto play videos were already on over wi-fi only so that's good.  What about other non Google apps, I seem to have "loads" that I never ever use and they must be taking up storage\data?

Roaming - TalkTalk didn't ask me when\how long I'll be abroad for, do you think once roaming is now switched on its indefinite?