Only two out of 12 of the UKs major mobile phone providers have so far committed to keeping roaming in the European Union ‘free’ after Brexit – meaning millions could be charged more to use their phone in Europe when the UK finally leaves the EU.
Mobile phone firms have been banned from charging you extra fees to use your UK allowance of minutes, texts or (most) data when in the European Union since 2017.
Mobile roaming in the EU is surcharge-free allowing you to make calls, send texts and use mobile data services for no more than you would be charged when in the UK as part of your standard phone contract. However, these rules are based on EU regulations, which won’t apply to the UK after Brexit on 29 March.
If a deal can be agreed between the UK Government and the EU before Brexit, then the current mobile roaming rules are expected to continue until the end of 2020 at least. However, if the UK leaves the EU with a no-deal, the Government has warned roaming charges could return immediately and it will be the discretion of the the individual providers to decide.
With less than two months to go until the UK exits the EU, an investigation conducted by MoneySavingExpert has found only two providers – Three and Smarty, which is owned by Three – have categorically ruled out reintroducing roaming charges after Brexit.
At least 10 firms, who between them are estimated to have at least 85% of UK mobile users as customers, say they have “no plans” to change their roaming policies – but can’t rule out the return of roaming charges.
MoneySavingExpert contacted each of the UKs main service providers and created this list of responses:
Could EU roaming charges return after Brexit?
| Provider | Is 'free' roaming guaranteed post-Brexit? | What it says |
| Asda Mobile | No response | No response yet – we'll update this story when we hear back. |
| BT Mobile | No | "Doesn't have any plans to change" cost of roaming, but adds: "We hope Brexit negotiations will help ensure that UK operators can continue to offer low prices." |
| EE | No | "Doesn't have any plans to change" cost of roaming, but adds: "We hope Brexit negotiations will help ensure that UK operators can continue to offer low prices." |
| Giffgaff | No | "No plans" to introduce roaming charges, but when pressed couldn't guarantee this. |
| iD Mobile | No | "Too soon to assess the implications of Brexit on roaming regulations", but currently has no plans to charge. |
| O2 | No | "No plans" to charge – it's "working closely with the Government and other European operators to try and protect the current arrangements." |
| Plusnet Mobile | No | "No plans" to change – it hopes "Brexit negotiations will help ensure that UK operators can continue to offer great value." |
| Sky Mobile | No response | No response yet – we'll update this story when we hear back. |
| Smarty | Yes | "Committed to maintain the availability of roaming in the EU at no additional cost following Brexit." |
| Talk Mobile | No | "No plans" to introduce charges. It says: "We very much hope arrangements can be made which will ensure we can continue to offer UK consumers our roam-free service." |
| Tesco Mobile | No | "No plans" to introduce charges, but "monitoring" the situation and will give customers plenty of notice if things change. |
| The Phone Co-op | No response | No response yet – we'll update this story when we hear back. |
| Three | Yes | Says 'free' roaming will remain "regardless of Brexit negotiations." Customers will be able to use "their usual allowances when they travel within the EU." |
| TPO | No response | No response yet – we'll update this story when we hear back. |
| Virgin Mobile | No | Is "monitoring the progress of Brexit negotiations closely" – customers will be notified in advance of any change to its roaming policy after Brexit. |
| Vodafone | No | "No plans" to introduce charges. It says: "We very much hope arrangements can be made which will ensure we can continue to offer UK consumers our roam-free service." |