O2 Travel Changes 7/4

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I have been usng the free O2 Travel bolt on since 2016 as I travel to European countries quite often. I use it primarily to browse for when wifi is unattainable. I browse and I get charged £1.99 for the day. In terms of of making phone calls and text messages. If I text a UK number whilst in a European country I get charged 4p. So the overall current setup is:

"While travelling in Europe just pay a 50p connection charge to make and receive calls between European countries then talk for free for up to 60 mins. You'll pay just £1.99 for the days you use data in Europe & there’s no upper limit, but traffic management steps apply. £40 monthly spending limit for data outside Europe."

An email has been sent out from O2 stating changes to how O2 travel works. It now states that:

"From 7 th April 2016, we’ll be adding calls and texts sent back to the UK and within O2 Travel destinations, to the data you already get with our O2 Travel Bolt On. This will give you data, up to 120 minutes and 120 standard texts, per daily charge within selected destinations in Europe. With O2 Travel you’ll only be charged for the days that you use it."

My udnerstanding is that from 7/4 if I am in a European country and I text a UK number, rather than being charged 4p like I used to be, I will be charged £1.99.  Is this correct? I appreciate they are saying you can send up to 120 messages and still get charged £1.99 but I never send 120 messages. I usually send just a couple. By this logic, the £1.99  charged that was activated only when you used data, will now also be activated by sending a text message. If I send one text per day for 3 days I will end up paying £5.99? 

Can someone please verify tell me if I have misunderstood the change?

Thank you.

PS: I am not asking to be told about the different options to circumvent sending a text.. I just want to know that I have understood the changes correctly.

[MI5]

As far as we aware, there are no changes to how Tugo works.

[jonsie]

TuGo will function as before, it has nothing to do with or has any effect on O2 Travel.

[adamtemp64]

And all change again June 2017 https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/roaming-tariffs

I just see operators trying to claw some revenue back this year not just o2

[jonsie]

Joe public will always bear the brunt of any shortfall in profits.

[Anonymous]

So to my understanding for low users( as me ) is better to keep o2 travel just to receive calls and texts for free,but for making calls and sending texts use tugo over wifi or local sim.

[jonsie]

That would be my choice but if you are on wifi you can get calls and texts anyway. From what I see you will be charged £1.99 to receive calls on O2 Travel? 

[Anonymous]

It says : O2 Travel won’t be triggered by receiving calls or text messages.

[MI5]

Receiving calls or texts will be free.

[adamtemp64]

We need clarification as it says it will not trigger the £1.99 yet my link say incoming can cost 1.4 cents to receive calls

Currently to receive as standard rate "Receiving calls - per minute 4.3p"

Edit for correct call cost from Europa link

[MI5]

Your link isn't o2 specific though Adam, so I guess all networks will interpret the new directives differently with regard to how they charge.
O2 are covering it by effectively charging everyone £1.99 for each day they are out of the UK.