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.

[Cleoriff]

Hi @Anonymous I agree the Three Feel at home tariff does look good. Not sure what will happen to it when/if O2 and Three merge though. Also, if you are planning to move networks then make sure Three give you good network coverage whilst at home. No point moving to save money on a few weeks abroad if you can't get a signal when in the UK.

[MI5]

I use my Three sim abroad too and it's great but the signal isn't as good everywhere as I get on my O2 sim.

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:
@MI5@ I know it's a European directive that does not have to ake effect until April 30th for all networks. However, @DarrenG posted a few pages back a link showing Vodafone's updated charges as of April 30th. What I was asking Martin was does he know of/when o2 will be posting a similar thing to let users know of the changes to roaming rates as of April 30th.

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I know what you were asking. 

I posted the maximum rates that can be charged under the directive to give people an idea of what they may be.

Until O2 confirm exactly what they are doing, no one can know.

[Anonymous]

what is the new charge with O2 Travel to receive a phone call/text when abroad?

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:

what is the new charge with O2 Travel to receive a phone call/text when abroad?

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We're still waiting for confirmation and any differences between travel and standard rates.

We believe it to be no charge if tavel is enabled though.

[Anonymous]

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@darrengf wrote:

I know that there has been a lot of discussion on roaming with the new bundle. However if I'm right. As per Vodafone website, the European charges are also dropping by legal requirement of eu on the 30th April.

This is from Vodafone own website. Changes to Pay monthly roaming charges
From 30 April 2016 you can use your phone or tablet in our Europe Zone 1 for less. You’ll pay less to use data, make calls and send texts, so you can keep in touch with loved ones back home - or new friends you’ve met along the way - without worrying about the costs.
Standard roaming charges
Roaming charges in Europe Zone 1 Until 29 April 2016 From 30 April 2016
Making a call to another country (charged by the minute, 30-second minimum call charge)
Now 16.5p from 30th April 4.3p

Receiving a call from another country (charged by the minute, 1-second minimum call charge)
Now 4.3p from 30th April 0.9p

Text message
Now 5.1p From 30th April 1.6p

Data (including dongles)
Now 17.4p a MB! From 30th April 4.3p a MB

These prices include VAT where applicable.
These changes won’t apply in our Europe Zone 2, which covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Isle of Man and Channel Islands (inc. Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm), the Faroe Islands, San Marino, Switzerland and Turkey.

Opt in to Vodafone EuroTraveller and you can take your UK data, minutes and texts anywhere in our Europe Zone for just £3 extra a day (inc. VAT). This could make your savings even greater when using your phone or tablet in Europe, and you’ll only pay on the days you use it.

EE OR Threes haven't put new pricing up yet, but if I'm correct, o2 will also be changing there's due to EU regulation.

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/campaigns/roaming-july-15-paym/changes-to-pay-monthly-roaming-charges/

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/roaming-tariffs

so I would double check before you opt in or opt out as if roaming rate do drop,  sending 1 SMS could charge either 2p or £1.99.

😳

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I had a look today on the O2 website and thus far there has been no update on what O2 changes will be. You'd hope they'd make users aware before the changes to O2 Travel kicks in so that users can make an informed decision as you've said.

One could guess but it would be nice to see the O2's official line. 

The wait goes on...

[MI5]

As we are led to believe currently, there are no changes to the standard rates as they fall inline with the directive already.

[Cleoriff]

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@MI5 wrote:
As we are led to believe currently, there are no changes to the standard rates as they fall inline with the directive already.

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Although we have had no confirmation either way @MI5....?

[jonsie]

As far as I know we are still waiting for admin to get back to us with the answers to questions raised.

[MI5]

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@Cleoriff wrote:

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@MI5 wrote:
As we are led to believe currently, there are no changes to the standard rates as they fall inline with the directive already.

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Although we have had no confirmation either way @MI5....?

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No, not confirmed but if you look at the standard prices and the directive, they are in line with each other.

I also believe @Martin-O2 said no changes planned on another thread?