In today's digitalized world, many people take it for granted that they can stay online even when abroad. Most people assume that they don't have to worry about additional costs when roaming in the European Union (EU), as the "roam like at home" policy applies here. But outside the EU, roaming charges can quickly reach unimaginable levels. Two recent cases highlight the potential dangers and offer important lessons for future travel.
Mr. A. from Steyr experienced a shocking surprise when he started his vacation in Switzerland. Despite buying a weekly package from his network provider and knowing that Switzerland is not part of the EU, his roaming costs rose overnight to a staggering 16.413,55 euros. The reason: after exceeding the amount of data he had purchased, the data flow was not stopped and the legally required block at 60 euros did not apply.
Despite multiple notifications on his cell phone about exceeding the data allowance, Mr. A. was unprepared for the enormous costs that piled up overnight. When he contacted the provider's hotline, he was only advised to submit a written complaint by email. The situation was extremely stressful for him, and he then turned to the Chamber of Labor Consumer Protection (AK-Konsumentenschutz). They quickly intervened and demanded that the mobile phone provider correct the bill to a maximum of 60 euros. The company reacted quickly and refunded the excessive amount.
In contrast, Ms. K. from St. Martin on Madeira, which is part of Portugal, did not experience a disaster, but nevertheless an unpleasant surprise. She received a bill for 67,06 euros for the data transfer of only 8 MB, although Madeira is part of the EU and therefore should not have incurred additional roaming charges. Clarification of the matter revealed that the data transfer took place during a stopover at Zurich Airport in Switzerland, which led to the high costs. This finding underlines the importance of paying attention to roaming settings even during stopovers, as roaming costs can also be incurred in such cases.
These two cases vividly illustrate the challenges travelers face when it comes to roaming costs. However, there are some proven strategies to avoid unexpected and high charges:
- Check cost information: Before travelling, you should carefully read the cost information for the country in question and for exceptional networks such as cruise ships or airplanes. This information can often be found on the mobile operator's website.
- Deactivate roaming function: The roaming function can be deactivated directly with the mobile operator, especially for stays outside the EU or in border areas. This prevents unwanted roaming charges from accumulating.
- Wi-Fi usage: When abroad, you should maximize your Wi-Fi usage and make sure that data roaming is actually deactivated. This will help avoid unwanted costs.
- Deactivate mobile mailbox: Deactivating the voicemail (by entering the number ##002#) prevents calls from being forwarded to the voicemail, which could result in passive roaming costs.
- Maintain cost limits: The legally required cost limits of 60 and 120 euros should not be deactivated. These limits prevent exorbitant costs and enable timely notification before the limit is reached.
These tips are important not only for protecting yourself from unexpected roaming costs, but also for avoiding legal and financial problems while abroad. By being proactive and aware of your options, travelers can avoid unpleasant financial surprises and enjoy their stay worry-free.
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