Mobile users 'can save money abroad'

Phoning home can be an expensive business

Phone watchdog Oftel has said UK mobile users could significantly cut the costs of calls abroad by taking action before they go.

It has updated its tips on how British holidaymakers could cut their bills - including savings of 40% for those travelling in France.

Mobile calls abroad

It can cost £1.50 a minute to receive calls whilst in Europe, Oftel found

All UK mobile phone companies have "roaming" agreements with foreign operators that allow customers to use their phones when travelling.

But Oftel found many UK users were unaware these costs were often very high - and included charges for receiving as well as making calls.

Its advice followed studies into savings possible in France and Ireland, but it said the findings could also apply elsewhere in Europe.

Among Oftel's tips:

• Pre-pay customers can cut their bill by 18% by changing the settings on their phone and using a different mobile network abroad
  
• People with a monthly contract on a two-week trip can save 21% by using their operator's international traveller services
  
• Those travelling more frequently, or for longer, can use the SIM card of a foreign operator during their stay
  
• This can save about 35% on a pre-paid bill of £82, and more than 40% on bill of £64 with a contract phone

Head of Oftel David Edmonds said the most important advice was to check the charges well before travelling, so there was time to take action.

"It's easy to get caught out... call costs vary a lot between different tariffs.

Travellers could consider

Changing from pre-pay to contract

Using their mobile's international traveller service

Sending text messages instead (check the charges first)

"You may find it best to change from pre-pay to contract for example.

"Or you may want to take advantage of the international traveller services that some mobile companies offer.

"Or you may just decide to send text messages instead of making calls - which often works out cheaper."

Price-fixing probe

Oftel has previously accused mobile operators of "exploiting" UK users, who can pay twice as much as other European consumers for mobile calls abroad.

Last year the EC launched a probe into the high costs for international roaming - the industry term for making and receiving mobile phone calls abroad.

EC competition officials said they suspected operators may have colluded in setting prices, which appeared to be unrelated to the actual costs of the calls.