Mobile phone customers who unpreparedly use their smartphones while on vacation can be surprised by enormous costs. CHECK24 has compared the roaming fees of major mobile phone providers as an example.

Within the EU, the use of foreign networks is not an additional cost factor. The same tariff conditions generally apply here as in Germany. Outside the EU, however, the preset roaming tariffs are often very expensive - especially for mobile surfing. Who e.g. For example, if you are traveling in the USA and do not take out a separate data package, you will pay 1.49 euros per megabyte or 49 to 94 cents per 50 kilobytes with the mobile phone providers considered. A one-minute YouTube video in HD resolution can quickly cost up to 282 euros.

Although there is a worldwide cost limit of 59.50 euros at which the connection is cut off, you should not rely on that. Caution: In certain cases this may not work, e.g. B. if the network operator abroad does not record usage behavior in real time. In addition, agreeing to continue surfing can also incur high costs.

“For many providers, data packages or travel passes are the cheapest alternative for surfing outside the EU ,” says Dr. Manuel Siekmann, Managing Director of Mobile Communications at CHECK24. “These can be available from some providers, e.g. B. via the customer area, can be booked.”

Day passes for 50 MB of data, for example, can be booked from 2.95 euros; larger packages with 500 MB are available, for example. B. for 7.99 euros per day.

There are also high costs for phone calls and text messages outside the EU

Higher costs apply outside the EU for both incoming and outgoing phone calls and SMS. Outgoing calls are generally more expensive than incoming calls, although there is no difference for calls to landlines or mobile networks. The lowest prices apply in Switzerland (0.54 euros - 1.59 euros per minute) as well as the USA and Turkey (1.49 euros - 1.94 euros per minute). In other countries the charge is between 2.49 euros and 3.04 euros per minute. At its peak it goes up to 6.09 euros per minute (e.g. Kenya). Sending an SMS costs between 0.39 euros and 0.69 euros.

“Consumers should definitely find out about their mobile phone provider’s roaming charges before they start their vacation and take out appropriate packages in advance depending on their cell phone usage ,” says Dr. Manuel Siekmann. “If you want to save money, you can also surf on free WiFi networks, e.g. B. in hotels or public places, and use messenger services to make phone calls and send messages.”

Click here for the list of all providers and countries considered

Changing your cell phone tariff: savings between 2013 and 2020 around 602 million euros

Between 2013 and 2020, consumers saved a total of around 602 million euros by switching their cell phone tariff via CHECK24. This was the conclusion reached by the International Marketing Consultants Prof. Walsh & Partners (Walsh IMC), who, on behalf of CHECK24, calculated the customer savings compared to the market when purchasing mobile phone tariffs via the comparison portal. In 2020 alone, the savings from switching around 132 million euros.

Source: Check24

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