On Universal Credit? How you can save £100s on your summer phone bill

The Sun

26-07-2025

HEADING off for some summer sun should be a relaxing break, not a source of bill-shock.
But with many major mobile networks reintroducing expensive daily roaming charges for using your phone in Europe, the cost of a simple holiday can quickly spiral.
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For a family of four, a two-week trip could add £100s in roaming fees alone.
However, a little-known secret could save you a fortune.
If you're receiving Universal Credit or other benefits, you could be eligible for a special 'social tariff' on your mobile plan, slashing your monthly costs and letting you use your phone abroad for free.
These 'social' or 'essential' tariffs offer the same service as regular packages but at a significantly lower price.
They typically come with no long-term contracts, a guarantee of no mid-contract price hikes, and two of the three providers even include free roaming in Europe.
For example, O2's Essential Plan costs just £10 a month and gives you 10GB of data with unlimited calls and texts.
Crucially, you can use up to 10GB of that data in the EU at no extra cost.
The plan is a flexible 30-day deal, with no upfront costs or price rises.
Meanwhile, SMARTY's Social Tariff provides unlimited data, calls, and texts for £12 a month.
For holidaymakers, it includes EU roaming with a generous 12GB data cap.
Easy ways to slash your mobile bill
Like O2's offer, it's a flexible one-month plan with no annual price rises.
Choosing one of these tariffs means you can avoid the daily roaming charges now levied by most major networks since Brexit.
Many providers, including EE, Three, and Vodafone, may charge around £2 to £2.57 per day to use your UK allowance in Europe.
That could add up to £35 to your bill for a two-week holiday.
Providers like EE and Voxi also offer social tariffs, but be aware that their roaming policies may include extra charges.
To apply, simply contact your chosen provider.
They will ask for some basic information and carry out a quick, confidential check with the Department for Work and Pensions to confirm your eligibility before setting up your plan.
The regulator, Ofcom, provides a comprehensive list of all the available social tariffs on its website.
Before switching mobile plans, check if you're still in contract to avoid high exit fees.
Over 33million people are out of contract, according to Uswitch, so it's worth checking if you can upgrade or switch to avoid paying more than necessary.
To check your contract status, text "INFO" followed by your date of birth (DDMMYY) to 85075.
You'll get a text confirming if you'd need to pay an early termination fee.
These fees only apply if you're still in contract.
If no fee is mentioned, you're likely out of contract and free to switch.
Which mobile networks don't charge roaming fees?
Asda
Asda will let you roam for free in 46 European countries.
You don't need to tell Asda if you're going away, you can simply carry on texting, calling and streaming as you would at home.
However, customers a have a data roaming limit of up to 5GB so make sure you don't go over.
After this, usage will cost 10p per MB. The provider says it will let you know when you reach 80% and 100% of your data limit.
BT Mobile
BT Mobile's 'Roam Like Home' offering lets its customers roam for free in 47 destinations.
You can use your mobile plan allowance to use data, make calls and send texts back to the UK as well as to receive calls and texts for free when you're roaming in these zones.
GiffGaff
GiffGaff plans can be used in the EU and some other destinations at no extra cost.
However, there is a cap of 5GB and if you go over it'll cost 10p/MB.
If you're a pay as you go customer, the provider will charge you at the usual UK rates.
iD Mobile
Roaming comes as standard on all iD mobile phone and SIM only plans.
Customers can use their UK monthly allowances of minutes, text and data in 50 destinations worldwide up to 30GB.
Lebara
Lebara customers can use UK plan allowances while roaming in the EU or India for no extra cost.
There is a fair use cap of up to 30GB on the unlimited data plan.
O2
O2 is the only major network provider that has not brought back roaming charges.
If you're travelling in what it calls its 'Europe Zone' which covers more than 40 destinations, you can call text or use data like you would in the UK and for no extra cost.
There is a cap of 25GB.
Smarty
Smarty lets its customers roam in the EU for no extra costs. If your plan includes calls and texts, they'll also work as usual.
However, there's a cap on data of up to 12GB.
Talkmobile
Talkmobile offers free EU roaming to countries in a list of 'zone A' destinations.
This includes France, Spain, Portugal and other popular European spots.
Outside of these zone A countries, you'll be subjected to charges.
You can check the list of countries covered by zone A on its website at talkmobile.co.uk.
There is a fair usage of 5GB or 15GB depending on when you became a customer.
Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile has once again extended its free roaming offer until 2026.
That means that you can use your text, call, and data allowances at no extra cost in 48 destinations