Cost trap mobile box: St. Pöltener pays 850 euros on vacation in Egypt!

Cost trap mobile box: St. Pöltener pays 850 euros on vacation in Egypt!

A St. Pöltner experienced an expensive surprise as part of her Egypt vacation when she received an invoice for around 850 euros from her mobile operator after her return. This exorbitant sum resulted from the activation of their mobile box during their absence, which resulted in high roaming costs. Although the woman deactivated the data roaming before her trip, unanswered calls led to additional fees that have exceeded her expectations. However, the Chamber of Labor (AK) Lower Austria was able to help her reduce the invoice by 90 percent, so that it ultimately only had to pay 85 euros. The AK referred to the multitude of possible cost traps that can occur when using mobile phones abroad, and pointed out how important it is to find out comprehensive in advance.

The AK NÖ-President Markus Wieser made relief about the successful outcome of the case and emphasized the need for advice on mobile costs abroad. The rules for roaming costs are particularly relevant for trips outside the EU. Within the EU, including Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, the "Roam Like at Home" rule, which allows users to use these mobile phone services at the same prices as in their home country. But when it comes to countries outside of this zone, such as Egypt, travelers have to expect significantly higher costs.

roaming costs and tips for travelers

The Chamber of Labor recommends deactivating roaming in advance, especially when traveling to non-EU countries. The use of the mobile box can lead to unexpected additional costs, since even unanswered calls that are forwarded to the mobile box can result in additional fees. During a stay abroad, calls to the home country could cause twice the costs. In order to avoid such situations, the AK advises the mobile box to switch off using the code ## 002#before traveling.

Furthermore, an overview of the trick costs shows that data roaming outside the EU can bring enormous financial burdens. Constant online connection through smartphones often leads to automatic updates and data downloads that can cause considerable costs. An attractive offer is the global cost limit of 60 euros for data roaming, but this does not apply to telephony. When 80 percent of this upper limit is reached, consumers receive a notification, which is often too late to prevent costly expenses.

travel preparation and rights

Before a trip, it is crucial to check the tariffs and conditions of the mobile operator. As a rule, providers provide their customers via SMS about roaming services when crossing the border. Especially for often travelers or people with residence in a country and workplace in another EU country, it is important to be clear about the applicable roaming regulations. The upper limit for roaming costs will drop to 1 euro per gigabyte by 2027, but additional fees can be incurred if there is excessive use abroad.