Roaming - Is there a mechanism which prevents me from receiving high bills related to data services?

Your service provider is required to enable you to control how much you spend on data services. To ensure that you do not accidentally run up huge bills when connecting to the internet or using apps on your mobile phone or other mobile device whilst roaming, a cut-off mechanism applies.

• Your data roaming limit is automatically set at a level which is close to, but does not exceed €50 excluding taxes per month whilst travelling (not exceeding €61.36 if including VAT and excise tax);
• Should you not wish to benefit from this automatic cut-off, you can opt-out at any time free of charge by contacting your mobile service provider;
• Mobile service providers may offer you other data roaming limits with different (higher or lower) maximum monthly financial or equivalent volume limits; and    
• A request from your part to remove the default cut-off limit or opt for another limit shall be carried out within one working day from receipt of your request, free of charge and without any other conditions or restrictions. 

In addition to the above, the Roaming Regulation also stipulates that your service provider shall send you the following notifications.

• When you reach 80% of the agreed financial or volume cut-off data-roaming limit (i.e. €50/month excluding taxes or other agreed limit) you will receive a notification on your mobile phone or other mobile device; and
• When you reach the agreed limit, you will receive a notification informing you of the procedure to be followed if you wish to continue to use the data service in that particular month and the cost of additional data.  If you do not respond as prompted, your service provider will cut off the data service for that month.   
• If you requested the service provider to continue using data service and you consume more than €100 in a monthly billing period, excluding taxes, an additional notification is sent to your mobile device. This notification shall indicate the procedure to be followed if you wish to continue with the services and the cost of each additional unit to be consumed. 

Note: This cut-off mechanism applies whether roaming in an EU/EEA country, outside the EU/EEA and on a ship or plane. In cases where such mechanism cannot be provided when travelling outside an EU/EEA country or on a ship or plane, your mobile service provider shall inform you in your notification message when you first arrive in that country or on the ship or plane.