Off on holiday? Don’t get stung by a high mobile phone bill this summer

Summer holidays are just around the corner for many, and with mobile internet access and Wi-Fi it's never been easier to stay in touch with what's going on at home and upload photos to share with friends.

However, coming back from holiday to a huge mobile phone bill can be a nasty surprise, and it is important to remember that using your phone overseas can cost considerably more than it does at home, particularly if you want to access the internet or check your emails.

Ofcom (the Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries) have produced some helpful tips to avoid being stung by a hefty bill this summer:

What you can do to avoid a bill shock:

• If you want to use your phone lots considering buying an international SIM card or buy a local pay-as-you-go SIM when you reach your destination;
• Turn off data roaming. You can run up a big bill without actively using your phone as smartphones and tablet computers automatically seek out mobile connections and use them to update apps.
• If you are travelling outside of the EU, you may want to switching off your voicemail as you may be charged every time a message is left while you are abroad.
• If you want to use the internet abroad use local Wi-Fi hot spots rather than your phone's mobile internet connection. Some phone apps seek out hot spots and alert you to them automatically.
• If you are going to use your phone's internet connection instead of Wi-Fi avoid data heavy activities such as watching videos or downloading music. Also, when checking emails avoid opening large attachments.

MP for Cheadle constituency, Mark Hunter, said:

'I urge all those going on holiday outside of the UK this summer to be careful when it comes to using their phones and tablets abroad; a huge phone bill is not a happy end to a relaxing time away.

'All mobile operators now have to apply a cut-off limit once you have used €50 - around £40 - of data per month, wherever you travel in the world. As additional protection, Ofcom have provided some helpful advice that will insure you keep more of your money to spend on the next trip abroad.'

Ofcom's advice guide provides top tips for using a mobile abroad including advice on how to keep phones safe and what to do if your phone is lost or stolen.