Calls between the UK and abroad – Clarification

Question

Now we are in the summer holiday season, I have seen a number of posts asking questions about calling abroad and/or calls from abroad. There is a good guide to using your handset abroad, and things to do before departing Here but despite that there seems to be a lot of confusion about what is chargeable when making or receiving international calls. I hope that the following gives some clarification regarding call and text charges:All of the following examples assume you are using a UK registered mobile (prefixed +44), and the account has international roaming and international calling activated.Individual plans may have inclusive allowances for some of the following. CALLS WHEN IN THE UK:If you are in the UK, you are not charged to receive calls from other phones, whether they are UK or foreign registered, and regardless of where they are at the time of the call.The only time a UK registered mobile can be charged for an incoming call while in the UK is if that call originates from a subscription service, such as certain information or callback services. If you are in the UK, calling another UK number will be a standard call, regardless of where the person you are calling is located. If they are outside the UK at the time of the call, THEY get charged for the international part of the call – that is the roaming charge. If you are in the UK, calling a number registered to a different country will be charged as an international call to the country where that number is registered.For example, if you call an Irish number (prefixed +353) you will be charged the international rate for calling Ireland from the UK. If the person you are calling is not in Ireland at the time, they will be charged for the international part of the call from Ireland to wherever they are.If they are standing next to you in the UK at the time, you both pay international charges – you pay for the call to Ireland, and they pay for it to come back! CALLS WHEN ROAMING (OUTSIDE THE UK)If you are outside the UK, you will be charged the incoming call charge appropriate to your location for any calls you receive, regardless of where those calls originate, and whether they are from UK or foreign registered numbers. If you are outside the UK, you will be charged for any calls you make – the exact charge can vary depending if you are calling a UK number, a local number where you are located, or a number registered to a third country.For example, if you are in the Ireland, calls to UK numbers are charged at one rate, calls to Irish or EU numbers at a different rate, and calls to somewhere like the USA would be charged at yet another rate. Details of both incoming and outgoing call charges by country can be found in the roaming pages HERE.In many countries there is a single rate for all outgoing calls, regardless of where to. TEXTS:With regard to text messages, you should never be charged for an incoming text wherever you are, (unless it has come from a subscription service such as football results or Orange Wednesdays). Sending texts tends to follow a similar pattern to making calls:If you are in the UK, any text to a UK registered phone is a “standard” text, and any text to a foreign registered phone will be charged at a rate depending on where the phone is registered. If you are outside the UK, any text you send will incur charges as shown on the roaming pages, the charges can vary depending on which country the target phone is registered to. ADD-ONSIf you expect to incur charges based on the above, then it is worth checking out the add-ons available for roaming, and for calling abroad.  Hope that helps!

Answer 1

Hi,
I just called EE and they said this is not entirely correct. If you are in the UK at the time of call and you're calling outside of the EU then you will be charged the international fee.
According to EE, it differs from plan to plan. I'm on 4G Extra which allows me to use texts and minutes as per normal within the EU but if I contact someone outside of the EU I will get charged for the calls and texts.