No more roaming charges for forwarding within the EU!
Since 15 June 2017, mobile providers are no longer allowed to charge roaming fees within the European Union for using minutes, SMS or MBs. The new law ensures that your Rinkel number can be transferred free of charge within the EU!
What are roaming charges?
When you call (or receive calls) while connected to a network other than that of your own provider, you will be charged a roaming fee. Roaming is a technique that automatically searches for another operator's networks so that you remain reachable while abroad. You then use the competitor's network, as it were, to make or receive calls.
Mobile providers have to pay a surcharge for this between themselves. For example, a Dutch provider pays a fee per minute, per SMS or MB to a German provider. The cost of this traffic is then passed on to the end customer.
In which countries can I now turn on my roaming for free?
The new law prohibiting additional roaming charges applies to all countries within the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and Sweden.
Please note that there are exceptions!
In some exceptional cases, a mobile operator may still charge roaming fees. For example, if you stay abroad for more than 4 months. Most providers also have a fair-use policy for usage while roaming. So always check with your mobile provider and make sure you won't be surprised!
No more roaming charges in the EU when transferring your fixed Rinkel number!
Do you currently have your fixed Rinkel number forwarded to your mobile number and will you soon be temporarily crossing the border, to Germany or Belgium for example? Then your mobile provider will no longer charge you extra when calls are forwarded! So with Rinkel, you can be reached within the entire European Union without extra charges from your mobile provider and buying a temporary extra SIM card with a foreign number is a thing of the past!
However, if you will be travelling outside the European Union, then this extra SIM card might just be a good solution. Read more about our call forwarding rates to a foreign number.
Do you still have questions after reading this article? Then feel free to contact us by email [email protected], via live chat or by phone at 085-0609000.
