Martin Lewis explains new rules for using your phone abroad as 'confusing' policy scrapped

The rules have changed when it comes to using your phone overseas. And for once, it's a good thing.

After the United Kingdom voted for Brexit, the rules changed when it came to going overseas and using your phone.

You could still use them. Absolutely no problem with that. But your network had zero legal requirement to let you know about how much it'd cost.

Under the European Union's (EU) roaming rules, leaving one country in the EU to visit another meant nothing changed when it came to using your phone's data, sending texts, or ringing someone.

Lewis is celebrating the move (ITV)

Whatever you paid in your contract carried over, basically.

Another part of this was that your operator had to contact you telling you your rights and how much things would cost you.

Well, after Brexit that hasn't been the case in law.

Some networks still send you texts saying 'Welcome to France' or wherever you might have travelled, but it isn't a requirement for them to do so.

Martin Lewis, who founded Money Saving Expert, described the policy change as 'possibly deliberately confusing and opaque'.

Now, the law has changed and new rules have been brought in that address this.

The rules have changed if you have a UK phone contract (Getty Stock Images)

The new rules, brought in at the start of October by UK communications regulator Ofcom, mean that your mobile network provider must get in touch with you if you start roaming overseas in the EU.

According to Lewis' MSE team, the message has to tell you, or direct you to, information on the point at which you started roaming and, if there is a charge based on a period of time, when the period starts and ends.

The new policy also have to highlight any fair use or time limits that apply; the option to set a spending cap to control costs; and where to find additional information limits and costs.

You'll now have to be told exactly how much it'll cost to use your phone in the EU (Getty Stock Images)

Depending on your contract, the cost of roaming in the EU could still be nothing or could cost a specific amount per gigabyte of data, texts sent, or minutes on the phone.

To cut down on incurring extra costs when you're abroad, especially if you go outside of the EU where it can get extortionate, MSE recommends looking at buying an eSim.

This is a virtual version of a Sim card which are slowly becoming a godsend for when people go abroad to cut down on their roaming costs.

Sticking to Wi-Fi networks might also be a good option, especially if your hotel provides it and restaurants or locations you visit.