British Couple's Shocking £109 Phone Bill After Two Hours in Monaco Serves as Roaming Charge Warning

A British couple has been left with an unexpected £109 phone bill after spending just two hours in Monaco, a situation that has prompted a warning to holidaymakers about the potential for high roaming charges.

Polo Lam, 30, and his girlfriend Laura Matos, 29, from Whitby, North Yorkshire, were on a budget interrail trip across Europe in September. Their journey included stops in France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary. A brief, unplanned visit to Monaco resulted in charges that significantly inflated their monthly mobile bill, which would have otherwise been around £25.

The couple used only 18.66MB of mobile data between them during their short time in Monaco, an amount comparable to three to 10 minutes of scrolling on Instagram. Despite this minimal usage, they were billed nearly £85 for roaming charges, bringing their total bill to £109.

Lam discovered the charges after they had continued their journey into Italy and checked their mobile account. He expressed disbelief at the cost, noting that they had barely used their phones, primarily for checking Google Maps and briefly opening Instagram. Lam voiced concern about what the charges might have been if they had stayed longer, estimating they could have reached hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Matos described the bill as unreasonable given their limited phone usage. The unexpected expense impacted their holiday, as the money could have funded several meals out. The experience led them to be more cautious about using their phones abroad, especially when moving between countries.

Tim Page, marketing lead at Nomad eSIM, explained that a common misconception is that all European countries are covered by standard EU roaming agreements. Monaco, despite being geographically surrounded by France, is not part of the European Union. Therefore, it is not subject to the EU's 'Roam Like at Home' rules, which allow for free or capped roaming charges within EU member states. Travelers using their phones in areas covered by these rules, like Nice, could face significantly higher rates upon entering a country like Monaco.

Page advises travellers to verify which countries are included in their mobile plan before departing, particularly destinations such as Monaco, Andorra, and Switzerland. He recommends switching off data roaming or using a travel eSIM for specific destinations to avoid unforeseen costs. If unexpected charges are incurred, he suggests contacting the mobile provider promptly, as some may offer a reduction or waiver as a gesture of goodwill.