How to save on your mobile abroad . . .

11:27am Wednesday 11th June 2008

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HOLIDAYMAKERS returning home from foreign climes can get a nasty shock when their mobile phone bill arrives.

It's hardly surprising it will be higher than normal when you have to pay to receive calls, as well as make them, says Ceri Stanaway, pictured.

Talking on the mobile abroad can set you back as much as £2 a minute depending on where you go, your tariff and your network.

But there are stills ways of saving the pounds according to telecoms expert Ceri of Consumer Organisation Which?

She advises frequent travellers to consider "roaming costs" when choosing a provider. For example T mobile is currently the cheapest of the six major UK providers for using in the USA and Canada.

Save pounds too by turning off your voicemail unless you really need it, warns Ceri.

"If a call tries to connect to the foreign network first and then diverts to voicemail because you fail to answer, you'll pay as if you received the call," she says.

Texting - typically between 25p and 40p a message - is usually cheaper than a one minute call so a much cheaper option.

Be wary using mobile Internet - it's not cheap even within the UK, and costs to surf the Internet abroad can run into hundreds of pounds.

"Steer clear if you want to keep costs down," says Ceri.