Vodafone overseas fee

MILLIONS of Vodafone customers are being charged £5 to send a single text while abroad.

The telecoms firm has been criticised for introducing a flat fee for travellers who use a phone in 60 countries outside Europe, such as Australia and the U.S.

Since August 31, Vodafone now charges all pay-monthly customers £5 to access their UK allowance in these countries.

Someone sending a text a day for two weeks in Sydney would pay £70. Steve Nowottny, of MoneySavingExpert, called it ‘outrageous’. He said: ‘There’s a risk customers who are careful to only use their phone sparingly abroad will see their bill rocket.’

But a Vodafone spokeswoman says the changes were based on customer feedback and will let holidaymakers use their phones ‘without fear of a bill shock, since it is just one charge with no hidden extras’.