ANYONE travelling to an EU country can now use their mobile phone as if they were still in the UK thanks to a crackdown on roaming charges.

That means that, whether you want to call, text or download data, you should pay exactly the same price in Europe as at home. So if your contract allows you to download 1GB of data a month, send 500 texts and make 100 minutes of calls, the charge will be the same in Spain as in Scotland.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at price comparison site uSwitch, said: “The rules mean travellers can call, text and more importantly use their mobile data at no extra cost, regardless of the EU country they’re visiting.”

The regulations are welcome and should prevent any bill shock on your return from Europe to the UK, but holidaymakers should still watch out for unexpected charges.

Alex Neill, managing director of home products and services at consumer group Which?, said: “Many will reap the benefits of these changes and will no longer be put off from making calls abroad.

“However, it is important that you take a close look at what is or is not included in your current mobile deal. Not knowing what’s included could lead to some surprising charges on your next bill.”

The regulations cover all 28 EU member states, but if you are travelling to a non-EU country roaming charges could still apply.

Remember, too, that non-EU countries include popular destinations such as the Channel Islands, Switzerland and Turkey.

However, it is worth checking with your mobile phone operator because some firms include more than 28 countries in their roaming territories, though the countries vary. Vodafone, for example, includes Turkey, but others do not.

Consumers should also bear in mind that as of August 1 roaming charges for countries outside the EU will incur VAT at 20 per cent on top of normal network rates.

It is also worth noting that roaming charges do not cover calls and texts from UK mobiles to the EU. If you want to call Spain from Scotland, it will cost more than a call within the country.

You will be charged in the EU as you would in the UK for exceeding agreed minutes, texts and data. As mobile phone firms charge different rates for breaching contract limits the costs can be high.

Fair usage limits apply to roaming and your mobile phone company might even apply a lower cap in the EU than at home.

In other words, you will have a smaller data allowance and could rack up high charges if you exceed the limit.

“Confusingly each network applies a different fair usage policy, depending on your data allowance and the plan you’re signed up to,” said Doku.

“Take, for example, O2’s pay as you go Big Bundle at £30 per month. In the UK you get a monthly allowance 20GB. But under the terms of the ‘fair use’ policy, this is actually capped at 10GB when you’re using your phone in the EU.”

The future for roaming charges is now less certain thanks to the UK’s planned withdrawal from the European Union.

When the UK does finally leave, it is possible that the regulations on roaming charges will no longer apply and networks could put up the cost of using a mobile within Europe. However, some experts are optimistic that few changes will be seen.

“As for the impact Brexit might have on roaming, this is still unclear, though any plans to revert back to a world of roaming at an extra charge would likely be unpalatable for consumers, and so seems an unlikely manoeuvre,” Doku said.

To ensure you do not rack up additional charges there a few tips you should follow when preparing to head to Europe.

Check your provider’s roaming territories as some firms do not impose roaming charges in countries outside the EU.

If roaming charges apply to your destination, consider a travel bolt-on. It is also a good idea to use free Wi-Fi whenever possible.

Frequent travellers might consider a tariff that offers roaming at no additional cost across multiple destinations. For example, Three’s ‘Feel at Home’ tariffs offer roaming at no extra charge in 60 destinations, or Vodafone’s ‘Roam Free’ tariffs cover 50 destinations.

Many consumers have a roaming cap that helps keep spending in check. Whatever you do, do not be tempted to remove the roaming cap, which is designed to protect you from a bill shock - once this is lifted, charges can easily rack up and you could face a sky-high bill.

If you are travelling outside the EU, you could consider buying a local SIM card.