Press Releases

Mobile telephony subscriptions or pre-paid cards without access to roaming services?

27.07.2017

The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM) reminds mobile telephony users that operators may sell subscriptions or pre-paid cards without access to roaming services, with allowances (minutes/SMS/MB/GB) that can be consumed exclusively domestically. Those intending to use such resources abroad must have a roaming enabled tariff plan. 
Tariff plans may be not roaming enabled
Mobile operators may offer tariff plans (subscriptions or pre-paid cards) that are not roaming enabled. Such tariff plans are designed for users that do not intend to access mobile telephony services abroad, preferring to benefit from domestic consumption at advantageous tariffs.
Users of tariff plans that are not roaming enabled who intend to access such services abroad may either switch to a roaming enabled tariff plan, or purchase an additional, roaming enabled tariff plan. Tariff plans or other contract clauses may be changed subject to the contract provisions or upon direct negotiation with the provider. Switching from a tariff plan that is not roaming enabled to a roaming enabled tariff plan usually triggers price increase, along with extended resource allowances, therefore a new minimum contract term may commence.
All roaming enabled tariff plans benefit from ”roam like at home” in EU/EEA. Nevertheless, end-users may choose another charging method in the operator’s offer for roaming services, instead of ”roam like at home”.  
About what, how and where one can complain
If your operator does not observe your EU/EEA roaming rights, you can complain to ANCOM, following the steps presented here.
Further information on the “roam like at home” mechanism is available on ANCOM’s website, in Romanian, here.