Forum Discussion

LesleyC_1438579's avatar
LesleyC_1438579
SMARTY Maverick
12-03-2023
Solved

Switzerland charges

I travel to France very close to the Swiss border every few months. I’m confused by the text message I get from Smarty when I unknowingly connect to a Swiss provider - it contradicts itself. Is it free to receive calls and texts or not? Please can anyone help? I avoid going online when I’m out of a Wi-Fi zone, but my Add on bundle disappears all the same. Thanks. 

“Welcome to Switzerland. It's max of 50p/min to call & 2p/MB data. To receive a call and send SMS is in bundle. You need an Out of plan add-on to make & receive calls/texts and get online. For full details visit free at https://smarty.co.uk/roaming” This 

France
Roaming
Switzerland
  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    12-03-2023

    The problem here is that Switzerland is not one of the EU countries as far as the network is concerned.

    When your phone connects to a Swiss network, you will need to pay for all use from credit that you put onto your account i.e. your standard Smarty plan will not work. If you connect to a French network, you will be able to use EU roaming i.e. use your standard Smarty plan for calls, texts and data (12Gb limit while roaming though).

    The price guide: https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf shows on p18 & p19 that usage in Switzerland costs 2p per Mb of data and 10p per minute to make a call back to UK or in Switzerland. While on a Swiss network, calling anywhere else e.g. France will cost 40p per min. Receiving calls while on the Swiss network will not cost you.

    One possible solution may be to stop the 'automatic network' on your phone and change to a manual connection to only the strongest French network. Thus would keep calls, texts and data within EU roaming on your standard Smarty plan.

    Phew!! It is a bit complicated, but a quick read of the Price Guide should sort it for you hopefully.

3 Replies

  • wixfordhall's avatar
    wixfordhall
    SMARTY Observer
    13-09-2023

    Hello from ex Swiss.  So YES, last time I went home to Switzerland  I was troubled to find that SMARTY no worky.

    How upsetting.

    If you were a Three customer then this is the price scale  

    Essential_Plan_price_guide_170517.pdf (three.co.uk)

    And you will notice that Switzerland is treated more favourably in this scenario.

    Normally CH gets full EU benefits,  we  (in the UK) certainly give them these rights for entry etc.  Just that SMARTY does make the distinction.   

     

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    12-03-2023

    The problem here is that Switzerland is not one of the EU countries as far as the network is concerned.

    When your phone connects to a Swiss network, you will need to pay for all use from credit that you put onto your account i.e. your standard Smarty plan will not work. If you connect to a French network, you will be able to use EU roaming i.e. use your standard Smarty plan for calls, texts and data (12Gb limit while roaming though).

    The price guide: https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf shows on p18 & p19 that usage in Switzerland costs 2p per Mb of data and 10p per minute to make a call back to UK or in Switzerland. While on a Swiss network, calling anywhere else e.g. France will cost 40p per min. Receiving calls while on the Swiss network will not cost you.

    One possible solution may be to stop the 'automatic network' on your phone and change to a manual connection to only the strongest French network. Thus would keep calls, texts and data within EU roaming on your standard Smarty plan.

    Phew!! It is a bit complicated, but a quick read of the Price Guide should sort it for you hopefully.