FAQs: Data roaming spend caps

Data roaming spend caps give you increased control over costs for accessing email or internet abroad. This is done by capping your spend at defined levels. In order to spend more than the value of the cap you have to make a conscious decision to extend past the cap.

For bill pay customers there are two spend caps available: €61.50 and €369 (inc VAT)

Initially you will receive the €61.50 spend cap and if you continue to use past this spend cap you’ll then receive the €369 spend cap.

The spend cap will apply to your billing period if you are a bill pay customer.

Once you access email or the internet when abroad we can track how much you spend.

We’ll send you a text when you have spent between 50% - 80% of your spend cap and another text once you’ve reached the spend cap.

You will receive the spend notifications via text message. If you are using data on a handheld device the text will be sent to the inbox of your phone or if you are using a mobile broadband modem or data card the text will be sent to the SMS inbox of your mobile broadband software.

When you reach the spend cap, you will be barred from roaming, unless you have already chosen to extend past the cap. You can choose to extend past the cap at any time and how to do this is included in both spend notifications you receive.

If you choose not to extend past the cap you will remain barred for the remainder of your billing period.

Yes, all of your data roaming spend is included in your spend cap. For example, if you are on a data roaming price plan the rental for this plan along with any spend you accumulate should you use outside your bundle is all included in the spend accumulation towards the cap. This means that when we send you a spend notification the amount represents your total spend on data roaming to date in that monthly billing period. This means there should be no surprises on your bill at the end of the month.

No. We have implemented the spend caps and notifications across the board for simplicity and to give you a consistent user experience so regardless of where you travel outside of the Republic of Ireland the relevant spend cap will be applied to your account for data roaming usage.

Yes, you should, but the notifications may not flash up on your screen, you may need to proactively check the SMS inbox on your mobile broadband dashboard.

Yes, they apply to all data roaming.

You will receive a text to the inbox of your phone or to the SMS inbox of your mobile broadband software letting you know that you have reached your spend cap.

Yes you can. You can still use your phone to make and receive calls and to send and receive text messages. And if you are using a modem you will still be able to send and receive text messages.

To continue using data beyond the pay monthly €61.50 spend cap, text PASS EU CAP to 50193. If you are not the bill payer, please remember to ask their approval to continue spending.

To continue using data beyond the pay monthly €369 spend cap, text PASS UPPER LIMIT<PIN> to 50193. The PIN is the last 4 digits of your customer number. If you are not the bill payer the PIN can be sourced from them along with their approval to continue spending.

For bill pay customers, if you extend past the €369 spend cap you will receive no further spend caps or spend notifications

Yes you can, however we do not recommend it as you may then inadvertently run up a higher than expected data roaming bill. We strongly recommend that you avail of the spend caps and notifications so that you’ll always know what your costs are. You can opt back in to data roaming spend caps at any point in the future free of charge and with no penalty or restriction. Should you choose to opt out you do so at your own risk.

Yes you can, as long as you don’t opt out of notifications as well. However once you choose to opt out of the spend caps you will not be barred for data roaming and you are potentially leaving yourself open to accumulating high usage charges. Should you choose to opt out you do so at your own risk.