When traveling in the EU, you can use your mobile services like at home, but providers may have fair usage policies on your data allowance. Upon arrival, you should receive text messages or alerts about your data allowance and again if your allowance is used up. The latest news about the Three Ireland roaming refund find out below.

Three is Ireland’s largest mobile telecommunications provider with 47.2% market share and over 4.7 million customers. ComReg commenced an investigation into Three Ireland’s compliance with EU Roaming Regulations, specifically relating to the messages that consumers receive while roaming. ComReg found that messages were not being sent or did not contain the required information.

ComReg, under Section 62 of the 2023 Act, can enter a written agreement with the service provider to resolve the matter, which has been done with Three Ireland in this case.

Three Ireland will ensure that all consumers receive relevant messages at appropriate times, containing necessary information. Three Ireland has also agreed to refund approximately 14,000 customers a total amount of approximately €3.76m in roaming charges. The average refund is about €269.

“ComReg will continue to monitor Three Ireland’s compliance with its obligations and to investigate as appropriate consumer complaints whether arising in respect of the roaming regulations or otherwise,”

the regulator said.

“ComReg expects all undertakings to ensure that they are compliant with the roaming regulations and are providing the appropriate notifications to their consumers. ComReg is continuing its programme of monitoring compliance by all undertakings and will take all necessary enforcement action in respect of any such activity.”

As well as agreeing to refund affected customers, Three Ireland will ensure that the notification issued to customers when they reach both the €50 and the €100 default roaming limits per monthly billing period offers information regarding roaming add-ons, which can reduce roaming charges.

The company will also include the per-unit cost associated with each additional unit consumed whilst roaming.

ComReg will continue to monitor Three Ireland’s compliance with its obligations and to investigate as appropriate consumer complaints, whether arising in respect of the Roaming Regulations or otherwise.

For full details, see the recently issued Information Notice here.