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X-Ray has been investigating the high cost of connecting to the internet when on holiday.

Viewers have been contacting us after returning from holiday with bills of over 拢1,500 for their smart phones - even though they say they used the internet sparingly.

The key problem is the sky-high cost of using the internet abroad.

For most UK smartphone users, the cost of using the internet is included in their monthly bills. But when you go abroad the picture changes. In countries outside the EU, internet use which would cost around 拢10 in Britain could cost 拢8,000 on some networks.

Modern smart phones can build up bills in two ways. Firstly they are regularly connecting to the internet and updating themselves - so even if you don't actively use the internet they are incurring charges.

And secondly some of the applications which the phones use can also be expensive. Tests carried out by X-Ray found opening Facebook on an iPhone outside the EU could cost from 拢1.20 to 拢19. Using popular mapping applications, which work like Sat Navs, could cost 拢20 the first time you use them in a location. Watching videos is even more expensive.

Christine Gordon from Porthcawl

Christine Gordon from Porthcawl discovered the pitfalls the hard way after she lent her smartphone to her son when he went to Turkey. She told X-Ray she was absolutely devastated when a bill for 拢1,500 came through the door.

James Guy from Swansea

James Guy from Swansea also returned to a huge bill when he came back from a holiday in Turkey, 鈥淚 had heard that you could get high bills but I though these people had been on the internet for hours.

鈥淚 didn't use it at all for the first few days, but then I went onto the internet then and started to look at the Swansea City websites. I used it for four, five of the 10 days I was away.

"About three or four days after I came back, I had my Orange bill through the door and the bill was 拢806鈥�.

After X-Ray got in touch his operator Orange says it will refund more than 拢500 of James鈥� bill. Vodafone says Mrs Gordon鈥檚 son turned off a service which would have warned him about his spending but as a gesture of goodwill they are willing to cut 10 per cent of his data roaming bill.

High charges also apply within the EU, but since July 2010 an EU law limits bills to 50 Euros a month, excluding VAT.

So how do you avoid bills like these?

When you go abroad, turn off your phone's "data roaming". That will stop it connecting to the internet automatically.听 For information on how to do this:

• Samsung and Sony Ericsson - telephone your provider or visit your nearest store to ask.

Call your network provider before you leave the country 鈥� they may offer a package deal which could save you money if you to use mobile internet while you are away

Look for free wifi hotspots in hotels and cafes. If you are connected via wifi you will not be charged.听

If you are using mobile internet, use it sparingly. And turn off data roaming when you are finished to prevent it operating in the background.

Remember downloading something over the internet isn't measured in how much time it takes but in how much data you are using. Opening a single email won't cost much听 - but opening a large attachment like a photo or video could be expensive.

Downloading music tracks and films will quickly build up your bill and you could end up owing thousands.

More information from Ofcom can be found .